"How much longer?" the citizen asked, with a groan.
"Ask that of the Gods," the soldier replied indifferently; "but I think the end will be soon, unless Moloch relents."
Joel and Nathan passed on, their appearance attracting no attention in a city where there were so many of their race.
"Hasten!" Nathan said. "Alexander is coming!"
As they advanced toward the quarter occupied by the Israelites, the streets became filled with people, nearly all of whom seemed to be drawn in the same direction that they themselves were taking. They fell in with a man who strode on with knitted brows and lips compressed. By his appearance he was a Hebrew, and Nathan addressed him in the Hebrew tongue.
"Whither goest thou?" he asked.
"To save the innocent from slaughter," the man replied fiercely. "Come with me if ye are men!"
"We will come with thee," Nathan said.
"There are the priests!" Joel exclaimed.
Half a dozen of the ministers of Baal, surrounded by a guard of soldiers, came down a cross street. They carried in their hands small bundles of short cords with which to bind the limbs of their victims. The crowd gave way before them, gazing at their black robes and stern, fanatical faces with curiosity mingled with dread.