Deborah rose, and with clasped hands, exclaimed:
"Your pity! Do not harm me!"
"Who are you?" said Yusef. "And what brought you to such a place?"
"I am fleeing from Jerusalem. I am the daughter of Elkiah."
"Elkiah's daughter a fugitive, and in such a plight? Has your brother turned you out? We had heard that he was in high feather with his new friends."
"Alas!" said Deborah, "my brother is himself endangered. All are in danger there. Have you not heard?"
"We have heard nothing. Tell us."
"Not heard!" said Deborah, in feigned surprise. "The Romans, the strong people from the west, from over the Great Sea, from beyond Cyprus, beyond Greece, are coming. It is reported that their fleets are seen from the shore; that they have overcome the Syrian ships; that they have made alliance with Egypt; that vast armies, the armies that destroyed Perseus, are about to march through the desert, and come upon Syria by way of the valley. The Greeks in Jerusalem distrust the Jews who have submitted. They believe that my people have played them false, and will turn to the Romans. Meton is slaughtering us."
The two Arabs looked at each other with faces that showed perplexity. They withdrew to a little distance. Deborah could not catch all their words, but enough to know that her ruse was not altogether futile. However well bribed with Greek gold, the tribesmen would not risk the alliance of Antiochus if this new power of Rome were to come upon the scene. The Republic of the West was regarded as invincible along the Great Sea, but had not yet essayed to strike Asia. If the crash of empires were to take place it were wise for the nomadic peoples to throw themselves with neither Greek nor Roman until there were some signs as to which power would prove the stronger.
The older man remounted.