by G. A. Henty
Chapter 12: Desultory Fighting.
After having gone through the camps of the whole of the companies,John assembled the leaders round him, and held a council as tofuture operations. It was agreed that it would be best to leavealone, for the present, the legion at Scythopolis; for rumors ofthe gathering would almost certainly have reached that city, andthe Romans might be on their guard against attack. It was resolved,therefore, to cross the Jordan a few miles below Tarichea, totraverse the hills between Endor and Gelbus and, by a long march,to gain the range of hills extending from Carmel to Samaria, andforming the boundary between the latter province and Galilee. Theywould then be looking down upon the camp of Vespasian, at Caesarea.
The country, between these hills and the city, was too flat forthem to engage with any hopes of success; for although, by asurprise, they might inflict great damage on the Romans, they wouldbe wholly unable to withstand the charges of the Roman horse. Theywould, therefore, maintain a lookout from the mountains; and attackthe Roman camp the first time it was pitched on ground whence arapid retreat could be effected, to the hills.
As the Jordan was unfordable, between Scythopolis and the lake, allwho could not swim were ordered to carry with them, on their marchdown to the river, logs of light wood sufficient to support them incrossing. Those who could swim were to assist in piloting overthose unable to do so. This would be a work of no great difficulty,for the width of the Jordan is not great, and it was only for ashort distance in the center that it would be unfordable. As was tobe expected, the companies raised near the shores of the lakecontained but few men unable to swim, while those from the mountaindistricts were almost wholly ignorant of the art.
The bands were, therefore, linked together for the purpose ofcrossing; one of those from the plains, and a company ofmountaineers, marching down to the stream together. Thepreparations were all complete by the afternoon and, just as it wasbecoming twilight, the leading bands arrived on the banks of theJordan. The crossing was effected without difficulty and, in twohours, all were over. Then the companies formed up under theirleaders, and started independently; men who knew the country wellbeing assigned, as guides, to each.
They crossed the hill between Endor and Gelbus, marched throughJezrael; and then, just as morning was breaking, ascended theslopes of Mount Carmel, leaving Legio on their right. It was amarch of about fifty miles; but the men were all active andvigorous, lightly armed, and sustained by enthusiasm andexcitement, and not a man dropped behind during the journey. Onceamong the hills, they threw themselves down for a rest of somehours. From the crest of the hill, it was but some twelve milesdown to Caesarea; and the blue line of the sea extended, right andleft, as far as the eye could reach.
In the afternoon Jonas was sent down to the city, to learn howmatters stood there, and when Vespasian was going to move. He wasto remain there that night, and return with the news on thefollowing morning. He came back, however, at midnight; saying thatthe Romans had marched on the previous day, that they had taken thesouthern road which skirted the mountains for some distance, andwould probably cross the central range at Sichem, and eitherproceed to Scythopolis, or join the legion thence on the plain ofAulon, west of the Jordan.
This was a disappointment but, at daybreak, the companies wereafoot. It was decided they should march separately; each taking itsown line to the east, following unfrequented roads, and keepingamong the hills as far as possible, so that no report of thepassage of any large gathering of men should reach the Romans.Although no time had been lost, John, when he approached theJordan, learned that Vespasian had already joined the legion fromScythopolis, and had crossed the river into Peraea, and wasmarching with all speed against Gadara, its chief city.
Halting for the night near the Jordan; John crossed the river by aford, next morning, and then moved forward, cautiously, to commenceoperations as soon as the Romans were engaged upon the siege of thecity. But, ere many hours had passed, he learned that theinhabitants had sent forward a deputation to Vespasian; and thatthe war party, taken by surprise by the rapid advance of theRomans, had hastily evacuated the city, after slaying many of thosewho were willing to admit the Romans. When Vespasian arrived, hehad been received with acclamations by the inhabitants; who hadalready destroyed a portion of their walls, to prove that theynever thought of resistance.
Having thus established the Roman authority in Peraea, Vespasianleft a garrison there; and set out, with the main body of his army,for Caesarea, leaving a garrison in the town; and dispatchingPlacidus, with five hundred horse and three thousand foot, inpursuit of the fugitives who had fled from Gadara before he enteredit.
