The Brook Kerith: A Syrian story Read online

  We are to understand, Son, Dan said, on hearing that the fourthpreceptor whom he had engaged to teach his son Hebrew had failed to givesatisfaction, that you cannot learn from anybody but Azariah. Now, willyou tell us what there is in Azariah more than in Shimshai, Benaiah orZebad? and he waited for his son to speak, but as Joseph did not answerhe asked: is it because he looks more like a prophet than any of theothers? And Joseph, who still dreaded any allusion to prophets, turnedinto his corner mortified. But Rachel came forward directly and takingthe child by the shoulders led him back to his father, asking Dan with atrace of anger in her voice why he should think it strange that thechild should prefer to learn from Azariah rather than from a witheredpatriarch who never could keep his eyes open but always sat dozing inhis chair like one in a dream.

  It wasn't, Granny, because he went to sleep often; I could have kept himawake by kicking him under the table. Joseph stopped suddenly and lookedfrom one to the other. Why then? his father asked, and on being pressedto say why he didn't want to learn Hebrew he said he had come to hateHebrew, an admission which rendered his parents speechless for a moment.Come to hate Hebrew, they repeated one after the other till frightenedby their solemnity Joseph blurted out: you wouldn't like Hebrew if thescholar's fleas jumped on to you the moment you began. And pulling uphis sleeves Joseph exhibited his arms. How could I learn Hebrew withthree fleas biting me and all at one time, one here, another there and athird down yonder. He always has three or four about him. No, Father,don't, don't ask me to learn Hebrew any more. But, Joseph, all Hebrewscholars haven't fleas about them. An unbelieving face confronted them,and Joseph looked as if he were uncertain whether he should laugh orcry: but seeing that his parents liked his story he began to laugh.We've tried several preceptors but you're hard to please, Joseph. Nowwhat fault did you find with--and while Dan searched his memory for thename Joseph interjected that the little fellow whose back bulged likeGranny's chest wouldn't let him read the interesting parts of theScriptures but kept him always at the Psalms and the Proverbs. And hewas always telling me about Hillel, who was a good man, but good menaren't as interesting as prophets, Joseph rapped out. And wilt thou tellus what he told thee about these pious men? Dan asked, a smile playingabout his long thin mouth. That the law didn't matter as long as we werevirtuous, Joseph muttered, and he was always explaining the stories thatI understood quite well when Granny told them. So it was Hiram thatconfirmed you in your distaste for Hebrew, Dan said, and the child stoodlooking at his father, not quite sure if it would be in his interest toaccept or repudiate the suggestion. He would have refused to give adirect answer (such is the way of children) but the servant relieved himof his embarrassment: Azariah was at the gate asking for shelter fromthe rain.

  From the rain! Dan said, rising suddenly. It is coming down very fast,Mother, but we were so engaged in listening to Joseph that we didn'thear it. Shall we ask him in, Joseph? The child's face lighted up. Nowisn't it strange, Rachel said, he should be here to-day? We haven't seenhim for months, and now in the middle of a talk about tutors--aren't yougoing to ask him in? Of course, Dan said, and he instructed the servantto ask the scribe to come upstairs. And now, Joseph, I hope you'lllisten to all that Azariah says, giving quiet and reasonable answers.And not too many questions, mind!

  Joseph promised to be good and quiet and to keep himself from puttingquestions. I will listen attentively, he said, and he seized on the lastchance available to his tongue to tell that he had often seen Azariah inthe lanes. He doesn't see us, he walks like one in a dream, his hairblowing in the wind. But when he does see us he speaks very kindly ... Ithink I'd like to learn Hebrew from him. Rachel laid her finger on herlips; the door opened and Azariah advanced into the room with a longgrave Jewish stride, apologising to Dan as he came for his suddenintrusion into their midst, mentioning the heavy rain in a gracefulphrase. Joseph, who was on the watch for everything, could see that hisfather was full of respect for Azariah, and hearing him say that it wassome years since Azariah had been in his house he began to wonder ifthere had been a quarrel between them; it seemed to him that his fatherwas a little afraid of Azariah, which was strange, for he himself didnot feel in the least afraid of Azariah but an almost uncontrollabledesire to go and sit on his knee.

