"He spoke no more," Ezra went on, "but I said unto him, 'My little brother, think you there is danger for him?' He nodded in reply, and then I asked, 'Start you at once?' He nodded again and stepped back into the shadow. "At the gateway old Nathan, glad to see his cloak again, let me through, and I hastened home to tell the tale to thee." Ezra's mother had already arisen and, opening the great carved chest, had taken from it warm wrappings in which she was bundling the still sleeping Jonas. "Deborah, the vine-dresser's wife, leaves at sunrise in the caravan for Joppa." As she spoke, she worked busily gathering Jonas's little garments into a bundle. "For friendship's sake she will take Jonas with her. We have, in her, at least one true friend in Bethlehem. Her mother lies at Joppa sore stricken with a fever, and it may be that our boy will take the sickness and perchance will die. But rather would I see him in his baby grave than in the clutch of cruel King Herod." "I will go with thee, wife, to carry the child," said Samuel gravely, seeing that her simple preparations were now finished. "Give thy brother a kiss in farewell, children. It may be thou wilt never see him more." As Naomi stood on tiptoe and pressed a tender kiss upon Jonas's plump cheek, he suddenly opened his dark eyes and, at sight of his sister, broke into a broad smile. "Farewell, Jonas, farewell," whispered Naomi, her eyes full of tears. "When thou returnest we will dig the well behind the myrtle bush, thou and I. Farewell!" Then she laid her hand upon her father's arm. "Father," said she in a low voice, "the little Messiah also traveleth far to-night. I owe to Him my sight and the happiness of us all. I would fain give unto Him a gift. I would that I might give unto Him my little Michmash, that He may be borne swiftly and surely on the long road that He must go." Samuel looked for an instant into the brown eyes upturned to his own. He remembered the darkness, the suffering, the vain hope, the despair, then--blessed be Jehovah! the Light that had appeared and that had so wondrously shone into the life of his little maid. "Yea, child," said he warmly. "No gift that thou couldst give would be too great." "Ezra," cried Naomi, "canst thou overtake them, think you?" But Ezra had already left the room, and could be heard in the shed behind the house fitting the bridle over the astonished Michmash's head. Naomi caught up her little scarlet cloak from out the carven chest, and as Ezra came past the door, leading the little gray donkey, she flung it across her brother's arm. "The journey down into Egypt is far, and the night winds are cold. It may be my scarlet cloak will keep the little Messiah warm." She threw her arms about her donkey's neck and laid her cheek against his soft furry nose.