"It must be," said the youth, with a tone of authority which, however, indicated that he was commanding himself rather than her. "The way is full of dangers. Few ever cross the great gorge of the lower Kedron; and none but those who know the path. All the wild beasts, driven from the open, find lair in its caves and thickets." "Then I will follow the highway to Jericho, and there take the road by the sea," said Deborah. "Men might be more cruel than the beasts," was the Arab's reply. "You cannot go alone. If I may not accompany you, I must follow; for my father's bidding I would not dare to disobey. He will require of me an accounting of my safe conduct of you to the fortress of your kinsman." "Not if I myself release you from the duty." "You cannot. Yusef is lord of these hills. Besides you are his guest until the shadow of Masada itself protects you. It shall never be said that ill has befallen the daughter of Elkiah anywhere within the echo of Yusef's or Nadan's bugle." Deborah replied with look and tone that completely won her companion: "Sheikh Yusef is very gracious. The house of Elkiah will ever remember his kindness this day, and that of his son." Nadan fell upon one knee, and kissed the hem of her garment. "I beg you then to lead the way at once," said Deborah, "for we must hasten." The Arab readjusted the saddle. "I shall walk," said Deborah. "That cannot be," replied the young man, catching a glimpse of her broken sandal. "And see, even Emir forbids it." The horse had thrust his long nose into her hands. "Emir--the Prince--and does he not deserve the name?" said Nadan, who evidently shared his personal conceit with his pride in his beast. "Emir's stock is as old and pure as the fountain of Dûk by the city of Jericho, whose waters they say your prophet Elisha healed--Emir will have no other rider to-day than yourself. See, he himself says so," for the horse was rubbing his head against her shoulder. Nadan made his hand the stirrup, and lifted Deborah to the saddle. "Were the daughter of Elkiah as ignorant of horses as they say all Jerusalem women are, Emir would carry you as safely as if he had arms, and you lay within them. But you are no stranger to the saddle. Come, Emir, we must be to-night at Masada." He patted the head of the horse. "You remember, my Emir, the tournament you had with Ben Aaron's Nagid, which means the same as Emir? It was Prince against Prince indeed. Our lady should have seen us that day. Eh, Emir?" The horse shook his long mane, pawed the ground, and whinnied his challenge, as if his master's words were the promise of another contest. Nadan took the single rein and led the way. Neither spoke for a long while. At length Deborah gave a cry. Emir raised his head, and neighed like the blast of a trumpet.