  Here is my boy Joseph: and, Azariah, you will be interested to hear thatwe were talking about you for the last quarter of an hour.

  Azariah raised his thick eyebrows and waited to be told how he had cometo be the subject of their talk, though he half knew the reason, for ina village like Magdala it soon gets about that four preceptors have beensent away unable to teach the rich man's son. He has made up his mind,Dan said, to learn Hebrew and Greek from none but you. No, Father, Ididn't make up my mind. But I couldn't learn from the others and I toldyou why. Are you sure that you can learn from me? Azariah asked. Josephbecame shy at once, but he liked to feel Azariah's friendly hand uponhis shoulder, and when Dan asked the scribe to be seated Joseph followedhim, and standing beside his chair asked him if he would teach himHebrew, a question Azariah did not answer. You will teach me, heinsisted, and Dan and Rachel kept silence, so that they might betterobserve Joseph working round Azariah with questions; and they wereamused, for Joseph's curiosity had overcome his shyness; and, quiteforgetful of his promise to listen and not to talk, he had begun to begthe scribe to tell him if the language they spoke had been brought backfrom Babylon, and how long it was since people had ceased to speakHebrew. Azariah set himself to answer these questions; Joseph gave himclose attention, and when Azariah ceased speaking he said: when may Ibegin my lessons? And he put the question so innocently that his fathercould not help laughing. But, Joseph, he said, Azariah has not yetpromised to teach you, and I wouldn't advise him to try to teach a boythat has refused to learn from four preceptors. But it will be differentwith you, Sir, Joseph murmured, taking Azariah's hand. You will teachme, won't you? When will you begin?

  Azariah answered that it could not be this week, for he was going toArimathea. The town we came from, Dan said. I am still known as Dan ofArimathea, though I have lived here twenty years. I too shall be knownas Joseph of Arimathea, Joseph interjected. I'd like to be Joseph ofArimathea much better than Joseph of Magdala.

  You needn't shake your head at Magdala, Dan said. Magdala has done wellfor us. To which Joseph answered nothing, but it was not long, however,before he went to his father saying that he would like to go toArimathea, and in charge of Azariah.

  You are asking too much, Joseph, his father answered him. No, I don'tthink I am, and his honour Azariah doesn't think so, Joseph cried, forhis heart was already set upon this holiday. Azariah has perhapspromised to teach you Hebrew. Isn't that enough? his father remarked.Now you want him to take you to Arimathea. But if he likes to take me,Joseph replied, and he cast such a winning glance at Azariah that thescribe was moved to say that he would be glad to take charge of the boyif his parents would confide him to his care. Whereupon Joseph threw hisarms about his father, but finding him somewhat indifferent he went tohis grandmother, who welcomed his embrace, and in return for it pleadedthat the boy should not be denied this small pleasure. But Dan, who onlyhalf liked to part with his son, tried to hide his feelings from hismother, who had guessed them already, with a joke, saying to Azariahthat he was a brave man to undertake the charge of so wayward a boy. Ishall not spoil him, and if he fails to obey he'll have to find someoneelse to teach him Hebrew, Azariah answered. I think the rain is nowover, he said. Some drops were still falling but the sky wasbrightening, and he returned from the window to where Joseph wasstanding, and laying his hand on his head promised to come for him inthe morning.

  We shall hear no more about fleas preventing thee from study, Dan saidto his son, and very much offended Joseph withdrew to his room, andstood looking at the spot in which he had seen Samuel, asking himself ifthe prophet would appear to him in Arimathea and if it would be by thefountain whither the maidens used to come to draw water. Samuel and themaidens seemed to jar a little, and as he coul
d not think of themtogether he fell to thinking of the rock on which the seer used to offersacrifices. It was still there and somebody would be about to directthem to it, and it would be under this rock that Azariah would read tohim all that Samuel had said to Saul. But we shall be riding all day, hesaid to himself, Arimathea must be a long long way from here, and hefled downstairs to ask his father if Azariah would call for him at thehead of a caravan, whether he would ride on a camel or a mule or ahorse: he thought he would like to ride a camel, and awoke many times inthe night, once rolling out of his bed, for in a dream the ungainlyanimal had jolted him from off his hump.

