cock-fight in Tiberias; and to save his parents from much
misunderstanding, he said he must begin at the beginning. Dan would have
liked a straight answer, but Rachel said the boy should be suffered to
tell his story his own way; and Joseph told a fine tale, the purport of
which was that he had sought for a by-way to Tiberias, the large lanes
being beset by acrobats, zanies, circus riders and the like, and had
found one through Argob orchard and had followed it daily without
meeting anyone for many months, but this morning as he came through the
trees he had caught sight of an encampment; some cockers on their way to
Tiberias, where a great main was to be fought. And it was the cocks of
Pamphilia that had--He stopped, for the great change that had come over
his parents' faces set him wondering if his conduct was as shameful as
their faces seemed to affirm. He could not see that he had sinned
against the law by going to Tiberias, though he had associated himself
with Gentiles and for a whole day ... he had eaten in their company, but
not of any forbidden meat. And while Joseph sought to mitigate his
offence to himself, his father sat immersed in woe, his head in his
hands. What calamity, he cried, has fallen on my house, and how have I
sinned, O Lord, that punishment should fall upon me, and that my own son
should be chosen to mete out my punishment? My house is riven from
rafter to foundation stone. But, Father, at most--It seemed useless to
plead. He stood apart; his grandmother stood silent and grave, not
understanding fully, and Joseph foresaw that he could not count upon
her to side with him against his father. But if his father would only
tell him if he had sinned against the law, instead of rending his
garments, he would do all the law commanded to obtain forgiveness. Was
there, he asked, anything in the law against cock-fighting? or in the
traditions? It was a pastime of the heathen: he knew that, and had hoped
a day of fasting might be suggested to him, but if this offence was more
serious than he had supposed he besought his father to say so. Tell me,