Stephanus listened to his son and would not wake him, when he heard his heavy and regular breathing. He curled himself up shivering under the sheep-skin which covered only half his body, for the icy night wind now blew through the opening of the cave, which by day was as hot as an oven. Some long minutes wore away; at last he thought he perceived that Hermas had raised himself. Yes, the sleeper must have wakened, for he began to speak, and to call on the name of God. The old man turned to his son and began softly, "Do you hear me, my boy?" "I cannot sleep," answered the youth. "Then give me something to drink," asked Stephanus, "my wound burns intolerably." Hermas rose at once, and reached the water-jar to the sufferer. "Thanks, thanks, my child," said the old man, feeling for the neck of the jar. But he could not find it, and exclaimed with surprise: "How damp and cold it is--this is clay, and our jar was a gourd." "I have broken it," interrupted Hermas, "and Paulus lent me his." "Well, well," said Stephanus anxious for drink; he gave the jar back to his son, and waited till he had stretched himself again on his couch. Then he asked anxiously: "You were out a long time this evening, the gourd is broken, and you groaned in your sleep. Whom did you meet?" "A demon of hell," answered Hermas. "And now the fiend pursues me into our cave, and torments me in a variety of shapes." "Drive it out then and pray," said the old man gravely. "Unclean spirits flee at the name of God." "I have called upon Him," sighed Hermas, "but in vain; I see women with ruddy lips and flowing Hair, and white marble figures with rounded limbs and flashing eyes beckon to me again and again." "Then take the scourge," ordered the father, "and so win peace." Hermas once more obediently rose, and went out into the air with the scourge; the narrow limits of the cave did not admit of his swinging it with all the strength of his arms. Very soon Stephanus heard the whistle of the leathern thongs through the stillness of the night, their hard blows on the springy muscles of the man and his son's painful groaning. At each blow the old man shrank as if it had fallen on himself. At last he cried as loud as he was able "Enough--that is enough." Hermas came back into the cave, his father called him to his couch, and desired him to join with him in prayer. After the 'Amen' he stroked the lad's abundant hair and said, "Since you went to Alexandria, you have been quite another being. I would I had withstood bishop Agapitus, and forbidden you the journey. Soon, I know, my Saviour will call me to himself, and no one will keep you here; then the tempter will come to you, and all the splendors of the great city, which after all only shine like rotten wood, like shining snakes and poisonous purple-berries--" "I do not care for them," interrupted Hermas, "the noisy place bewildered and frightened me. Never, never will I tread the spot again."