She rode on an ass, and seen closer, carried a child in her arms.

A man, tired out, limped beside her, leading the ass.
"Dismas, there's someone," whispered Barabbas, grasping the handle of his weapon.

"Come, let's hide behind the stone until they come up." "You'll fall on those defenceless folk from an ambush ?" "And you're going to help me," said Barabbas coolly.
"We'll take what we need for to-day, no more.

I'll only help you so far, mark that." The little group came nearer.

The man and the ass waded deep in the sand, which in some places lay scantily over the rough stones, and in others had drifted into high heaps.