Amen!_" Titus, with a bowed head, touched his horse, and in response to a silent flash of an uplifted sword the picked six hundred of Caesar's army rode on in the subdued thunder of hoof and the music of jingling harness toward Jerusalem.
After a long time there came the quick patter of a running flock and the multitudinous complaint of lambs, and up from the east rushed the mob of sheep.

Behind them trotting comfortably were the mounted scouts.

The ten privates wore scornful countenances highly expressive of their contempt for the unwarlike restitution they had been forced to make, but as they rode past when the sheep swept out of the road to their tender, Sergius, the decurion, dropped back and with his tongue in his cheek made such jovial threatening signs that the little shepherd laughed again.
The squad galloped after the main body and were lost to view.

Many of the Jews called to the little shepherd, but after a time travel was resumed on the road and deep monotonous composure settled upon the valley again.
But Joseph, the Christian, turned into the high grass of the meadow with bowed head and clasped hands.
"Lord Jesus, what may I do for Thee ?" he asked impulsively.
He stopped suddenly.

At his feet lay the silent sleeper in the grass.
On the tall growth upstanding about the prostrate form were clear shining scarlet drops.