As Vespasian marched back, the band under John began their work.Wherever the road led through the mountains, they rolled down rocksupon the column. The light-armed allies of the Romans were sent outon each flank and, climbing the hills, attacked their assailants.As soon, however, as they neared the crests--which were, as theybelieved, held by small parties, only, of the enemy--the Jewsrushed upon them with fury, overthrew them, and drove them down thehills; until the heavy-armed troops were obliged to advance totheir assistance, upon which the Jews at once fell back to thehigher slopes.
Growing bolder by success, they even ventured to rush down upon thebaggage; breaking through its guard, and killing great numbers ofthe animals. A party of Roman horse which came up at full gallopwas charged, just as they reached the spot, by two more companiesfrom the hill; and these, before the Romans could face about andoppose their line of long spears to their assailants, were amongthem--stabbing the horses, leaping up behind the soldiers andslaying them with their knives, and throwing the whole intoconfusion. Then the sound of a horn was heard on the hillside, andthe whole of the Jews instantly relinquished their work and took tothe mountains, just as a large body of cavalry, headed by Titus,came thundering up.
At night, the Romans were disturbed by constant alarms. Men creptup to the sentries, and slew them in the darkness. Numbers of theenemy penetrated into the camp; killing the soldiers as they slept,hocking the horses, and setting fire to the camp in several places;and it was not until the whole army got under arms that the attackceased. The next day, they were similarly harassed upon the march;and it was not until they had crossed the mountains, and descendedon to the western plain, that the Jews drew off, highly satisfiedwith the result of their first encounter with the Romans.
Their loss had been slight--not more than twenty havingfallen--while they had killed more than two hundred of thelight-armed troops, had inflicted some loss upon the Romansthemselves, had slain numbers of baggage animals; and had shown theenemy that, however formidable the Roman soldiers might be on theplains, the legions of Vespasian were no more invincible than wasthat of Cestius, among the hills.
They regretted however that, instead of engaging the main army,they had not followed the force under Placidus--of whose dispatchfrom Gadara they had not learned, until it was too late. Thefugitives, of whom Placidus was in pursuit, had taken possession ofthe village of Bethennabris. He pursued the stratagem which hadalready succeeded so well. He feigned a retreat, and the Jewssallied out and attacked him. He cut off the greater part fromreturning to the village and, at night, attacked Bethennabris,captured it, and put all within it to the sword.
Those who had escaped were joined by great numbers of the countrypeople; and made for the Jordan, intending to cross by the fordopposite Jericho. But the river was swollen with rain, and theywere unable to cross. Placidus overtook and attacked them. Vastnumbers were killed, and more were driven into the river anddrowned. Fifteen thousand fell. Two thousand five hundred weretaken prisoners, with a vast number of animals, of all kinds.Placidus then reduced the whole of Peraea, and the coast of theDead Sea, as far as Machaerus.
Vespasian soon moved down from Caesarea, keeping near the sea, andcapturing Antipatris, Lydda, and Thamna, and blocking Emmaus. Then,continuing his course southward, he wasted the country to thefrontier of Idumea, and captured the towns Betaris and Caphartobas,putting t
o the sword about ten thousand men. Then he marched back,by Emmaus and Sichem, descended the hills and marched to Jericho;where he was joined by Placidus, with the troops from Peraea.
The city had been deserted by its inhabitants, and the Roman armyrested here for some time until, just as Vespasian was about tomarch upon Jerusalem, the news arrived of the death of Nero and,unwilling to weaken his army by besieging the city--strong initself, and defended by a host--Vespasian withdrew to Caesarea and,for another two years, Jerusalem had time for preparation, orsubmission.
As Vespasian's march had, except when he was crossing the mountainsfrom Emmaus to Sichem, lain entirely in the plains, John had beenable to do but little. Half the force had been sent across theJordan, and its operations had greatly added to the difficultiesPlacidus had met with in subduing Peraea. The other companies hadclosely followed the march of Vespasian, had made many attacks uponparties dispatched to pillage the country and, after the Romansmarched north again, besieged and captured some of the small placesin which they had left garrisons.
They had united when the two Roman armies met at Jericho; and wereprepared to defend, desperately, the rugged mountain roads leadingthence to Jerusalem when, to their surprise, they saw the Romanhost moving away to the north again.
