f itSir
RAMDAU PARRISH
A Romance of Early Days
in the Middle
Author of "Keith of the Border,'4'My Lady
of Doubt," "The Maid of the
'
CHAPTER XXIII Continued.
17
I clung to bis hands, staring back
still at the grim outline of the silent
fort. I understood his thoughts, his
desire to aid his comrades; but, for a
moment, my mind was a blank. I
could not let him go alone to almost
certain death. No, nor would he aban
don me on such a mission! Was there
no other way by which we could serve?
Suddenly a thought crept into my
mind.
"Monsieur," I asked breathlessly,
"where do you suppose those Illlni In
dians to be?"
"Back from the river, in a glenof
caves and rocks."
"How far from here?"
"Four or five miles; there is a trail
from the mouth of the creek."
"And you know the way? and there
might be many warriors there? they
wui reiueuiuer juu, aim uucj ;uui
ders?"
He straightened up, aroused as the
full meaning of my questioning oc
curred to him.
"Ay, there is a chance there, if we
find them in time, and in force enough
to make foray. Sacre! I know not
why such thought has not come to me
before. Could we but fall on those
devils from the rear in surprise, even
with a third of their number, they
would run like cats. Mon Dieu! I
thank you for the thought."
We plunged into the forest, no longer
endeavoring to advance silently, but
inspired with a desire to achieve our
goal as soon as possible. At the mouth
of a stream entering the river, D'Ar
tigny picked me up In his arms and
waded across. On the opposite bank
be sought eagerly on hands and knees
for the old trace he dimly remembered.
At last he stood erect.
"Ay, lass, it's here to be easily fol
lowed. What hour do you make it
now!"
''About three."
"So I would have said; and 'us not
daylight until after five. We can scarce
make It, yet we will try."
It was not as dark here away from
" open, and yet I will never know how
D'Artigny succeeded in following that
dim trail at so rapid a gait. As for
me, I could see nothing of any path. (
and merely followed him blindly, not
even certain of the nature of the
ground under my feet. Again and
again I tripped over some obstacle a
root, a tuft of grass and continually
nnoted branches flapped against my
face. Once I fell prone, yet so noise
lessly that Rene passed beyond view
before he reajized my misfortune, and
returned to help me regain my feet.
Not until then, I think, did he com
prehend the rapidity of his movements.
"Your pardon, dear girl." and his lips
brushed my hair, as he held me in his
arms. "I forgot all but our comrades
yonder. The night is dark to your
eyes."
"I can see nothing." I confessed re
gretfully, "yet you have no difficulty."
" Tis a woodsman's training. I have
followed many a dim trail in dark for
ests, and this is so plain I could keep
to It on a run if necessary. Ah! the
fort is awake and vigilant that was
rifle fire."
1 had not only heard the sharp re
ports but seen the flash of fire cleaving
the darkness.
"The discharges came from the
woods yonder they were Indian guns,
monsieur. See! those two last were
. from the stockade; I could perceive the
logs in the flare."
"Ay. and that is all; the lads will
waste no ammunition in the gloom, ex
cept to tell the savages they are awake
and ready."
i "How far have we traveled, mon
sieur r i
"A mile, perhaps. At the crooked
ak yonder we leave the stream. You
met with no harm when you fell?"
"No more than a bruise. I can go
n now."
We turned to the right, and plunged
into the thicket, the way now 60 black
that I grasped his jacket in fear of
becoming lost. We were clambering up
a slight hill, careless of everything but
our footing, when there was a sudden
rustling of the low branches on either
side our path. D'Artlgny stopped,
thrusting me back, while at that very
instant Indistinct forms seemed to leap
forth from the covert. It occurred so
quickly, so silently, that before I even
realized dancer, he was straggling
madly with the assailants. I heard the
crash of blows, an oath of surprise, a
guttural exclamation, a groan of pain.
Hands gripped me savagely; I felt
naked bodies, struggled wildly to
escape, but was flung helplessly to the
ground, a haud grasping my hair. I
"'" n nothing, only a confused mass
Vd arms, but D'Artlgny was
et, struggling desperately.
"N nd he had grabbed a
X it crashing intCffc
Back
West
Forest," etc.
CBVJCH
NCLVH0 CO
he came, step by step, fighting like a
fiend, until he stood over me. With
one wide sweep of his clutched weapon
he struck me free, a blow which shat
tered the gun-stock, and left him armed
only with the iron bar. But the battle
fury was on him; dimly I could see
him towering above me, bareheaded,
his clothes torn to rags, the grim barrel
poised for a blow.
"St. Ann!" he cried exultantly. " 'Tis
a good fight so far would you have
more of it?"
