Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/78

 company moving along the valley at a distance. They were at first scarcely discerned among the willows which overhung the bed of the torrent, and the cedars, whose long shadows were cast over the pathway; but it was soon perceived that they were approaching the mount.

“They are way-faring men,” said one who reclined by Sadoc’s side. “There is dust on their raiment, and they are shod as for a journey.”

“I have seen such in the early part of the day,” said Phares, “approaching from Bethlehem; and I marvelled that they turned aside unto this valley.”

“Other such I also beheld coming from Gibeon, and yet more from the valley of Ajalon,” said another disciple. “I went down to the gate of Ephraim to meet them, and seek tidings from Gibeon: but the pilgrims came not, and one told me they had skirted the city unto the valley of Kedron. Who are they that thus gather together from the north and from the south?”

While they thus spake, music arose on the still air. The voices of the pilgrims were