As soon as they ascertained that Vespasian had, for the present,entirely abandoned the idea of attacking Jerusalem, and that histroops had gone into permanent quarters, John held a council withthe other commanders. Some were in favor of remaining in arms, andof constantly attacking the Roman garrisons. Others were forscattering and returning to their homes--from which they had nowbeen absent three months--until the Romans again set themselves inmotion against Jerusalem. Opinions were about equally divided, andJohn remained silent until all had spoken. Then he said:
"I think that we had better disperse. If we remained in arms, wemight gain some successes, we might surprise and slay some Romangarrisons; but the others would speedily prepare themselves againstattack, by strengthening their walls and taking every precaution.But, did we succeed in destroying the garrisons in every one of thetowns they have captured, of what benefit would it be? It wouldrather excite the Romans yet more against the people. Yet morewould they march through the land, burning, destroying, andslaying. They would turn the country into a desert; and eitherslay, or carry away all the people captives. We should irritatewithout seriously injuring the Romans; and the very people, whosesufferings we should heighten by our work, would turn against us.
"Now that the whole country has been scoured, all the towns whichhave resisted destroyed, and all the men who defended them put tothe sword, there may be breathing space for the land, until theRomans advance against Jerusalem. It may be that those in Jerusalemmay come to terms with the Romans, in which case there need not beany more bloodshed. Therefore, I say that it seems to me that itwould be wrong to continue the war, so long as the Romans restpeacefully in their camps; but should Jerusalem have need of us inher defense, every one of us will again take the field."
John's counsel was finally adopted. Many of the men were longing toreturn to their homes, where they knew that they would be welcomed,and honored, for the deeds they had performed; for although theyhad achieved no grand successes, they had done much by compellingthe Romans to keep together, and had thus saved many towns fromplunder and destruction. Their operations, too, had created a freshsensation of hope, and had aroused the people from the dull despairin which they were sinking.
Had messengers been now sent out on all sides, a great multitude ofmen would have collected; but John knew well that numbers would beof no avail, and that in a pitched battle the Romans could defeatmany times their number of the undisciplined and ill-armed Jews.
John himself stood even higher, in the estimation of his followers,than he did at the commencement of the campaign. His own band hadbeen particularly successful, and had several times encounteredparties of the Romans almost equal to themselves in numbers. Hisplans had been always well laid, and on no occasion had the Romanscut off and killed any numerous parties. Altogether, the justnessof his views had been established by experience, the men had gainedconfidence in themselves and in him, and now only regretted thatthey had had no opportunity of attacking the Romans in anythinglike equal numbers.
Therefore, when the news spread that John was of opinion that thewisest course was for them to return to their homes, and there tohold themselves in readiness to reassemble, whenever the Romansmoved against Jerusalem; the decision was willingly accepted and, afew hours after the Roman column had marched out from Jericho, theJewish companies started for their respective homes, all promisingto take up arms again, when the signal was given. Although thesuccess that had attended them had not been so great as they hadhoped, it had been sufficiently marked to inspire them withconfidence in themselves, and their leader. But few lives had beenlost; and they had learned that, so long as they persisted in thetactics their leader had laid down, there was but little chance ofthe Romans striking a heavy blow at them.
Surprise was mingled with joy, in the greetings John received onhis return home.
"No disaster has befallen your bands, I hope, John?" Simon asked,anxiously. "We heard that the Romans had reached Jericho; and wehave been praying the Lord, night and day, for his protection foryou--believing that you would doubtless fall upon the enemy, asthey marched through the mountains towards Jerusalem."
"We should have done so, father, and already had taken up aposition on the heights commanding the roads; but there was nofighting, simply because Vespasian has marched away with his armyto Caesarea, and will not, as we believe, make any movement againstJerusalem this year."
"The Lord be praised!" Simon said, piously. "There is time yet forthe city to repent, in sackcloth and ashes, for its sins; and tocome to such terms with the Romans as may save the Temple."
"So far as I have heard, father, Jerusalem is little likely eitherto repent or to negotiate. The news of what is passing there iseven worse than that which the Rabbi Solomon told us; but I willnot pain you by talking of these matters, now.
"You have heard what we have been doing. We have done no greatdeeds, but we have harassed the Romans sorely, so that they couldnot say that they held the country beyond the flight of theirarrows. We have taken many cities where they had left smallgarrisons. We have cut off very many small parties, have capturedmany flocks and herds which they had carried off, and have lost butfew men while inflicting much damage. Moreover, we have gainedexperience and confidence and, when the time comes for fightinghand-to-hand with the Romans, we shall enter upon the strugglewithout fear."
