Taressus, "water is too scarce and expensive to be wasted in baptizing them; I only wish they were not allowed to go as free as they are; what is that—?"
As he spoke, a low sound of voices chanting sweetly was heard, the two friends went out to the flight of steps which led down into the square before the temple, and saw a procession advancing from the lower part of the town up the main street into the square. At the head went the acolythes in white, one carried a tall cross, and was followed by two Priests. Behind them came the Bishop Porphyrius, who had only been in Gaza six months, and was looked upon with great hatred by the heathens, for they felt that their religion was rapidly crumbling beneath the faith of the Crucified; and now especially the popular opinion was that the drought was a display of the anger of the gods against Gaza, for the number of proselytes which were made by the new Bishop.
After him came some more Priests, and then followed about two hundred and eighty people walking in order, chanting "De profundis" to one of those glorious old tones which thrill our hearts to the present day with a strange awe. Thus chanting as they went, the whole body passed out of the Hebron gate, and the surge-like swell of the music grew faint beyond the city walls.
"Those Christian dogs shall not enter this town again," said Claudius, vehemently, "at least not till we have rain; that will try their wonder-