"Hold!" broke in a French voice
from out the darkness. "What means
this? Are you of white blood?"
"I have always supposed so."
"A renegade consorting with devils
of the Iroquois?"
"Mon Dieu! No! An officer of Fort
St Louis."
I could see the white man thrust
aside the Indian circle, and strike
through. His face was invisible, al
though I was upon my knees now, but
he was a short, heavily built fellow.
"Stand back! ay, make room. Saint
Guise, we are fighting our own friends.
If you are of the garrison, name'your
self." D'Artlgny, still clasping his rifle bar
rel, reached out his other hand, and
lifted me to my feet
"Perchance," he said coolly, "If I
were a stickler for etiquette, I might
ask yon first for some explanation of
this attack. However, we have made
some heads ring, so I waive that privi
lege. I am the Sieur d'Artigny, a lieu
tenant of La Salle's."
"Mon Dieu!" the other stepped for
ward, his hand outstretched. " Tis
no unknown name to me, although we
have never before met by some chance
I am Francois de la Forest." .
"La Forest! You were In France
three months ago."
"Aye; I was there when Sieur de la
Salle landed. He told me the whole
tale. I was with him when he had
audience with Louis. I am here now
bearing the orders of the king, coun- J
tersigned by La Barre at Quebec, re
storing De Tonty to command at Fort
St. Louis, and bidding De Baugis and
that fool Cassion return to New
France."
D'Artlgny crushed the man's hand
in both his own, dropping the rifle bar
rel to the ground. His voice trembled
as he made answer.
"ne won the king's favor? he con
vinced Louis?"
"No doubt of that never saw I a
greater miracles."
"And Sieur de la Salle has he re
turned?"
"Nay; he remains In France, to fit
out an expedition to sail for the mouth
of the great river, ne hath special
commission from the king. To me was
given the honor of bearing his mes
sage. Ah! but La Barre raved like a
mad bull when I handed him the king's
order. I thought he would burst a
blood vessel, and give us a new gover
nor. But no such luck, rah! I stood
there, struggling to keep a straight
face, for he had no choice but obey.
Twas a hard dose to swallow, but
there was Louis' orders in his own
hand, all duly sealed; and a command
that I be dispatched hither with the
message,"
"How made you the journey in so
short a time?"
"Overland from Detroit, the same
trail you traveled with La Salle; 'tis
much the shorter."
"Alone?"
"With two couriers du bois; they are
with me now. But what is this, D'Ar
tigny, you have with you a woman?"
CHAPTER XXIV.
Warriors of the llllnl.
"Yes, M. de U Forest," I sal J, step
ping forward to save"nc from a
question which would embarrass; -him.
"I am the daughter of Captain la Ches-
nayne, whom the Sieur d'Artigny hath
taken under his protection."
"La Chesnayne's daughter! Ah, I
heard the story told in Quebec 'twas
La Barre's aid who gave me the facts
with many a chuckle, as though he
held it an excellent joke. But why
are you here, madame? Is not M.
Cassion in the fort yonder?" -
"'Tis a long tale, La Forest," broke
In D'Artigny, laying his hand on the
other's shoulder, "and will bide a bet
ter time for telling. I am a soldier,
and you may trust my word. We are
La Salle's men; let it go at that, for
there is graver duty fronting us now
than the retelling of camp gossip.
Madame is my friend, and my hand
will defend her reputation. Is that
enough, comrade?"
"Ay, enough. My best regards, ma
dame," and he bowed low before me.
his words ringing true. "Whoever
Sieur de la Salle has learned to trust
hath my faith also. You have come
from the fort, I take It, D'Artlgny?
How are matters there?"
"Ill enough; the officers at swords
...Int. onA K A!w.tAA I 4- . 1
camps, for where De la Durantaye
st.'ds there is no evidicc. M. Oat-
siou holds command by virtue;of La
Barre's commission,' and knows no
more of Indian war than . a Quebec
storekeeper. The garrison numbers
fifty men, all told; two-thirds soldiers,
aqd a poor lot"
"With ammunition and food?"
"Ample to eat, but Bolsrondet tells
me with scarce a dozen rounds per
man. The Iroquois are at the gates,
and will attack at daylight."
"You know this?"
'The signs are plain. We passed
one party clambering ud the ciln: no
less than fifty warriors, naked and
painted for war. Tuscnroras, madame
said from the words she overheard as
they slipped past where we hid. 'Tis
not likely they made reconnoissance
alone. The fiends have been a week
In this valley, and have swept all clear
of our Indian allies; now they can
bring their full force against the fort."
