arms, and
gazed at the gloomy sky. Both wore the Bedouin dress and were provided
with arms which were fastened into, or suspended from, their clothes.
Their woolly heads were protected by kerchiefs. Their complexion was
as brown as the bark of the pine-tree, their eyes big and sparkling,
their lips full and red. The one had a snub nose; the nose of the
other was long and thin. So do these men of the desert appear to my
mind's eye.

"Dismas," said the snub-nosed man, "What do you see in the sky?"

"Barabbas," replied the other, "what do you see in the desert?"

"Are you waiting for manna to fall from the sky?" said Barabbas. "Do
you know that I'm almost starved to death? I must go down to the
caravan route."

"Well, go. I'll to the oasis of Sheba," said Dismas.

"Dismas, I hate you," growled the other.

Dismas said nothing, and steadfastly looked at the sky, which had not
for a long while been so softly sunless as to-day.

"Since the day when you refused to help me hold up the caravan of
Orientals with my men, I have hated you. They had much frankincense
and precious spices and gold. With one blow we should have provided
ourselves with enough for many a long year. And you----"

"Wanderers who were seeking the Messiah! I do not attack such as
they," said Dismas.

"You, too, are seeking him, you pious highwayman."

"Of course, I seek him."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed he of the snub-nose, pressing his pointed chin
into his hand. "The Messiah! the fairy-tale of dreaming old men. All
weak men dream and believe. Don't you see that when you have to strive
and struggle for your little bit of life there isn't time to wait for
the Messiah!"

"That's just what I've believed for many a year and day," answered
Dismas sadly. "I left my home to follow you; I've plundered men of
silks and precious stones here in the desert, and time has flown
nevertheless. All the treasure in the world cannot bid it stand still
for an hour; comfort only makes the days fly quicker. We should not
struggle for life, but hold it fast, for existence is a wondrous thing.
Oh, in vain--the days vanish. So I've determined to have nought to say
to the hours which pass, but to a time that endures for aye. And only
he whom God sends can bring such a time."

Barabbas pressed his face against the stone, and said with comfortable
conviction; "We've only the life we have; there's no other."

"If it was as you say," returned Dismas, "we