"But what can have induced the Romans to retire, when almost withinsight of Jerusalem?"
"Partly, no doubt, because Vespasian considered it better to letthe Jews go on slaying each other, than to waste his strength inkilling them; but partly, I believe, because of news from Rome. Weheard a rumor that a messenger had arrived in the Roman camp, withnews that Nero is dead; and Vespasian may well wish to keep hisarmy together, to watch the course of events."
This was, indeed, Vespasian's main object in retiring; and fornearly two years he kept his army in hand, waiting for hisopportunity, while Galba, Otho, and Vitellius in turn gained andlost the imperial crown. John remained at home, except that he wentout with the companies in the spring of 69; when Vespasian, for atime, set his troops in motion. As before, the Romans marched downinto the south of Judea, and reduced the country on the westernshore of the Dead Sea; while Cerealis entered Idumea and completelysubdued it, so that there now remained only the towns of Herodium,Masada, Machaerus, and Jerusalem itself which still remainedunconquered.
John's troops had pursued precisely the same tactics as in theprevious year; and had contented themselves with harassing theRomans whenever the latter entered difficult country, and inpreventing them from sending out small foraging parties. Johnhimself would not have called his men under arms, as he saw that noreal advantage was gained; but the men were eager to go, and he sawthat
there was a considerable advantage in their continued practicein arms, in the quickness with which they worked together, and inthe confidence which they had in themselves.
The company suffered but slight loss in the operations; but John,himself, had an adventure which nearly cost him his life.Vespasian, with the bulk of his army, was encamped at Hebron; whileTitus was at Carmelia, near the Dead Sea. John's company were inthe hills near Hebron; and he, wishing to examine the Romanposition at Carmelia, and the road between the two towns, startedby himself. He carried, as usual, his buckler, two light javelins,and a sword. The road led down a series of precipitous valleys; andJohn, knowing that he could instantly gain the hills, out of reachof danger, did not hesitate to descend into it.
He was now nineteen, strong, active, and sinewy. The position inwhich he had been placed had given him the habit of command, andthe heavy responsibility which had devolved upon him had added twoor three years to his apparent age. He was taller than most of hiscountrymen, broad across the shoulders, and a match for any singleman under his command.
As he walked along, he heard the sound of a horse's footsteps,coming up the valley. He sprang a short distance up the craggyhillside, and then paused as a single horseman came in sight. As hecame a little nearer John saw, by the splendor of his armor, andthat of the horse he was riding, that he was an officer of rank anddistinction. John scorned to fly before a single foe, and stoodquietly watching him, till he came nearly abreast of him. Thehorseman reined up his charger and, without a word, seized hisjavelin and hurled it at the armed figure, standing on the hillsidesome thirty feet above him. John sprang lightly aside, and themissile struck the rock with a sharp clang, close to him. Inreturn, he threw a javelin at the Roman, which struck him on thearmor and fell, blunted.
"Well thrown!" the Roman said, calmly, and hurled a second javelin.
The stroke was too swift to avoid; but John threw up his buckler soas to receive it at an angle, and the javelin glanced off, and flewfar up the hillside. This time John sprang down the rocks, with theactivity of a goat, till within a few feet of the Roman. Then hethrew his javelin at the horse, with so true an aim that it struckat a spot unprotected by armor, and the animal fell.
With an exclamation of anger, the Roman threw himself off, as theanimal sank beneath his legs. He had already drawn his sword, asJohn approached, and stood at once on the defensive. Without amoment's hesitation John sprang at him, and the combat commenced.John trusted to his activity, while the Roman had an immenseadvantage in his heavy armor--John being unprotected, save by hisbuckler. The Roman stood calm and confident, while Johnattacked--moving quickly, round and round him; springing in todeliver a blow, and then bounding out of reach of the sweep of theheavy Roman sword. For some time the combat continued. John hadreceived two or three severe wounds while, although the Roman wasbleeding, his armor protected him from any serious hurt.
Suddenly John sprang in at the Roman, throwing himself with all hisforce against him. He partially warded, with his sword, the blowwhich the Roman struck at him as he came in; but his weapon wasbeaten down, and the Roman blade cut through his thick headdress.But the impetus of his spring was sufficient. The Roman, taken bysurprise by this sudden attack, tottered, and then fell with acrash, John falling on the top of him.
