“Seest thou that brightness approaching us?”
“I see nothing,” replied Nazarius.
But Peter shaded his eyes with his hand, and said after a while,
“Some figure is coming in the gleam of the sun.” But not the slightest sound of steps reached their ears. It was perfectly still all around. Nazarius saw only that the trees were quivering in the distance, as if some one were shaking them, and the light was spreading more broadly over the plain. He looked with wonder at the Apostle.
“Rabbi! what ails thee?” cried he, with alarm.
The pilgrim’s staff fell from Peter’s hands to the earth; his eyes were looking forward, motionless; his mouth was open; on his face were depicted astonishment, delight, rapture.
Then he threw himself on his knees, his arms stretched forward; and this cry left his lips,—
“O Christ! O Christ!”
He fell with his face to the earth, as if kissing some one’s feet.
The silence continued long; then were heard the words of the aged man, broken by sobs,—