"No doubt you are right"
"Twas my Judgment, at least, and
we sought help when we ran into you,
What Indians have you?"
"llllnl, mostly, with a handful of
Mlamis and Kickapoos. We met them
at the crossing, hiding in the hills.
They were sadly demoralized, and
filled with horror - at what they had
seen, yet agreed to return here under
my leadership."
"Who is their chief?"
"Old Sequitah you know him?"
"Ay, a real warrior. 'Tis better than
I dared hope, for I have been in battle
with him before. Do you number a
hundred?"
"And fifty more, though indiffer
ently, armed."
"And fifty more, though indiffereptly
armed. Never have I seen the llllnl
In action, D'Artlgny; they seem to me
a poor lot, so frightened of the wolves
as to be valueless."
"So they are If left to themselves,
but under white leadership they stif
fen. They will fight if given the In
dian style. They will never stand In
defense, but if we lead them to a sur
prise, they'll give good account of
themselves. That is my plan, La For
est that we creep up through the
woods behind the Iroquois lines. They
will expect no attack from the rear,
and will have no guard. If we move"
quickly while it remains dark, we
ought to get within a few yards of the
red demons' without discovery. They
will fight desperately, no doubt, for
their only hope of escape would be to
either plunge down the rocky banks on
either side, or cut a way through. You
have been at the fort?"
"Twice before."
"Then you know the nature of the
ground. 'Tis all woodland unti within
a few hundred yards of the gates. You
recall the great rock beside the trail?"
"Ay and the view from the top."
"My plan would be to creep up that
far, with flanking parties on the slopes
below. In front, as you may remem
ber, . there is an open space, then a
fringe of forest hiding the clearing be
fore the stockade. The Iroquois will
be gathered behind that fringe of trees
waiting daylight Is my thought right?"
" 'Tis the most likely spot."
"Then listen; I have thought this all
out. You and I, with Sequitah, will
take a hundred of your Indians, cross
the small river, and advance up the
trail. That leaves fifty warriors to
creep through the woods on either
slope, twenty-five to a side, led by your
two couriers du bois. We will wait at
the great rock, and give the signal."
La Forest stood silent a moment,
thinking; then rested his hand on D'Ar
tigny's shoulder.
"It looks feasible enough, but the
flanking parties may not reach their
positions in time."
"The one from the west will not
have as far to travel as we do. The
other does not make bo much differ
ence, for if the Iroquois break they
will come in this direction the other
side of the trail Is sheer rock."
"And what about the lady?"
"I 6hall go with you, messieurs," I
said quietly. "There will be no more
danger there than here; besides, you
would not leave me alone without a
guard, and you will need every fight
ing man."
I felt the grip of Rene's hand, but It
was La Forest's voice that spoke.
"The right ring to that, hey. D'Ar
tlgny! Madame answers my last ar
gument. But first let us have word
with the chief."
ne addressed a word Into the crowd
of indlstinguishahle figures, and an In
dian came forward. Dim as the light
was, I was Impressed with the dignity
of his carriage, the firm character of
his facial outline.
"I am Sequitah, chief of the Mas
coutins." he said gravely, "for whom
3s. white chief sent."
D A.tigny stepped forward, standing
as erect as the. other.
"Sequitah is 1 great chief,"-' he said
quietly, "a warrior of many battles,
the friend of La Salle We have
smoked the peace-pipe together, and
walked side by side on the war-trail.
Sequitah knows who speaks?"
"The French warrior they call D'Ar
tigny." "Right; 'tis not the first time you
and I have met the Iroquois! The
wolves are here? again; they have
burned the villages of the Illinois, and
killed your women and children. The
valley is black with smoke, and red
with blood. What says the war chief
of the Mascoutins will his warriors
fight? Will tbey strike with us a blow
against the beasts?"
The chief swept his hand in wide
circle.
"We are warriors; we have tasted
blood. What are the white man's
words of wisdom?"
Briefly, in quick, ringing sentences,
D'Artlgny outlined his plan. Sequitah
listened motionless, his face nnexpres
eive of emotion Twice, confused by
some French phrase, be asked grave
questions, and once a courier du bois
spoke up in his own tongue, to make
the meaning clear. As, D'Artlgny
ceased the chief stood for a moment
silent' -
"We leap upon them from cover?"
he asked calmly, "and the white men
will sally forth to aid us?"
" Tis so we expect M. de Tonty Is
never averse to a fight."
"I believe In the Iron Hand; but 'tis
told me others command now. If (hey
fall, we are but few against many
"They will not fall, Sequitah; they
are Frenchmen."