  And the old woman's patience was nigh exhausted when he cried: Granny,it is day, and bade her leave her bed and come to the window to tell himif day were not breaking; but she answered: get thee back to thy bed,for 'tis the moon shining down the sky, simpleton. The sun won't giveway an hour to the moon nor the moon an hour to the sun because thou'rtgoing to Arimathea. And methinks, Joseph, that to some the morrow isalways better than to-day, and yesterday better than either,--a remarkthat puzzled Joseph and kept him from his rest. Didst never hear,Joseph, that it is a clever chicken that crows in the egg? the old womancontinued, and who knows but Azariah will forget to come for thee! Hewon't forget, Granny, Joseph uttered in so doleful a tone that Rachelrepented and promised Joseph she would wake him in time; and as she hadnever failed to keep her promise to him he allowed sleep to close hiseyelids. And once asleep he was hard to awaken. At six in the morningsleep seemed to him better than Arimathea, but once awake Rachel couldnot hand him his clothes fast enough; he escaped from her hands,dressing himself as he ran into the lanes, and while tying his sandalsat the gate he forgot them and stood at gaze, wondering whether Azariahwould come to fetch him on a horse or an ass or a mule or a camel.

  At last the sound of hooves came through the dusk, and a moment aftersome three or four camels led the way; and there were horses too andasses and mules, and the mules were caparisoned gaily, the one reservedfor Joseph's riding more richly than the others--a tall fine animal bywhich he was proud to stand, asking questions of the muleteer, whileadmiring the dark docile eyes shaded with black lashes. Now why do wedelay? he asked Azariah, who reminded him--and somewhat tritely--that hehad not yet said good-bye to his parents. But they know I'm going withyou, Sir, he answered. Azariah would not, however, allow Joseph to mounthis mule till he had bidden good-bye to his father and grandmother, andhe brought the boy back to the house, but without earning Dan'sapproval, who was ashamed before Azariah of his son's eagerness to leavehome; a subtlety that escaped Rachel who chided Dan saying: try toremember if it wasn't the same with thee, for I can remember thine eyessparkling at the sight of a horse and thy knees all of an itch to be onto him. Well, said Dan, he'll have enough riding before the day is over,and I reckon his little backside will be sore before they halt at thegates of Arimathea; a remark that caused Rachel to turn amazed eyes onher son and to answer harshly that since he had so much foresight shehoped he had not forgotten to tell Azariah that Joseph must have a longrest at midday. But thy face tells me no order has been given for thecare of the child on the journey. But Azariah cannot be far on his way.I'll send a messenger to caution him that Joseph has his rest in theshade.

  Dan let her go in search of the messenger and moved around the roomhoping (he knew not why) that the messenger would not overtake thecaravan, the which he very nearly missed doing, for while Rachel wasinstructing the messenger, Joseph was asking Azariah if he might have astick to belabour his mule into a gallop. The cavalcade, he said, neededa scout that would report any traces of robbers he might detect amongthe rocks and bushes. But we aren't likely to meet robber bands thisside of Jordan, Azariah said, they keep to the other side; and he toldJoseph, who was curious about everything, that along the Jordan weregreat marshes into which the nomads drove their flocks and herds in thespring to feed on the young grass. So they are there now, Joseph repliedmeditatively, for he was thinking he would like better to ride throughmarshes full of reeds than through a hilly country where there wasnothing to see but the barley-fields beset by an occasional olive garth.But hooves were heard galloping in the rear and when the messengerovertook the caravan and blurted out Rachel's instructions, Joseph'sface flushed. Now what can a woman know, he cried, about a journey likethis? Tell her, he said, turning to the messenger, that I shall ride andrest with the others. And as an earnest of his resolve he struck themessenger's horse so sharply across the quarters that the animal's headwent down between his knees and he plunged so violently that themessenger was cast sprawling upon the ground. The cavalcade roared withlaughter and Joseph, overjoyed at the success of his prank, beggedAzariah to wait a little longer, for he was curious to see if themessenger would succeed in coaxing his horse. At present the horseseemed in no humour to allow himself to be mounted. Whenever themessenger approached he whinnied so menacingly that everybody laughedagain. Is there none amongst ye that will help me to catch the horse?the poor messenger cried after the departing travellers. We have a longday's march in front of us, Azariah said; and he warned Joseph not tobeat his mule into a gallop at the beginning of the journey or he wouldrepent it later, words that came true sooner than Joseph had expected,for before midday he was asking how many miles would bring them to thecaravansary. In about another hour, Azariah answered, and Joseph said hehad begun to hate his mule for it would neither trot nor gallop, onlywalk. Thou'rt thinking of the nomads and would like to be after themflourishing a lance, Azariah said, and--afraid that he was being laughedat--Joseph made no answer.

