But he was very calm and
did not resist them.
"What would you?" he asked.
"And what doest thou in a Christian church?" asked Lazarus in low fierce
tones.
"What Christians do, since I am one of them," answered the youth,
unmoved.
Lazarus said nothing, but he struck the boy on the mouth with his hard
hand so that the blood ran down.
"Not here!" exclaimed Levi, anxiously looking about.
And they hurried him away through dark and narrow lanes. He opposed no
resistance to Levi's rough strength, not only suffering himself to
be dragged along but doing his best to keep pace with the man's long
strides, nor did he murmur at the blows and thrusts dealt him from time
to time by his father from the other side. During some minutes they were
still traversing the Christian part of the city. A single loud cry for
help would have brought a rescue, a few words to the rescuers would have
roused a mob of fierce men and the two Jews would have paid with their
lives for the deeds they had not yet committed. But Simon Abeles uttered
no cry and offered no resistance. He had said that he feared not death,
and he had spoken the truth, not knowing what manner of death was to be
his. Onward they sped, and in the vision the way they traversed seemed
to sweep past them, so that they remained always in sight though always
hurrying on. The Christian quarter was passed; before them hung the
chain of one of those gates which gave access to the city of the Jews.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278