Page:Philochristus, Abbott, 1878.djvu/194

186 known these tidings which are in the mouths of all the people, since the eighth hour of the day, touching John the Prophet." Then I said, "What tidings?" He answered, "That he is dead, slain with the sword; and they say that his head hath been given to Herodias on a charger. But why speak I of things that concern me not?" So saying, he looked at me as I had been a spy (for the spies of Herod were everywhere in Galilee at this time, and most of all in Tiberias); and so he passed on.

Straightway I hasted on to come to the Greek quarter, seeking the house of Chuza. But on my way thither I passed the royal palace; and at the gate thereof were certain of the Thracian guard keeping watch. Now as I passed them, one of the soldiers called to his companion and said, "But wherefore dost thou keep guard to-day?" And the other said, "I keep guard in the place of Thrasymachus, who is gone with three centuries to Capernaum." "And wherefore to Capernaum?" said the first. "There is like to be a tumult in the town," replied the sentinel, "because of the beheading of this John in Machærus; and they say that the rabble will set some leader at their head, who is to be arrested." "Nay," said the other, "and sayest thou arrested? I would have no arresting, but make quick despatch with these leaders of the rabble. But hath Herod heard of this leader?" "Not so," said the other, "for he is busy in the south with the army; but our general meaneth to take order that Herod shall never hear of him." With that he laughed, and made a sign to signify beheading, drawing his hand across his throat; then he bade his fellow go carry some message for him, for he should be busy that day, "For," said he, "the cohort hath not been gone one full hour yet, and will not be here again these six hours or more, for they mean not to take him by force publicly, but will arrest the man quietly at nightfall."