  After the rest at midday it seemed to him to be his duty to see that hismule had been properly fed, and he bought some barley from thecamel-driver, but while he was giving it to his mule Azariah remarkedthat he was only depriving other animals of their fair share ofprovender. It is hard, he said, to do good without doing wrong toanother. But the present is no time for philosophy: we must start again.And the cavalcade moved on through the hills, avoiding the steep ascentsand descents by circuitous paths, and Joseph, who had not seen ashepherd leading his flock for some years, became all of a suddendelighted by the spectacle, the sheep running forward scenting the freshherbage with which the hills were covered as with dark velvet.

  A little later they came into view of a flock of goats browsing near awood, and Azariah sought to improve the occasion by a littledissertation on the destructive nature of the goat. Of late years asapling rarely escaped them, and still more regrettable was thecarelessness of the shepherd who left the branches they had torn down tobecome dry like tinder. He spoke of many forest fires, and told all thestories he could remember in the hope of distracting Joseph's thoughtsfrom the length of the journey. We are now about half-way, he said,disguising the truth. We shall see the city upon the evening glow inabout another hour. The longest hour that I have ever known, Josephcomplained two hours later; and Azariah laid his cloak over Joseph'ssaddle. Dost feel more comfortable? A little, the child answered. At thesight of the city thy heart will be lifted again and the sufferingforgotten. And Joseph believed him, but towards the end of the day themiles seemed to stretch out indefinitely and at five o'clock he wascrying: shall we ever get to Arimathea, for I can sit on this mule nolonger, nor shall I be able to stand straight upon my legs when Ialight.

  Azariah promised they would be at the gates in a few minutes, but thesefew minutes seemed as if they would never pass away, but they did pass,and at the gateway Joseph toppled from his mule and just managed tohobble into the inn at which they were to sleep that night: too tired toeat, he said, too tired, he feared, to sleep. Azariah pressed him toswallow a cup of soup and he prepared a hot bath for him into which hepoured a bottle of vinegar; an excellent remedy he reported this to beagainst stiffness, and it showed itself to be such: for next morningJoseph was quite free from stiffness and said he could walk for miles.Samuel's rock cannot be more than a few hundred yards distant, so milesare not necessary, Azariah answered, as they stepped over the thresholdinto a delightful morning all
smiles and greetings and subtleinvitations to come away into the forest and fields, full of promises offlowers and songs, but in conflict with their project, which was toinquire out their way from the maidens at the fountain, who would besure to know it, and in its shade to read the story of David and Goliathfirst and other stories afterwards. But the gay morning drew theirthoughts away from texts, and without being aware of their apostasy theyhad already begun to indulge in hopes that the maidens would be late atthe fountain and leave them some time to loiter by the old aqueduct thatbrought the water in a tiny stream to fall into a marble trough: anerstwhile sarcophagus, maybe, Azariah said, as he gathered some waterout of it with his hands and drank, telling Joseph to do likewise.

  There were clouds in the sky, so the sun kept coming and going. A greatlantern, Joseph said. That God holds in his hands, Azariah answered; andwhen tired of waiting for maidens who did not appear their beguilementwas continued by shadows advancing and retreating across the roadway.The town was an enchantment in the still limpid morning, but when theyrose to their feet their eyes fell on a greater enchantment--the hillsclothed in moving light and shade so beautiful that the appeal to comeaway to the woods and fields continued in their hearts after they hadlowered their eyes and would not be denied, though they prayed forstrength to adhere to their original project. It had died out of theirhearts through no fault of theirs, as far as they could see; andwondering how they might get remission from it they strode about thecity, idly casting their eyes into ravines whither the walls dropped,and raising them to the crags whither the walls rose: faithful servants,Azariah said, that have saved the city many times from robbers from theother side of Jordan.

