“And what does Judas now?” asked the elder.
With a look of joy and triumph Micah lifted his head and said, “He is in Jerusalem. The Lord has given back into our hands the Holy City, the City of David His servant.”
It is impossible to describe the delight with which this announcement was received. The women, even [pg 230]the men, wept for joy. This was indeed a glorious gain of victory. Last year they could only see the Holy City from afar, and weep over its desolation. Now they could pour out their love and their sorrow within its sacred precincts.
“Yes,” he repeated, “Judas is in Jerusalem, and is making ready to purify the Temple. And you are to return as speedily as you can. The days of your exile are over. Our God has recalled His banished unto Him.”
His public mission finished, Micah could give time to private affection. He went with Ruth and the children to their cave, and then, after sharing their morning meal, told them all they wanted to hear. Seraiah and Azariah were both safe, though both had had narrow escapes, Azariah’s helmet having been broken in by a sword-stroke from a gigantic Gaul, and Seraiah being saved by a little roll of the Prophecy of Daniel, which he always carried about with him—it was a gift from his wife—and which had stopped the point of a javelin that would otherwise have pierced his heart. Ruth and the children were never satisfied with asking questions and listening to his answers. Even the little Daniel seemed to understand something of what was being said, as he listened, with his baby-eyes wide open, to the talk of his elders.
“And Cleon,” asked Ruth, “the Greek with whom you used to be so friendly in time past—did [pg 231]you see him? You met him, you told us, in Modin, and parted in anger; did you meet him again?”
A cloud seemed to pass over Micah’s face at this question, and for a few moments he was silent.
“Ah! Ruth,” he said, “the Lord be merciful to him, as He has been merciful to me! And did I not sin against Him tenfold more grievously than any heathen could have sinned? For was I not a child of the Covenant, and had I not light and knowledge, whereas he was born in ignorance and knew not of the mercies and deliverances which I knew, and knowing despised.”
“Is he a prisoner, then?” asked Miriam, “and will Judas spare him?”
“He needs no mercy from man, my child,” said Micah, solemnly. “In the battle I did not meet him. That was well. I should have been loath to cross swords with him; and yet I could hardly have failed to do so. But in the evening, when Lysias had fled eastward with the remnants of his host, and the victory was won, I saw him on the field of battle. The captain himself was with me, as we went among the wounded and the dead, looking for any to whom we could give such help as they needed. He had been pierced with a ghastly wound through the breast. And when Judas saw him, he said to me, ‘Ah! that is a brave soldier, and as good a swordsman as ever I met. I had a hard bout with him this morning, and had he not slipped in making [pg 232]a blow, it might have gone ill with me. Do you know him?’ ‘Yes;’ I said, ‘in the old time, when I mingled with the heathen and walked in their ways.’ ‘See, then, whether you can help him in any way; I love a brave man, be he heathen or no.’ I was willing enough to do anything that I could for him, you may be sure; one glance at that pale face was enough to chase away all the anger with which we had parted. ‘Cleon!’ I said. And he knew me and smiled—a very wan and feeble smile, but still a smile. Then I tried to stanch the blood that was flowing from his wound. ‘Nay,’ said he, ‘’tis idle; I am past all help; let it flow, and I shall be sooner out of my pain. But, dear Menander—nay, pardon me, I should call you Micah—give me some water to drink, for I have a raging thirst.’ I had a leathern bottle of water, and gave him a draught. Then I rested his head upon my shoulder, and bathed his forehead with the water. Judas meanwhile had gone further, and I saw a party of the Chasidim ranging the field, and I thought that they could scarcely pass us by without seeing us, so I said to Cleon, ‘Let me lay you down till these are past; for if they know you as a friend of Jason they will not spare your life. ’Tis better to feign death than to meet it at their hands.’ Then he smiled and said, ‘No need, Micah, to feign death. Your Hammer has smitten me down, and I shall not need another stroke.’ And almost as he spoke the [pg 233]words, he died. And just then the captain came back, and we buried him where he had fallen. The Lord have mercy on him!”