"Treed him? Our friend doesn't look like a climbing animal," replied Judas, laughing. "Yes, I treed him; that is, I got him under a tree. I knew that a man like him--would rest more than he would walk--and--I believe--I got my eyes on every tree big enough to cast shadow over a cony--between here and Bethel before I spied him. I thought he was dead--for he didn't hear me come, and I make as much noise--Jonathan says--as a broken-wheeled chariot. And he would have died--sure--but for some of this stuff"--producing from his jacket next the skin some fragments of black bread. "But even then he couldn't talk until I had given him--but, Judas, you won't put me under arrest if I show you something?" "No, Meph; you are not enrolled as a soldier, so have a right to whatever you find." "Then look at this!" said he, jerking from somewhere under his shirt a flask of bluish bronze inlaid with patterns of mother of pearl. "I found this on the crest above Emmaus. Phew! Isn't it fine? I'll wager you that General Gorgias himself dropped that. Well, I knew there was something good in it--so I just put it to the old man's mouth. My! it oiled up his tongue so that he talked faster than I can--on these stones. And he told me of sailing on the sea--and riding camels on the desert--and of beasts bigger than houses--with tails on both ends--which trampled to death whole companies of soldiers with a single step on them." "Elephants," interjected Judas. "The old man has travelled far if he has seen these monsters. They say the King has sent some of them to Governor Lycias for his next fight with us." "Whew!" whistled the boy. "Can I go and see them?" "Maybe----" "Well," resumed Meph, "when the liquor had dried out of his throat--the old man stopped--and I couldn't get another word out of him except 'Dion! Captain Dion!' I told him I knew a Captain Dion. Then he got up and went with me--for about a furlong when--he fell down--and so up and down--up and down--we went all day--and all night, too--for he wouldn't stop until he got here." The old man was stumbling on with Judas' strong arm beneath his shoulder, now and then putting his hand to his ear, trying to catch what Meph was saying. A few moments later they were within the house. The stranger was utterly exhausted, but, though unable to rise from the couch upon which they had laid him, his eyes were alert to everything. He studied the furniture as if it had memories stored in its carvings. The faces about him seemed to disappoint him, but each swing of the curtain of the chamber riveted his attention. He ate and drank a little of what Deborah brought him; then fell asleep, muttering in his dream: "It's Dion I want. Don't take it, my child. Wait--wait; I will find you. The sea is not wide enough nor the mountains high enough--for Gideon ben Sirach is strong yet." Though broken, his sleep was long. The sun went down, the night passed, and still he slept.