  Joseph's thoughts were far away on the hillside opposite amid the woods,and Azariah's voice jarred. By this time, he said, the maidens aredrawing water. But perhaps, Joseph answered, none will be able to tellus the way to the rock, and if none has heard for certain on which rockSamuel offered sacrifice we might go roaming over the hills and intoforests yonder to find perhaps some wolf cubs in a cave. But a she-wolfwith cubs is dangerous, Azariah replied. If we were to try to steal hercubs, Joseph interjected. But we don't want to meddle with them, only tosee them. May we go roaming to-day, Sir, and read the story of David andGoliath to-morrow? The boy's voice was full of entreaty and Azariah hadvery little heart to disappoint him, but he dared not break anengagement which he looked upon as almost sacred; and walked debatingwith himself, asking himself if the absence of a maiden at the fountainmight be taken as a sign that they were free to abandon the Scripturesfor the day, only for the day. And seeing the fountain deserted Josephcried out in his heart: we are free! But as they turned aside to gotheir way a maiden came with a pitcher upon her head; but as she hadnever heard of the rock, nor indeed of Samuel, Joseph was certain thatGod had specially designed her ignorant, so that they might know thatthe day before them was for enjoyment. You said, Sir, that if none coulddirect us we might leave the story until to-morrow. I did not say that,Azariah answered. All the same he did not propose to wait for anothermaiden more learned than the first, but followed Joseph to the gates ofthe city, nor did he raise any objection to passing through them, andthey stood with their eyes fixed on the path that led over the brow downinto the valley, a crooked twisting path that had seemed steep toAzariah's mule overnight and that now seemed steeper to Azariah. Andwill seem still steeper to me in the evening when we return home tired,he said. But we shall not be tired, Joseph interposed, we need not govery far, only a little way into the forest. And he did not dare to saymore, lest by some careless word he might provoke an unpremeditatedopposition.

  He dreaded to hear the words on Azariah's lips: you have come here withme to learn Hebrew and may not miss a lesson.... If he could persuadeAzariah into the path he would not turn back until they reached thevalley, and once in the valley, he might as well ascend the oppositehill as go back and climb up the hill whence they had come. I am afraid,said Azariah, that this cool morning will pass into a very hot day: theclouds that veil the sky are dispersing. We shall not feel the heat oncewe are in the forest, Joseph replied, and the path up yonder hill is notso steep as the paths we go down by. You see the road, Sir, twisting upthe hillside, and it is planned so carefully to avoid a direct ascentthat a man has just belaboured his ass into a trot. They have passedbehind a rock, but we shall see them presently.

  Azariah waited a moment for the man and ass to reappear, but after allhe was not much concerned with them, and began to descend unmindful ofthe lark which mounted the sky in circles singing his delirious song.Joseph begged Azariah to hearken, but his preceptor was too muchoccupied with the difficulties of the descent, nor could he be persuadedto give much attention to a flight of doves flying hither and thither asif they had just discovered that they could fly, diving and wheelingand then going away in a great company, coming back and diving again,setting Joseph wondering why one bird should separate himself from theflock and alight again. Again and again this happened, the flockreturning to release him from his post. Were the birds playing a sort ofgame? Frolicking they were, for sure, and Joseph felt he would like tohave wings and go away with them, and he wished Azariah would hasten, sopleasant it was in the valley.

