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the same ambition： the one party hoping to be appointed public
sacrificers； the other determined to retain those offices。 Their faces
were dark； particularly those of the Pharisees； who were enemies of
Rome and of the tetrarch。 The flowing skirts of their tunics
embarrassed their movements as they attempted to pass through the
throng； and their tiaras sat unsteadily upon their brows； around which
were bound small bands of parchment； showing lines of writing。
Almost at the same moment； the soldiers of the advance guard arrived。
Cloth coverings had been drawn over their glittering shields to
protect them from the dust。 Behind them came Marcellus； the
proconsul's lieutenant； followed by the publicans； carrying their
tablets of wood under their arms。
Antipas named to Vitellius the principle personages surrounding them：
Tolmai； Kanthera； Schon； Ammonius of Alexandria； who brought asphalt
for Antipas； Naaman； captain of his troops of skirmishers； and Jacim；
the Babylonian。
Vitellius had noticed Mannaeus。
〃Who is that man？〃 he inquired。
The tetrarch by a significant gesture indicated that Mannaeus was the
executioner。 He then presented the Sadducees to the proconsul's
notice。
Jonathas； a man of low stature； who spoke Greek； advanced with a firm
step and begged that the great lord would honour Jerusalem with a
visit。 Vitellius replied that he should probably go to Jerusalem soon。
Eleazar； who had a crooked nose and a long beard； put forth a claim；
in behalf of the Pharisees； for the mantle of the high priest； held in
the tower of Antonia by the civil authorities。
Then the Galileans came forward and denounced Pontius Pilate。 On one
occasion； they said； a mad…man went seeking in a cave near Samaria for
the golden vases that had belonged to King David； and Pontius Pilate
had caused several inhabitants of that region to be executed。 In their
excitement all the Galileans spoke at once； Mannaeus's voice being
heard above all others。 Vitellius promised that the guilty ones should
be punished。
Fresh vociferations now broke out in front of the great gates； where
the soldiers had hung their shields。 Their coverings having now been
removed； on each shield a carving of the head of Caesar could be seen
on the umbo； or central knob。 To the Jews； this seemed an evidence of
nothing short of idolatry。 Antipas harangued them； while Vitellius；
who occupied a raised seat within the shadow of the colonnade； was
astonished at their fury。 Tiberius had done well； he thought； to exile
four hundred of these people to Sardinia。 Presently the Jews became so
violent that he ordered the shields to be removed。
Then the multitude surrounded the proconsul； imploring him to abolish
certain unjust laws； asking for privileges； or begging for alms。 They
rent their clothing and jostled one another； and at last； in order to
drive them back； several slaves； armed with long staves； charged upon
them； striking right and left。 Those nearest the gates made their
escape and descended to the road； others rushed in to take their
place； so that two streams of human beings flowed in and out；
compressed within the limits of the gateway。
Vitellius demanded the reason for the assembling of so great a throng。
Antipas explained that they had been invited to come to a feast in
celebration of his birthday； and he pointed to several men who；
leaning against the battlements； were hauling up immense basket…loads
of food； fruits； vegetables； antelopes； and storks； large fish； of a
brilliant shade of blue； grapes； melons； and pyramids of pomegranates。
At this sight； Aulus left the courtyard and hastened to the kitchens；
led by his taste for gormandizing； which later became the amazement of
the world。
As they passed the opening to a small cellar； Vitellius perceived some
objects resembling breast…plates hanging on a wall。 He looked at them
with interest； and then demanded that the subterranean chambers of the
fortress be thrown open for his inspection。 These chambers were cut
into the rocky foundation of the castle； and had been formed into
vaults； with pillars set at regular distances。 The first vault opened
contained old armour； the second was full of pikes； with long points
emerging from tufts of feathers。 The walls of the third chamber were
hung with a kind of tapestry made of slender reeds； laid in
perpendicular rows。 Those of the fourth were covered with scimitars。
