He told him the story of Simon the leper, and of his visit to the lonely cave.
Joel's sympathies were aroused at once. Ever since his own cure, he had felt that he must bring every afflicted one in the wide world to the great source of healing.
Just then a man stopped at the gate to ask for Phineas. Joel had learned to know him well in the weeks they had been travelling together; it was Thomas.
The boy sprang up eagerly. "Do you know when the Master is going to leave Bethany?" he asked.
"In the morning," answered Thomas, "and right glad I am that it is to be so soon. For when we came down here, I thought it was but to die with Him. He is beset on all sides by secret enemies."
"And will He go out by the same road that we came?"
"It is most probable."
Joel waited for no more information from him, but went back to Jesse to learn the way to the cave.
Jesse was a little fellow, but a keen-eyed one, and was able to give Joel the few simple directions that would lead him the right way.