The air lay like a heavy weight over the valley of the Jordan, and not a twig stirred in the cedars.
The strangers from Samaria and Judaea did not know the man who climbed down over the stones and went towards the preacher.

He wore a blue woollen gown that came down over his knees, so that only his sandalled feet were seen.

He might have been taken for a working man had not his head, with its high, pale forehead and heavy waving locks, been so royal.

A soft beard sprang from his upper lip, and there was such a wonderful light in his dark blue eyes that some were almost frightened by it.

And they asked each other: "Who is the man with the fiery eyes ?" He reached the prophet.