John was almost blinded by the blood which streamed down hisforehead, from the blow he had last received; but he dashed itaside, seized his long knife and, in another moment, would haveslain his enemy, had not the latter exclaimed:
"Strike, Jew! I am Titus."
John was confused by the last blow he had received, but a thousandthoughts whirled in his brain. For an instant he grasped the knifemore firmly, to slay the son of the chief enemy of his country;then the possibility of carrying him away a captive occurred tohim, but he saw that this was out of the question. Then anotherthought dashed across his brain.
"Swear," he said, in Greek, for he was ignorant of Latin, "by yourgods, to spare the Temple, or I will kill you."
There was a moment's hesitation. The knife was already descending,when Titus exclaimed, in the same language:
"I swear to do all in my power to save the Temple."
John's knife fell from his hand. He tried to rise to his feet; theneverything seemed to swim round, and he fell, insensible. Titusrose to his feet. He was shaken by the fall; and he, too, had lostmuch blood. Panting from his exertions, he looked down upon hisprostrate foe; and the generosity which was the prevailing featureof his character, except when excited in battle, mastered him.
"By Hercules," he exclaimed, "that is a gallant youth; though he isa Jew, and he has well-nigh made an end of me! What will Vespasiansay, when he hears that I have been beaten in fair fight, and owemy life to the mercy of a Jew? How they think of their temple,these Jews! Why, I would not injure it, were it in my power to doso. Have not our emperors sent offerings there? Besides, we war notwith the gods of the people we conquer.
"Ah, here come Plancus and the others! This will be a lesson to menot to trust myself, alone, among these mountains again. It is thefirst time I have done so, and it shall be the last."
A messenger had, in fact, arrived at Carmelia, with an order fromVespasian for him to go to Hebron--as he had a desire to speak withhim--and ordering Plancus, a centurion, to follow with his troop,Titus had sprung on his horse, and ridden off at once.
The Romans were soon upon the spot, and were loud in exclamation ofsurprise and grief at seeing their commander covered with dust, andbleeding from several wounds, while his horse lay dead beside him.To their inquiries whether he was seriously wounded, Titus replied,lightly:
"I am more dirty than hurt. Though, had it not been for my armor,there would have been a different tale to tell, for these Jewsfight like demons. As you see, he first slew my horse with hisjavelin, and then we fought it out on foot."
"Was there only this one?" the centurion asked, in surprise,pointing to John's body.
"Only that one," Titus said, "and he nearly got the best of it.Fighting with these Jews is like fighting with wild cats, so fierceare they in the attack, and so quick are their movements. I tellyou that, for a moment, my life was at his mercy.
"See if he is dead, Plancus."
"No, he breathes," Plancus said, stooping over him.
"Let four of the men make a litter, with their spears," Titus said;"and take him down to Carmelia, and let my own leech attend him. Iwould gladly save his life, if I can. I began the fray and, truly,he has shown himself so gallant a young man that I would not thathe should die."
Accordingly, when John opened his eyes, he found himself lying in aRoman tent, where an old man was sitting by his couch; and a Romansentry pacing, backwards and forwards, before the entrance of thetent.
"Drink this," the old man said, placing a cordial to his lips. "Youneed have no fear, you are in the camp of Titus; and he, himself,has ordered that all attention shall be paid to you."
John was too weak from loss of blood, and confused from the effectsof the blow on his head, even to feel the sensation of wonder. Hedrank the potion, and closed his eyes again, and went off into asleep which lasted for many hours. It was not until the next daythat he thoroughly awoke. The leech continued to attend him and, atthe end of four days, he was able to sit up.
Illustration: Titus Brings Josephus to See John.
In the afternoon, he heard a clash of arms as the sentry gave themilitary salute and, a moment later, Titus entered, accompanied byone whom John instantly recognized as Josephus. John rose to hisfeet.
"I told you he was but a young man," Titus said to Josephus; "butnow that I can see him more nearly or, at any rate, more calmly, Ican see that he is little more than a lad; and yet, as you haveheard me say, he is a man of valor, and defeated me in fair fight."
"I seem to know his face," Josephus said, and then addressed Johnin Hebrew.
"Who are you, young man?"
"I am that John whom you saved in the storm, on the Sea of Galilee,and who fought with you a
t Jotapata."
"Is it possible?" Josephus exclaimed, in surprise. "I thought thatI, alone, was saved there."