  A pleasant spacious valley it was, lying between two hills of aboutequal height: the hill they had come down was a little steeper than thehill they were about to go up. Joseph noticed the shadows that fell fromthe cliffs and those that the tall feathery trees, growing out of thescrub, cast over the sunny bottom of the valley, a water-course probablyin the rainy season; and he enjoyed the little puffing winds that cameand went, and the insects that came out of their hiding-places to enjoythe morning. The dragonflies were bustling about their business: what itwas not easy to discover, but they went by in companies of small flies,with now and then a great one that rustled past on gauzy wings. And thebees were coming and going from their hive in the rocks, incited by thefragrance of the flowers, and Joseph watched them crawling over theanemones and leaving them hastily to bury their blunt noses in thepistils of the white squills that abounded everywhere in the corners, inthe inlets and bays and crevices of the rocks. Butterflies, especiallythe white, pursued love untiringly in the air, fluttering and hovering,uniting and then separating--aerial wooings that Joseph followed withstrained eyes, till at last the white bloom passed out of sight; and heturned to the dragonflies, hoping to capture one of the fearful kind,often nearly succeeding, but failing at the last moment and returningdisappointed to Azariah who, seated on a comfortable stone, waited tillJoseph's ardour should abate a little. These stones will be too hot inanother hour, he said. But it will be cool enough under the boughs,Joseph answered. Perhaps too cool, Azariah muttered, and Joseph wonderedif it were reasonable to be so discontented with the world, especiallyon a morning like this, he said to himself; and to hearten Azariah hementioned again that the path up the hillside zigzagged. You'll not feelthe ascent, Sir. To which encouragement Azariah made no answer but drewJoseph's attention to the industry of the people of Arimathea. The eagerboy could spare only a few moments for the beauty of the fig andmulberry leaves showing against the dark rocks, but he snuffed the scentthe breeze bore and said it was the same that had followed themyesterday. The scent of the vine-flower, Azariah rejoined. The hillsideswere covered with the pale yellow clusters. But I thought, Joseph, thatyou were too tired yesterday to notice anything. Only towards the end ofthe journey, Joseph muttered. But what are you going to do, Sir? heasked. I am going to run up the hill. You may run if you please, thepreceptor answered, and as he followed the boy at a more leisurely pacehe wondered at Joseph's spindle shanks struggling manfully against theascent. He will stop before the road turns, he said, but Joseph ran on.He is anxious to reach the top, Azariah pondered. There is some pleasantturf up there full of flowers: he'll like to roll like a young donkey,his heels in the air, Azariah said to himself as he ascended the steeppath, stopping from time to time that he might better ponder on themoral of this spring morning. He will roll among the gr
ass and flowerslike a young donkey, and then run hither and thither after insects andbirds, his heart aflame with delight. He desires so many things that heknows not what he desires, only that he desires. Whereas I can butremember that once I was as he is to-day. So the spring is sad for theyoung as well as for the old.

  But old as he was he was glad to feel that he was still liable to theseason's thrill in retrospect at least, and he asked himself questions:how many years ago is it since...? But he did not get further with hisrecollections. The ascent is too steep, he said, and he continued theascent thinking of his breath rather than of her.

  Joseph stood waiting on the edge of the rocks and cried out in thefulness of his joy on seeing his preceptor appear above the cliff, andat once fell to rolling himself over and over. Just as I expected hewould, Azariah remarked to himself. And then, starting to his feet,Joseph began gathering flowers, but in a little while he stood still,his nosegay dropping flower by flower, for his thoughts had takenflight. The doves, the doves! he cried, looking into the blue and whitesky. The doves have their nests in the woods, the larks build in thegrass he said, and asked Azariah to come with him. The nest was on atuft of grass. But I've not touched them, he said. Three years ago Iused to rob all the nests and blow the eggs, you see, for I was making acollection. Azariah asked him if the lark would grieve for her eggs, andJoseph answered that he supposed she would soon forget them. Hark to hissinging! and he ran on into the outskirts of the woods, coming back afew minutes afterwards to ask Azariah to hasten, for the wood was morebeautiful than any wood he had ever seen. And if you know the trees inwhich the doves build I will climb and get the nest. Doves build intaller trees than these, in fir-trees, Azariah answered. But this is apretty wood, Joseph. And he looked round the quiet sunny oak wood andbegan his relation that this wood was probably the remains of theancient forests that had covered the country when the Israelites cameout of the north of Arabia. How long ago was that, Sir? Joseph asked,and Azariah hazarded the answer that it might be as many as fifteenhundred years ago. How old is the oldest oak-tree? Joseph inquired, andAzariah had again to hazard the answer that a thousand years would makean old tree. And when will these trees be in leaf, Sir, and may we cometo Arimathea when they are in leaf? And look, somebody has been fellingtrees here. Who do you think it was, Sir? Azariah looked round. Theforest must have been supplying the city with firewood for many years,he said. All these trees are young and they are too regularly spaced fora natural growth. But higher up the hills the woods are denser anddarker, and there we may find some old trees. Any badgers and foxes?Joseph asked, and shall we see any wolves?

