THE BROOK KERITH


CHAP. I.


It was at the end of a summer evening, long after his usual bedtime,
that Joseph, sitting on his grandmother's knee, heard her tell that Kish
having lost his asses sent Saul, his son, to seek them in the land of
the Benjamites and the land of Shalisha, whither they might have
strayed. But they were not in these lands, Son, she continued, nor in
Zulp, whither Saul went afterwards, and being then tired out with
looking for them he said to the servant: we shall do well to forget the
asses, lest my father should ask what has become of us. But the servant,
being of a mind that Kish would not care to see them without the asses,
said to young Saul: let us go up into yon city, for a great seer lives
there and he will be able to put us in the right way to come upon the
asses. But we have little in our wallet to recompense him, Saul
answered, only half a loaf and a little wine at the end of the bottle.
We have more than that, the servant replied, and opening his hand he
showed a quarter of a shekel of silver to Saul, who said: he will take
that in payment. Whereupon they walked into Arimathea, casting their
eyes about for somebody to direct them to the seer's house. And seeing
some maidens at the well, come to draw water, they asked them if the
seer had been in the city that day, and were answered that he had been
seen and would offer sacrifice that morning, as had been announced. He
must be on his way now to the high rock, one of the maidens cried after
them, and they pressed through the people till none was in front of them
but an old man walking alone, likewise in the direction of the rock;
and overtaking him they asked if he could point out the seer's house to