"I am Nadan, son of Yusef. My father bids me say, 'Let there be peace between him and the son of Mattathias."
"Let there be peace!" responded Judas.
He picked from the ground a round stone, broke it in twain upon a rock, and gave the half to Nadan.
"Nay, let me give better pledge of our covenant," said the young man. "The highway from Jericho is this hour filled with the herds of Ben Aaron of Masada, and ten score men are coming to you."
"The road is dangerous for so few," interjected Judas.
"Not so," replied Nadan, "since this——"
He held in his hand a piece of stone not dissimilar to that Judas had given him.
"Ben Aaron holds the other half. Is it enough?"
Judas' face revealed an instant of incredulity; but the eager frankness of the young man dispelled it.