And Hope, the undying consoler within us, took courage at the words of the old man and at the slow-footed pace of the night; and thought it was long, long till the morning, and that the angel of Life might still come, and relieve from his awful watch the angel of Death. An hour more of silence that could be felt, and of unutterable suspense—and a hand was laid softly upon my shoulder. The rope that bound me was disengaged, and my deliverer drew me stealthily along the beach, and away from the tent where Barabbas lay dreaming of plundered caravans and cruel uncles who enriched him for the murder of their nephews. The guide did not speak until we stood on the mound at the mouth of the great ravine, where the Dead Sea first broke upon my sight. “You are free,” he said. “You are a child, abused and betrayed. You shall not be murdered. Robber as I am, there is something in my heart which is touched by your sorrows. Go back to life, if not to happiness. God perhaps will deliver you from Magistus, as He has through me delivered you from Barabbas.” “Come with me,” said I; “leave this wretched and dangerous life in the wilderness. Share our fate and fortune in Bethany.” “Do not speak of it,” he answered; “it is impossible. Hasten on your journey, or all may be lost.” “But,” said I, clinging to him, “Barabbas will kill you when he finds I have escaped.” “No! I have contrived against that. I am cunning and I shall succeed.” “The poor old Persian will be murdered!” “No! He will be ransomed to-morrow. Away!” he continued excitedly; “a moment’s delay may be fatal. Away!” “Stay!” said I, eagerly; “tell me the name of my benefactor, that I may repeat it in my prayers.” “I have no name, no home. I am the Son of the Desert.” He hurried softly away toward the tent, and I crept up the ravine in the darkness. [Illustration: Ornament] [Illustration: Ornament] IV. _IN THE WILDERNESS._ [Illustration: Initial] Afraid of the dark and fearful gorge, full of rocks and pitfalls and unseen dangers; afraid of the unpeopled desert which awaited me above; afraid of wild beasts, serpents, lepers and evil spirits; afraid of the silence and solitude of night by the Salt Sea; afraid of all things behind me and all before; I ascended cautiously and painfully the narrow path, if path it might be called, praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for protection. I, who had never been out of my father’s house at that hour of the night in my life, thus found myself amid a complication of circumstances which might have appalled the stoutest heart.