"I lay hidden with the boy Jonas, who told us of the track down tothe water," John said, quietly, "and have since then been fightingthe Romans. While you--"
"While I have been their prisoner," Josephus broke in. "I know thatall my countrymen are enraged against me but, truly, without acause."
Josephus then translated to Titus what John had told him, addingthat the young man had served him with zeal and devotion, and thathe had an affection for him.
"Then I am the more glad that he has not lost his life," Titussaid, courteously.
"And now, my antagonist," he said, in Greek, to John, "I would tellyou that I bear you no malice; though you have shed my blood, andbrought somewhat of disgrace upon me--for truly it is a disgracefor a Roman soldier, in heavy armor, to be overthrown by one whocarries but a light buckler as his protection. But I love a braveman, even though he be a foe; and I honor those who are fightingfor what they believe to be the cause of their country. If I letyou go free, will you promise me not to bear arms again, againstRome?"
"I could not promise that, Titus," John said, quietly, "even wereyou to order me, now, to be taken out and slain. It is the firstduty of all Jews to fight for the Holy City and, so long as I live,and the Holy City is in danger, so long I must fight for her. Theseare the commands of my religion; and I cannot, even to save mylife, disobey them."
"I will not press you to do so," Titus said; "though Josephus,here, will tell you that Rome is not an unkind lord, even to thosewho have most withstood it. When you are well enough to leave us,you shall go unharmed; though, could you have seen your way todesist from hostility to us, I would have been a good friend toyou; and have promoted you to posts of honor, and that in countrieswhere you would not have been opposed to your countrymen. But ifyou will not have it so, you are free to go; and remember that, atany time, you have a friend in Titus; and that when this war isover, and peace restored, if you come to me I will repeat the offerthat I have now made.
"Moreover, you may rely upon it that, in the last extremity, I willdo all in my power to save the Temple; and indeed, in no case wouldI have injured a building so venerable and holy."
Titus then left the tent, but Josephus remained for some time,talking with John.
"I suppose you, like all others, have looked upon me as a traitor,John?" he began.
"Not so," John replied. "I knew that you fought bravely, atJotapata; and risked your life many times in its defense I knew,too, that you from the first opposed the revolt against the Romans,and it is not for me to judge as to your position among them."
"I am a prisoner," Josephus said. "I am kindly treated, indeed, andVespasian frequently asks my opinion of matters connected with thecountry; but surely I am doing more good to my countrymen, bysoftening his heart towards them, than if I had died atJotapata--still more if I had been, like John of Gischala, ascourge to it. I trust even yet that, through my influence,Jerusalem may be saved. When the time comes Vespasian will, I hope,grant terms; and my only fear is that the madness of the peoplewill lead them to refuse all accommodation, and so force him intotaking the city by storm--in which case it cannot but be thatterrible misery will fall upon it, and that vast numbers will losetheir lives.
"And now, tell me how you are, at home, and what you have beendoing since I last saw you."
John thought it as well not to mention, to Josephus, the prominentpart which he had taken among those who had so harassed the Romans;but he said that he had joined the bands raised in Galilee, and hadbeen among those who had hung upon the Roman flank and rear,wherever they marched.
"The Jews have behaved with prudence and valor," Josephus said,"and I now see that it would have been far better had I trustedmore in mountain warfare, than in fenced cities; but it would havebeen the same, in the end. I know the Jews. They would have foughtbravely, for a time; but the thought of each would have turned tohis farm and his vineyard, and they would never have kept the fieldfor any length of time. The Romans therefore would, in the end,have tired them out and, perhaps, the fate which has befallen thecities that resisted would have fallen upon all the land.
"And now remember that, although but a prisoner, I have muchinfluence with Vespasian; and that at any time, should you fallinto their hands again, I will exert that influence in your favor."
John remained about ten days at Carmelia. Titus had severalinterviews with him, and at the last of these said:
"I have conceived a strong friendship for you, young man, and wouldwillingly do you service. Take this signet ring. At all times, andin all places, it will pass you to my presence. If a Roman sword beraised to strike you, and you show this ring, it will be lowered.That you should fight against us to the last is, as you believe,your duty; and as I myself would so fight for Rome, I seek notfurther to dissuade you. But when resistance is at an end, and itis useless any longer to hold the sword, your death cannot benefityour country. Therefore, when that time comes--if not before--usethis ring, and come to me; and I will grant you not only your ownlife, but that of such friends as you may wish to save.
