star in the sky, he never ceased looking at it. And, lo! it too took
the road from east to west which all men traversed. What was there
yonder in the sunset that all went towards it, on earth as in heaven?
Could not one particular star swim against the stream? True, this new
heavenly pilgrim took an unusual path; he leaned somewhat to the north
of the barbarous folk. So the wise man of the east left the fragrant
gardens of India and followed the star. On the road he was joined by
two Oriental princes and their suites, who were also seeking they knew
not what.

And one night the three wise men saw in the heavens an extraordinary
constellation, a group of stars hitherto unknown to any of them.

[Illustration: Diagram of constellation of stars, using asterisks for
the stars, spelling out "INRI".]

They looked at the constellation for a long while, and Balthasar
thought it was like writing. They brought all their wisdom to bear on
it, but could not explain it, for all it shone so brightly. Did the
gods mean to write some message? Who could understand it? An uncanny
appearance, which no knowledge or faith could explain! The next night
they did not see it, but the guiding star still went before them and
yielded to no sun.

One morning, just as day began to dawn, they rode through the streets
of Jericho. A man was lying on his face in the road, and the Moor
asked him why he lay in the dust.

"I lie in the dust," answered the man of Judah, "because I must
practise myself in humility in order not to become too proud. We have