your portion. My strong message does away with hell. Do you see that?"

The other replied: "I heard a prophet in the wilderness cry that a man
whom God had damned could be saved by repentance. Your damnation,
Barabbas, never! No Almighty God! Everything a dry, swarming
dust-heap, and no escape! Frightful, frightful!"

"Do you know, Dismas, your lamentations don't amuse me?" said the
other, supporting himself on his hands and knees like a four-footed
beast. "I have a more important matter on hand. I'm hungry."

Dismas jumped on his stone, and made ready for flight. "If he's
hungry, he's capable of killing and eating me."

Barabbas had assumed a listening attitude, and his eagle eyes stared
out into the desert. A red banner was visible between the rocks and
stones; it moved and came nearer. It was a woman's red garment. 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."