"I do not forget that you had my life in your hands, and that youspared it. It is a life that may yet be valuable to Rome; andthough even now, when I speak of it, my cheek flushes withhumiliation, I am none the less grateful. It pleases me to seethat, in the conversations you have had with my officers, you haveborne yourself so modestly, and have made no mention of this; foralthough I, myself, do not hesitate to speak of the mishap whichbefell me, it is pleasant for me that it is not spoken of byothers. Believe me, then, that at all times you will find a sincerefriend in Titus."
John replied in suitable terms; thanking Titus for the promises hehad made, and disclaiming any merit in his success--which was butthe last effort of a beaten man, and was the result of the suddensurprise, and not of any skill or bravery.
Upon the following morning, Titus furnished him with an escort farbeyond the confines of the camp; and then, taking to the hills,John rejoined his companions, who had long since given him up asdead. They could scarce credit him, when he told them that he hadbeen lying wounded, in the hands of the Romans; and were still moresurprised at hearing that he had been engaged in a personalencounter with Titus. Of this John gave no details, beyond the factthat, after throwing their javelins, the horse of Titus had fallen,and they had fought hand to hand until, at last, he had fallen,bleeding from a severe wound; and that Titus himself had beenwounded.
"But how was it he did not slay you?" was the question. "It seemsalmost a miracle, especially after wounding Titus, himself."
"Doubtless the Lord put it into his heart to spare me," John said."Titus only said that he preserved my life as that of a brave foe.The Romans esteem bravery and, as I had withstood Titus for sometime, he was pleased to think that I had done well."
"Ah, if you had killed him, what rejoicings there would have beenin the land!"
"No," John said earnestly, "there would have been mourning. You maybe sure that Vespasian would have avenged his blood upon all thepeople. It would have been a misfortune, indeed, had Titus fallen.It is well that it ended as it did."
John was, however, far too weak to be able to accompany his bandupon its rapid marches; and therefore, for a time, resigned itscommand to one of his captains. He determined to go, until hisstrength returned to him, to a small community of which he hadheard as dwelling in an almost inaccessible valley on the shore ofthe Dead Sea. He was told that they took no part in the commotionof the times, and that they lived in such poverty that even therobbers of Simon had not cared to interfere with them. Theypracticed hospitality to strangers, and spent their lives inreligious observances. As John had often heard from his father ofthis sect--which was at one time numerous in the land, but had beensorely persecuted by the priests and Pharisees--he determined tostop for a time among them, and learn somewhat of their doctrines.
Accompanied by Jonas, he made his w
ay across the mountains to thevalley where they dwelt. As wounded, and a stranger, he wasreceived without question among them; and a little hut, similar tothat in which they all lived, was placed at his disposal. Thesehuts were ranged in a square, in the center of which stood a largerbuilding, used as their synagogue. Here John remained nearly amonth; and was greatly struck by their religious fervor, thesimplicity and austerity of their lives, and the doctrines whichthey held. He learned that the more rigorous of the sect abstained,altogether, from the use of meat and wine; and that celibacy wasstrictly enjoined. Those who married did not separate themselvesfrom the sect, but were considered as occupying an inferiorposition in it. Their food was of the simplest kind, and onlysufficient to sustain life. The community raised the grain andvegetables necessary for their use.
But it was the religious doctrines which they held which mostgreatly surprised John. They attached no importance, whatever, tothe ceremonial law of the Jewish Scriptures; maintaining, in thefirst place, that the Scriptures had a spiritual significationwholly apart from the literal meaning, alone understood by theworld; and that this spiritual meaning could only be attained bythose who, after long probation, were initiated into the innermysteries of the sect.
In the second place, they held that the written law had beenaltogether superseded by the coming of the great prophet, Christ,who had been put to death by the Jewish priests. John learned thatthere were already large numbers of Jews who had accepted thedoctrines taught by this Christ, although they did not all embracethe strict rules and modes of life of the ascetics. John wasgreatly struck with their doctrines, although he did not hearenough to do more than to dimly understand their meaning. Hedetermined however that, if he went safely through the war, hewould inquire further into these mysteries.
At the end of the four weeks, his strength being comparativelyrestored, he took his leave of the community, and rejoined hisband.