an to write some message? Who could understand it? An uncanny
appearance, which no knowledge or faith could explain! The next night
they did not see it, but the guiding star still went before them and
yielded to no sun.

One morning, just as day began to dawn, they rode through the streets
of Jericho. A man was lying on his face in the road, and the Moor
asked him why he lay in the dust.

"I lie in the dust," answered the man of Judah, "because I must
practise myself in humility in order not to become too proud. We have
become great beyond measure these last days. The King of the Jews is
born, the Messiah promised of God."

Then the wise man from India remembered how the Jews had been expecting
their Messiah for ages, the royal deliverer from bondage.

"I thought you had King Herod," he said.

"He's not the right king," answered the man in the dust. "Herod is a
heathen, and cringes to the Romans."

And now clouds from Lebanon hid the star, and the travellers knew not
which way to go. Balthasar, perplexed, went towards the neighbouring
city of Jerusalem; there surely he would be able to learn more. He
asked at the royal palace about the new-born king. Such a question was
news to King Herod. A son born to him? He knew nothing about it. He
would see the strangers who asked such a question.

"Sire," said the Moor, "something is in the air. Your people are
whispering of the Messiah."

"I'll have them beheaded!" shouted Herod angrily; then, more gently:
"I'll have them beheaded if they don't kneel before the Messiah. I
myself will bow before him. If only I knew where to find him!"

"I'll go and look round a little," said the complacent Balthasar, "and
if I find him I'll come and tell you."

"Do, do, noble stranger," said Herod, "And then, pray take your ease at
my palace as long as you like. Are you fond of golden wine?"

"I drink red wine," answered the Moor.

"Or of the fair women of the west?" asked the king.

"I love dark-skinned women," said Balthasar.

"Good! Then come, my friend, and bring me news of the new-born king."

Balthasar rode on farther with his companions, and directly he left the
town the star again shone in front of him. It hung high up in the
heavens, and after they had followed it for some hours it slowly turned
its course eastwards, and stopped above a cave in the rocks. And there
the strangers who had ridden out of the east to seek for truth, there
they found truth