In the middle of the fifth cell； rows of helmets were seen； the crests
of which looked like a battalion of fiery serpents。 The sixth cell
contained nothing but empty quivers； the seventh； greaves for
protecting the legs in battle； the eighth vault was filled with
bracelets and armlets； and an examination of the remaining vaults
disclosed forks； grappling…irons； ladders； cords； even catapults； and
bells for the necks of camels； and as they descended deeper into the
rocky foundation； it became evident that the whole mass was a
veritable honeycomb of cells； and that below those already seen were
many others。
Vitellius； Phineas； his interpreter； and Sisenna； chief of the
publicans； walked among these gloomy cells； attended by three eunuchs
bearing torches。
In the deep shadows hideous instruments； invented by barbarians； could
be seen： tomahawks studded with nails； poisoned javelins； pincers
resembling the jaws of crocodiles； in short； the tetrarch possessed in
his castle munitions of war sufficient for forty thousand men。
He had accumulated these weapons in anticipation of an alliance
against him among his enemies。 But he bethought him that the proconsul
might believe； or assert； that he had collected this armoury in order
to attack the Romans； so he hastened to offer explanations of all that
Vitellius had observed。
Some of these things did not belong to him at all； he said： many of
them were necessary to defend the place against brigands and
marauders； especially the Arabs。 Many of the objects in the vault had
been the property of his father； and he had allowed them to remain
untouched。 As he spoke； he managed to get in advance of the proconsul
and preceded him along the corridors with rapid steps。 Presently he
halted and stood close against the wall as the party came up； he spoke
quickly； standing with his hands on his hips； so that his voluminous
mantle covered a wide space of the wall behind him。 But just above his
head the top of a door was visible。 Vitellius remarked it instantly；
and demanded to know what it concealed。
The tetrarch explained that the door was fastened； and that none could
open it save the Babylonian； Jacim。
〃Summon him； then！〃 was the command。
A slave was sent to find Jacim； while the group awaited his coming。
The father of Jacim had come from the banks of the Euphrates to offer
his services； as well as those of five hundred horsemen； in the
defence of the eastern frontier。 After the division of the kingdom；
Jacim had lived for a time with Philip； and was now in the service of
Antipas。
Presently he appeared among the vaults； carrying an archer's bow on
his shoulder and a whip in his hand。 Cords of many colours were lashed
tightly about his knotted legs； his massive arms were thrust through a
sleeveless tunic； and a fur cap shaded his face。 His chin was covered
with a heavy； curling beard。
He appeared not to comprehend what the interpreter said to him at
first。 But Vitellius threw a meaning glance at Antipas； who quickly
made the Babylonian understand the command of the proconsul。 Jacim
immediately laid both his hands against the door； giving it a powerful
shove； whereupon it quietly slid out of sight into the wall。
A wave of hot air surged from the depths of the cavern。 A winding path
descended and turned abruptly。 The group followed it； and soon arrived
at the threshold of a kind of grotto； somewhat larger than the other
subterranean cells。
An arched window at the back of this chamber gave directly upon a
precipice； which formed a defence for one side of the castle。 A
honeysuckle vine； cramped by the low…studded ceiling； blossomed
bravely。 The sound of a running stream could be heard distinctly。 In
this place was a great number of beautiful white horses； perhaps a
hundred。 They were eating barley from a plank placed on a level with
their mouths。 Their manes had been coloured a deep blue； their hoofs
were wrapped in coverings of woven grass； and the hair between their
ears was puffed out like a peruke。 As they stood quietly eating； they
switched their tails gently to and fro。 The proconsul regarded them in
silent admiration。
They were indeed wonderful animals； supple as serpents； light as
birds。 They were trained to gallop rapidly； following the arrow of the
rider； and dash into the midst of a group of the enemy； overturning
men and biting them savagely as they fell。 They were sure…footed among
rocky passe