The discovery that an heir of Shattuck had been born complicated the matter of title to his estate in Jerusalem. Was this child living? If so, he would now be about the thirtieth year of life. Glaucon spent the day in instructing a faithful envoy, and commissioning him to Alexandria to ferret out the facts.
This messenger had scarcely gained the south road leading to Gaza when the crowds of panic-driven citizens burst through the northern and western gates, some going to their houses, but many hastening to the citadel, deeming the city walls too weak to withstand the Maccabæan deluge they imagined to be pouring after them.
The bewilderment of Seron, and his declaration that his defeat was brought about by unearthly agencies, which neither generalship nor numbers could resist, while designed to save his own reputation, added to the consternation of the people. Renegade Jews began to repent of their apostacy. They increased the alarm of the foreigners by the sudden revival of their own faith in the marvels of Jewish history, and their Scriptural accounts of the waves of the Red Sea, and the magic in the hands of Aaron and Hur when they upheld the arms of Moses. Frightened credulity saw the afternoon shadows that day grow shorter instead of longer, as they did at the battle of Ajalon in Joshua's time. Some averred that at nightfall the sun, as if to make up for lost time, made a sudden plunge to his setting, splashing the waves of the Great Sea until like billows of blood they mingled with those of fire along the horizon.
The disastrous issue of the battle led Glaucon to seek the secret closets in his own house, to conceal in them his riches of coins and jewels, and certain papers which would be more honored in Antioch than in Jerusalem, if the Maccabæans should enter. One such hiding-place he knew was in the cellar. He had never opened it. From a lad he had avoided dark places. Yet he thought he knew how to distinguish the spot. It was the fourth stone from the corner nearest the steps. He had often heard it spoken of as the "trap." He felt his own pallor as he descended the steps; but a chill that made his flesh sensitively shrivel seized him when he lifted this stone, for a damp air like the breath of ghosts issued from the opening. Summoning all his courage, he thrust his trembling hands down, feeling for alcoves or shelves in the hollow dark space. Suddenly his timid nerves failed him. There was a subterranean sound; a rustling as of winding-sheets; footfalls soft and muffled, such as ghosts might make. He would probably have fainted had not his greed given him strength. Clutching his bags he glided away like a frightened lizard.
A few moments later voices came out of the hole.
"It is strange," said Caleb, "I smelt a light."
"I, too, thought I saw a gleam," said Deborah. "But, surely, I lowered the stone when I came down the other day. Have you raised it since?"
"I was down but once while you were away," replied the lad, "and I know I closed it, for see! here I pinched my finger in setting the great stone back."
"It was too heavy for you, child. You should not have come down here," replied Deborah.