"So you have found my book, my fair son. I was coming back to look for it, and am right glad to see it safe. But you seem greatly interested." Jack looked up with wide-open eyes full of eager interest and a kind of reverential awe. "Oh, sir, please tell me—forgive me if I am forward—but do please tell me, is not this book a Bible?" CHAPTER V. THE CHRISTIAN BROTHER. The stranger paused a moment before answering Jack's question, and scrutinized his face. "Why do you think it a Bible?" he asked. "Because, sir, I find words here like those I have heard before, and which I was told were in the Bible. Here is the very tale of that son who left his father and his home, and went away to waste his goods in a far country, which Uncle Thomas told me. And here are those other words, 'Fear ye not them which kill the body and be not able to kill the soul.' Oh, sir, is it not really a Bible?" The stranger dismounted from his horse and walked slowly along by Jack's side. "My dear boy," said he gravely but kindly, "will you tell me from whom you have learned so much of Holy Scripture? Nay, I will not ask, if it is a secret," he added, seeing Jack hesitate. "I am a stranger, and cannot reasonably ask you to trust me at sight. Nevertheless, I will trust you, and answer your questions. This book is a part of Holy Scripture, that part which contains the life and sayings of our Lord, and the letters of His Apostles, lately translated, and done into English, that plain men may read that which it concerneth their salvation to know. It is to be hoped, in time, that we shall have the whole Bible in English, but the New Testament is put forth first as being the most important to Christian men." Jack walked on in silence, still looking at the precious volume. "I would give all I have," said he at last, "for such a book as this." "Would you, indeed?" asked the stranger. "That is verily in accordance with Holy Writ, which saith, 'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in the field, the which a man found and hid it; and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.'" "But, dear lad, you are but young and tender, and the possession of this book hath its dangers. There be many who look upon it as the work of the devil and his servants. Sir Thomas More, himself—albeit in many respects a good and wise man—would gladly burn both the books and their authors and readers. Such risks are not for children like you." "But, sir, does not this very book say we are not to fear them which kill the body?" asked Jack. "Did not the man in the parable you have just spoken sell all he had to buy the treasure hid in a field?" "Even so, my son." "My uncle's father was burned for having in his house and reading an English Bible," pursued Jack, "and he went to his death with joy. Oh, sir, I have so longed and prayed to see an English or Latin Bible!" "Ay, so! You can read your Latin Bible," said the stranger, "You are, then, a scholar?"