"When I had any one to command," replied Dion, glancing at the dead bodies lying about the court. "But who are you?" "No matter who," replied the invader; "I demand the person of the daughter of Elkiah." "My life is forfeit for her," replied Dion. "Come on." His challenge was not accepted by his antagonist, who, holding his weapon in guard, asked, "Your name, gallant Greek?" "Captain Dion, at your service, sir. Come on." The man lowered his sword. "Retire, men. Captain Dion, a word with you." "Tell me first by whose authority you have entered here," asked Dion. "By the authority of the God of Israel, and Judas, son of Mattathias, we came. And now, as you can see, since your comrades are dead, we remain here by authority of our own swords. Twenty to one is scarcely fair play, and we have that vantage of you. Yield!" Captain Dion was not more persuaded by the fighting odds against him than he was led by certain other considerations to give up the fight. He at once replied: "I yield upon one condition--that no harm shall come to the lady Deborah." "Our purposes seem to be one," replied the stranger. "Is the name of Jonathan, brother of Judas, sufficient guarantee for her safety?" "Jonathan!" ejaculated Dion. "And yet your entrance in spite of our guards might have made me suspect one surnamed 'The Wily.' Have you Maccabæans taken the city?" "It is enough that we have taken this house, and that you are our prisoner. Will you deliver the woman to us, or shall we take her out over your body? The choice is yours." "I am a Greek soldier," said Dion. "My life will be forfeit by our own rules if I yield. My honor will at least be sustained if I fall guarding my charge." He struck the attitude of defense. "I had rather fall beneath the hands of twenty foemen, than be led out to die like a dog by my own people. Come on! You have my answer." Jonathan did not move. "Guard yourself, then!" said Dion, advancing. Jonathan made no sign of self-defense. Dion lowered his sword. "I cannot kill a man who will not fight." "Plainly not. You are not a soldier of that sort, and thus are unlike your fellow Greeks," said the Maccabæan. "Do not taunt me," was the reply. "I believe that the daughter of Elkiah will be safer with Jonathan than with myself. For her sake I yield." He presented his weapon. "Not so, Captain Dion," replied the Jew. "Keep your sword. You may need it to defend yourself from others. Now lead me to the lady Deborah. I respect her too highly to invade her privacy without heralding by her appointed guardian. Use your sword on me, Captain Dion, if I force her to do aught against her will. We two will go alone." Jonathan bade his men retire. The frightened servants had hidden away at the first noise of the encounter; but as the two men approached Deborah's apartment their way was blocked by old Huldah, who stood with arms akimbo, and behind her Ephraim.