They drew nigh to the gate Gennath, where a guard was stationed. Simon’s well-known face procured a ready passport both for himself and his companion. “Who is he that rides with thee?” asked the captain of Simon. “In his way as good a patriot as myself,” was the answer. The two passed through the gate and galloped off in the moonlight, the sense of freedom and the rapid motion through the night air causing Crispus to tingle with exhilaration. It was well that Simon remained with him. Twice they were stopped by bands of Zealots, who speedily withdrew on recognizing the “Scourge of the Romans.” Crispus, though in a way grateful for Simon’s protection, did not feel much disposed to talk with him; the Zealot, on his part, was moody and taciturn, and so the strangely-assorted pair rode side by side with scarce a word till in the first faint light of an Eastern dawn the distant towers of Antipatris rose to view. At about a hundred yards from the gate Simon drew rein. “We part here.” “Good! And now why this friendly act on your part?” “My bringing you here is a proof that Simon the Black can sometimes keep faith. I pledged my word to your father, Cestius, to conduct you safely to Antipatris. He will tell you the story,” added the Zealot, turning as if about to ride off. “I prefer to hear it now, and from you,” said Crispus, a suspicion of the truth beginning to dawn upon his mind. “Well, since thou art curious, listen. On the night following Cestius’ investment of the city, a youth was seen descending the wall by a rope. I dispatched a party, who brought him back. Upon him I found a letter, whose contents I kept to myself. On the sixth night of the siege our affairs being, as you may remember, a little desperate, I went to the Roman camp, and was admitted to the presence of Cestius. ‘Your son is alive,’ I said, ‘as this letter plainly shows; but he shall die, unless you immediately withdraw your troops.’ He threatened to hang me for daring to come with such a message. ‘As you will,’ I answered, ‘but know this, I have left behind me the order that if I am not back in the city within three hours Crispus is to be brought forth upon the battlements and crucified.’ “That stayed his hand. He fell to thinking, and the end of it was that love for his son triumphed over his duty to the state. But I made it my condition not to surrender you till he had entirely withdrawn to Cæsarea.” “And you broke your promise. My father pledged his word to retreat, and you attacked him during that retreat.” “Nay, I broke no promise, for I warned Cestius that if he retired I should be unable to check the Zealots from following. ‘Let them follow,’ were his words. He welcomed the idea of pursuit, thinking to give us over to the sword, but he found he had to deal with men that could fight.” “Aye, from the safe covert of the hill-tops. Your courage stopped with the open plain.”