  The sunny woods were threaded with little paths, and Joseph cast curiouseyes upon them all. The first led him into bracken so deep that he didnot venture farther, and the second took him to the verge of a darkhollow so dismal that he came running back to ask if there werecrocodiles in the waters he had discovered. He did not give hispreceptor time to answer the difficult question, but laid his hand uponhis arm and whispered that he was to look between two rocks, for ajackal was there, slinking away--turning his pointed muzzle to us nowand then. To see he isn't followed, Azariah added: and the observationendeared him so to Joseph that the boy walked for a moment pensively inthe path they were following. It turned into the forest, and they hadnot gone very far before they became aware of a strange silence, ifsilence it could be called, for when they listened the silence was fullof sound, innumerable little sounds, some of which they recognised; butit was not the hum of the insects or the chirp of a bird or thesnapping of a rotten twig that filled Joseph with awe, but somethingthat he could neither see, nor hear, nor smell, nor touch. The life ofthe trees--is that it? he asked himself. A remote and mysterious lifewas certainly breathing about him, and he regretted he was without asense to apprehend this life.

  Again and again it seemed that the forest was about to whisper itssecret, but something always happened to interrupt. Once it wascertainly Azariah's fault, for just as the trees were about to speak hepicked up a leaf and began to explain how the shape of an oak leafdiffered from that of the leaf of the chestnut and the ash. A patter washeard among the leaves. There she goes--a hare! Joseph said, and amoment afterwards a white thing appeared. A white weasel, Azariah said.Shall we follow him? Joseph asked, and Azariah answered that it would beuseless to follow. We should soon miss them in the thickets. And hecontinued his discourse upon trees, hoping that Joseph would never againmistake a sycamore for a chestnut. And what is that tree so dark andgloomy rising up through all the other trees, Joseph asked, so muchhigher than any of them? That is a cedar, Azariah said. Do doves buildin cedars? Azariah did not know, and the tree did not inspire a climb:it seemed to forbid any attempt on its privacy. Do trees talk when theyare alone? Joseph asked Azariah, and his preceptor gave the verysensible answer that the life of trees is unknown to us, but that treeshad always awakened religious emotions in men. The earliest tribes weretree-worshippers, which was very foolish, for we can fell trees and putthem to our usage.

  They had come to a part of the forest in which there seemed to beneither birds nor beasts and Joseph had begun to feel the forest alittle wearisome and to wish for a change, when the trees suddenlystopped, and before them lay a sunny interspace full of tall grass withhere and there a fallen tree, and on these trees prone great lizardssunned themselves, nodding their heads in a motion ever the same.Something had died in that beautiful interspace, for a vulture rosesullenly and went away over the top of the trees, and Azariah beggedJoseph not to pursue his search but to hasten out of the smell of thecarrion that a little breeze had just carried towards them. Besides,this thick grass is full of snakes, he said, and the words were nosooner out of his mouth than a snake issued from a thick tuft, stoppedand hissed. Snakes feed on mice and rats? Joseph asked, and come out oftheir holes to catch them, isn't that so, Sir? Everything is out thissunny morning, seeking its food, Azariah answered: snakes after mice,vultures after carrion. This way, Joseph--yonder we may rest awhile, butwe must be careful not to sit upon a snake; that knoll yonder is freefrom vermin, for the trees that grow about it are fir-trees and snakesdo not like any place where they can easily be detected. And they sat onthe fibrous ground and looked up into the darkness of the witheredpines--withered everywhere except in the topmost branches that alonecaught the light. A sad place to sit in, Joseph said. Don't you feel thesadness, Sir? Azariah answered that he did. But it is preferable tosnake-bites, he added. At that moment slowly flapping wings were heardoverhead. It is the vulture returning, Azariah whispered to Joseph, andhe is bringing a comrade back to dinner. To a very smelly dinner, Josephrejoined. The breeze had veered suddenly and they found themselves againin the smell of carrion.

