Homo Sum -- Volume 05

the Holy Mountain had lighted many corpses of Blemmyes, a

nd Agapitus led his followers towards the dead. The congregation gathered in a half-circle round their peaceful brethren, and heard the blessing that their pastor pronounced over the noble victims who had shed their blood in fighting the heathen. When it was ended those who in life had been their nearest and dearest went up t

im, "I felt forced and driven out into the world, and away from my fathe

attle for those he loved," s

efending the tower; but look here this girl-poor child- who used to keep your goats, died

dess, pressed a kiss on her small, cold hand, and

an tell me that in my own house. Come and be our guest as long as it pleases

he savior of the oasis. When the wailing women appeared he knelt once more at the head of his

glanced up at the window where more than once he had seen Sirona,

the hall, which was lighted up, Dorothea came has

ead, and she added, "Ho

soonest from Klysma

andr

nk," replied Petrus, loo

Hermas and introdu

lf. Supper was ready, and Hermas was invited to share it. The mistress gave her daughter a sign to make preparations for their guest, but Petrus detain

ready eaten,"

, and Petrus said with a melancholy smile

nd yet I honestly say-not merely to comfort you-it is most probable that he has not met with any accident in the mount

the same, saying with a deep sigh, as he turned to Marthana-who, while she offered

igned round the large table, to-da

re to tell me how the shepherdess Miriam lost her li

s. "She supplied my poor fathe

errupted Marthana, "sh

ys sai

uiet, and when I ceased she wanted to hear more and still more, until I had too much of it and went away. Then she would grow angry, and if I would not do her will she would scold me with bad words. But she always came again, and as I had no other companion and she was the only creature who cared to listen to me, I was very well-content that she should prefer our well to all the others. Then we grew order and I began to be afraid of her, for she would talk in such a godless way-and she even died a heathen.

e were fighting with the Blemmyes in the green hollow that leads from the mountain to the sea. They roared with fury like wild beasts, for before we could get to the sea the fishermen in the little town below had discovered their boats, which they had hidden under sand and stones, and had carried them off to their harbor. The boy from Raithu who accompanied me, had by my orders kept

hey jumped and climbed from rock to rock like mountain goats and then shot down their reed-arrows from above. Thr

shouted like a madman and wrestled with the heathen now here and now there, and more than once lifted my axe to cleave a skull. At the

isfortune had happened. I had no time for reflection, for before I could gain any certain information by word of mouth, a captain of the heathen had seized me, and we came to a life and death struggle before Miriam's very eyes. My opponent was strong, but I showed the girl-who had often taunted me for being a weakling because I obeyed my father in everything-that I need yield to no one. I could not have borne to be vanq

eting the lad's sentence, for at the recollection of the occur

d her as she fell dying and took her curly head on my knees and spoke her name; she opened her eyes once more, and spoke mine softly and with indescribable tenderness. I had never thought that

drying her eyes, "but for such a d

y my sweetest flowers on her grave. May I cut som

," replied Dorothea. "Now go to

Antonius and Jethro com

nquire among the fishermen. Had the centurion-" and as he spoke the young soldier looked down in some embarrassmen

entioned the name of Paulus, who was so dear to you and your father. Do you kno

Hermas. "How can

nt Alexandrian recognized it as his own before us all and allowed the Gaul to punish him. He

he told me that my father was dead. When he parted from me, he said he was of all sinners the greatest, and that I should hear it said down in the oasis. But I know better; he is great-hearted and good

t is he. For me, and to save me from punishment and my father from sorrow, he owned a sin that he never committed. Such a deed

angrily interrupting the youth's vehement spee

I fled, and said he would set it all right, and sent me away-to take my place and save my father a great trouble. Look at me as severely as you will, Dorothea, but it was only in thoughtless folly that I slipped into the Gaul's house that evening, and by the memory of my father-of whom heaven has this day bereft me-I swear that Sirona only amused herself with me as wit

changed a meaning glan

it would have become us better to guess something of this than to doubt Sirona. From the first it certainly seemed to me imp

ed Petrus. "If he had boasted of some noble deed, we s

eart is bleeding. Why did you not come to us, Hermas, if you wa

silent; but soon he recollect

u thanks for your kindness but I cannot bear to sta

eks; Marthana held her hand and stroked it, and the senator stepped to the window and sighed deeply as he looked down into the dark court. Sorrow lay on all their hearts like a heavy leaden burden. All was still in the spacious room, only now a

to him some sincere word of affection; but just then the dogs in the yard barked,

kely it

en a light tap was heard at the court-yard gate. "It is

to him as he leaned far out of the window a

that k

senator nor the women were able to hear

ver howls like that, but when you come h

d as the dogs, obedient to this signal, were silent, he once more called o

dly came from the gate to the window, saying, "It is I, Petrus, the fugitive Sirona." Hardly had the words tremulously pierced the silence,

ng her to speak, she seized her hand and drew her-in spite of the slight resistance she offered-with many affectionate exclamations up the steps and into the sitting-room. Petrus and Dorothea met her on the threshold, and the latter pressed her to her heart, kissed her

in the darkness. Her sandals were cut by the sharp rocks, and hung in strips to her bleeding feet, her beautiful hair was tumbled b

ient-her heart full of dread for him and of anxiety as t

ather, a mother, a sister opened their arms to her, and an affectionate home smiled upon her. Her heart and soul overfl

ken this perilous night-journey. Marthana had tenderly approached her, but she gently put her aside, saying, "Not just now, dear girl. I have already wasted an hour, for I lost my

eks crimsoned while Petrus turned pale, and, interrupting her, asked i

incessantly cooled his wound, and towards mid-day he opened his eyes and knew me again, and said you would be anxious about him. After sundown he went to sleep, but he is not wholly free from fever, and as soon as Paulus came in I set out to quiet your anxiety and to entreat you to give me a cooling potion, that I may return to him with

s, before Sirona had ended. "Quick, the basket with the bandages. I wi

than you represent?"

live? an

, "that with good nursing the sic

can lead

shall never succeed in finding my way back, for I noticed no way- marks!

pion?" as

exclaimed Sirona. "

plied Petrus. "But

r to cool Polykarp's wound, Paul

staff, and called to Dorothea, "Do you prepare the draught, the bandages, torches, and you

Marthana. "No, no; you st

an wait here?" asked Dorot

," replied Petrus evasively, "and

d the mother, "but take the girl with

," said the senator,

put many questions and say many affectionate words to Sirona. Marthana, even without interrupting her work, set f

h wine and pure water, Sirona said, "Now lend me a pair of your strongest sandals, for mine are all

the table and placed it on the pavement, exclaiming, as she knelt down in front of Sirona and took her sl

hing the wounds in Sirona's feet; while she was wrapping t

o bind you both." A faint flush overspread Sirona's cheeks, but Dorothea was sudd

his friend Magadon and his sons, and several slaves, found it necessary to strictly forbid her to accompany them. He felt sure

the room he whispered a few words to his

ked, "what has happe

om Paulus," she answered. "Now

s it suits you to stay with us. You need not thank us-we are deeply in your debt. Farewell till we meet again w

eaconess said, "Now I will go and make up

warmly and eagerly that the deaconess gratefully offered her hand to her young friend. Then she said, "I will leave you alone for a fe

good and loving God, and I will never more pray to any other. The mere thought of Him st

ed; she bent over Sirona, kissed her forehead and her li

"although there is here no image and no altar. My God i

themselves, but for another; and both in their sorrow could give thanks-Sirona, because in Doroth