"Tell me, my sire, hast thou long arrived? why have we not met before?"
"I have been to Jerusalem; I have wept on Calvary; I have prayed at the Holy Sepulchre; and there I have received the assurance that He has cast my sins behind my back, and blotted them out, nailing them to His Cross. I then sought thee, and heard thou wert at Acre, at the commandery of St. John. I sought thee, but passed thee on the road unwittingly. Then I retraced my steps; but the malaria, which ever hangs about the ruins of old cities, has prostrated me. My hours are numbered; but what have I yet to live for? no, Nunc dimittis, nunc dimittis, Domine; quia oculi mei viderunt salutare Tuum."
And he sank back as in ecstasy, holding still the hand of his son, and covering it with kisses.
The setting sun cast a flood of glory on the vale beneath, on Jacob's Well.
Once more the sick man rose on his bed, and gazed on the sacred spot where once the Redeemer sat, and talked with the woman of Samaria.
"He sat there, weary, weary, seeking His sheep; and I am one. He has found me. Oh my God, Thou didst thirst for my soul; let that thirst be satisfied."
Then to Osric—
"Hast thou not a priest in thy troop, my son?"
"Our chaplain is with us."
"Let him bring me the Viaticum. I am starting on my last long journey, I want my provision for the way."