  We must go on farther, Azariah said, and after passing into many quiethollows and ascending many crests the path to which they had remainedfaithful debouched at last on broken ground with the tail end of theforest straggling up the opposite hillside in groups and single trees. Iknow where we are now, Joseph cried. Do you not remember, Sir--Joseph'sexplanation was cut short by the sight of some shepherds sitting attheir midday meal, and hunger falling suddenly upon Azariah and Joseph,both began to regret they had not brought food with them. But Azariahhad some shekels tied in his garment, and for one of these pieces ofsilver the shepherds were glad to share their bread and figs with themand to draw milk for them from one of the she-goats. From which shall Idraw milk? the shepherd asked his mate, and the mate answered:White-nose looks as if her udder is paining her. She lost her kidyesterday. He mentioned two others: Speckled and Long-ears. Whicheverwould like her milk drawn off will answer to thy call, the shepherdanswered, and the goat came running to him as if glad to hear her name.White-nose, isn't it? Joseph asked, and he gathered a branch for her,and while she nibbled he watched the milk drawn off and drank it foamingand warm from the jug, believing it to be the sweetest he had everdrunk, though he had often drunk goat's milk before. Azariah, too, vowedthat he had never drunk better milk and persuaded the shepherds i
ntodiscourse of their trade, learning much thereby, for these men kneweverything that men may know about flocks, having been engaged inleading them from pasture to pasture all their lives and their fathersbefore them.

  After telling of many famous rams they related the courage and fidelityof their dogs, none of which feared a wolf, and they mentioned that twohad been lost in an encounter with a leopard--but the flock had beensaved. As much as wolves the shepherds feared the eagles. There are adozen nests in yon mountain if there be one. Take the strangers up thehillside, mate, so that they may get a sight of the birds. And Azariahand Joseph followed the shepherd up to the crags and were shown somebirds wheeling above rocks so steep that there was no foothold for man.Or else we should have had their nests long ago, the shepherd said. Nowhere is a bear's trail. He's been seeking water here, but he didn't getany; he came by here, and my word, he's been up here after wild bees.The shepherd showed scratches among the dropping resin, saying: it washere that he clawed his way up. But did he get the honey? Joseph asked,a question the shepherd could not answer; and talking about bears andhoney and eagles and lambs and wolves and lions, the afternoon passedaway without their feeling it, till one of the shepherds said: it isfolding-time now; and answering to different calls the flocks separated,and the shepherds went their different ways followed by their flocks.

  The sunset had begun to redden the sky, and the shadows of the treesdrew out as they crossed the hillside and descended by the steep pathinto the valley. The ascent that faced them was steep indeed, andAzariah had to rest several times, but at last they reached the slope onwhich the city was built: but they did not enter the gates yet awhilebut stood looking back, thinking of the day that had gone by. We shallremember this day always, Joseph said, if we live to be as old as thepatriarchs. Was it then so wonderful? Azariah asked, and Joseph couldonly answer: yes, very wonderful. Didn't you think so? and tell me, headded, is it true that God is going to destroy the world and very soon?Why do you ask, Joseph? Azariah replied, and Joseph answered: becausethe world is so very beautiful. I never saw the world before to-day. Myeyes were opened, and I shall be sorry if God destroys the world, for Ishould like to see more of it. But why should he make a beautiful world,and then destroy it? Don't you think he will relent when the time comesand the day be as beautiful as it was this morning? Azariah answered himthat God does not relent, for He knows the past and future as well asthe present, and that the world was not as beautiful as it seems to be,for man is sinning always, though certainly God said all things arebeautiful. But perhaps we sinned this morning in the sight of God. Wesinned? Joseph repeated. How did we sin? Have you forgotten, Azariahanswered, that it was arranged that we should spend the day reading theScriptures, and we've spent it talking to shepherds? Was that a sin?Joseph asked. We can read the Scriptures to-morrow; if the day beclouded and rain comes, we can read them indoors. If the day be clouded,Azariah replied smiling. But was not thy life dedicated to Samuel? Thouhast forgotten him. But the world is God's world. Joseph answered thathe had forgotten his vow, and all that evening, in spite of Azariah'sgentleness with him, he was pursued by the memory of the sin he hadcommitted. In Samuel's own city he had broken his vow! And Azariah heardthe boy blubbering in the darkness that night.