Their parting shots had no effect upon the advance of the Jews, who in a wild, tumultuous mass swept forward up the broad, white, dusty road and over the brow of the hill; in course of time they, too, like the Romans, became lost to view. Crispus fully expected to see them ere long come surging back in headlong flight; but no! Sounds as of tumult and fighting reached his ears, but these sounds becoming more and more distant showed that it was _not_ the Jews who were fleeing. Sorrowfully he lay down, and while vainly trying--for he would not accept Vashti’s explanation of the matter--to devise some theory to account for a retreat so strange, he fell asleep. Vashti seized the opportunity to steal quietly off, and making her way to the temple turned into the Eastern Cloister or Solomon’s Colonnade. Here the Christians of Jerusalem were wont to meet, drawn thither by the knowledge that this place had been a favorite resort of their Lord while upon earth. As Vashti made her way along this arcade she came upon a little group--men, women, and children--whom she recognized as adherents of the faith, the holy band that had survived the persecutions alike of Jewish Sanhedrim and Roman procurator. Their air, sad yet sweet, and the character of their attire--for they were habited as if for a long journey--told her that they were taking their last farewell of the temple. Some were gazing wistfully around, as well knowing that they would see the place no more; a few knelt reverently upon the pavement, and kissed the stones that had once been trodden by the hallowed feet of the Saviour. Among them, exercising a mild and paternal authority, there moved one, dignified and saintly in aspect, Simeon, son of Cleophas, revered as being the cousin, according to the flesh, of the crucified Master. A pillar of the church, and a witness of the truth, he had already lived seventy years, and was destined, either from the pure and temperate character of his life or from being specially favored by heaven, to live yet fifty more, terminating his long life by a glorious martyrdom.[19] It was his hand that had baptized Vashti, whom he now greeted with a gentle smile. “You are quitting the city?” said she, sorrowfully. “Even so,” returned Simeon; “at intervals, and in small groups, that we may not attract the attention of our enemies. We have seen the sign foretold by the Lord while He was yet with us: ‘Jerusalem compassed with armies.’ Therefore do we obey His voice and hasten our departure, lest the Zealots should return to intercept our flight. The door is open; who can tell how soon it may be shut? We have a further sign in the Messianic fountain of Siloam that has withdrawn its waters from this wicked city.” “And whither are you going?”