The Indian folded his hands across
his breast, his eyes on the two men
facing him. There was silence, but
for the slight rustle of moving bodies
in the darkness.
"Sequitah hears the voice of his
friend," he announced at last "and his
words sound wise. The warriors of
the llllnl will fight beside the white
men."
There was no time lost, although I
.know but little of what occurred, be
ing left alone there while La Forest
and D'Artlgny -divided the men, and
arranged the plans -of advance. The
dense night shrouded much of this
hasty preparation, for all I could per
ceive were flitting figures, or the black
shadow of warriors being grouped to
gether. I could hear voices, never loud,
giving swift orders, or calling to this
or that Individual through the gloom.
A party tramped by me, and disap
peared, twenty or more naked war
riors, headed by a black-bearded
Frenchman, bearing a long rifle the
detachment, no doubt dispatched to
guard the slope east of the trail, and
hurried forth to cover the greater dis
tance. Yet these could have scarcely
advanced far through that Jungle
when the others were also in line, wait
ing the word.
The very silence in which all this
was accomplished, the noiseless bodies,
the almost breathless attention, scarce
ly enabled me to realize the true mean
ing of It all. These men were going
into battle, into a death grapple.' They
meant to attack five times their own
number. This was- no boy's play; it
was war, savage, relentless war. The
stern horror of it seemed to suddenly
grip me as with Icy fingers. Here was
what I had read of, dreamed of, being
enacted before my very eyes. I was
even a part of It, for I was going with
them to the field of blood.
Yet how ..different everything was
from those former pictures of imagina
tion. There was no noise, no excite
ment, no shrinking Just those silent
motionless men standing in the posi
tions assigned to them, the dim light
gleaming on their naked bodies, their
ready weapons.
I heard the voices of the white men,
speaking quietly, giving last instruc
tions as they passed along the lines.
Sequitah took his place, not two yards
from me, standing like a statue, his
face stern and emotionless. Out of
the darkness came D'Artigny, pausing
an instant before the chief.
"All is well, Sequitah?"
"Good 'tis as the white chief
wishes."
'Then we move at once; La Forest
will guide the rear; you and I will
march together. Give your warriors
the word."
He turned and took my hand.
"You will walk with me, dear one;
you are not afraid?"
"Not of the peril of coming battle,
I answered. "I I think I hardly real
ize what that all means; but the risk
you run. Rene! If if you win, you
will be a prisoner condemned to
death."
He laughed, and bent low, so I felt
his lips brush my cheek.
"You do not understand, dear girl.
A moment and I will explain once we
are beyond the stream. Now I must
see that all move together."
We advanced through the woods
down a slight Incline, the Indians mov
ing like so many phantoms. Not. a
branch rattled as they glided silently
forward, not a leaf rustled beneath
the soft tread of moccasined feet.
D'Artigny led me by the hand, aiding
me to move quietly over the uneven
ground, but made no effort to speak.
Beside us, not unlike a shadow, strode
the chief Sequitah, his stern face up
lifted, shadowed by long black hair, a
rifle gripped in his sinewy arms. We
crossed the little river, D'Artigny bear
ing me easily in his grasp, and, oh the
opposite shore, waited for the others
to follow. They came, a long line of
dark, shadowy forms, wading cautious
ly through the shallow water, and
ranged themselves just below the bank,
many still standing in the stream.
What light there was flickered over
naked bodies, and revealed savage eyes
gleaming from out masses of black
hair. -
D'Artigny stepped forward on the
exposed root of a tree- to where he
could see his dusky followers, and La
Forest climbed the bank and Joined
him." A moment the two men con
ferred, turning about to question Se
quitah. As tbey separated I could dis
tinguish D'Artigny's final words.
'"Very well, then, if it is your wish
I take command. Sequitah, a hundred
warriors will follow you along the
trail you know It well. Have your
best scouts in advance, and circle your
braves sens to make attack impos
sible. Your scouts will not go beyond
the great rock except on my order
M. la Forest will accompany them.
This is clear?"
The Indian mutrorpd response in his
own tonqrue; the
and the mns
changed far?
combine i'"
themselves In 1
the "-('s!
noke more rapidly.
warriors below
. greater number
u and grouping
i'nrker shadow of
of the others'"
" ronlipd La For-
v'.n follow
1 .
oav
es'
the stream, but do not venture from
cover.. Post your men below the stock
ada and wait to intercept fugitives. We
will do the fighting ibove. Are the
warriors with you armed?''
"All but ten have rifles, monsieur,
hut I know not if they be of value,"
"You -must make -the best use -of
them you can. Above all things, be
quiet, and do nothing to alarm the Iro
quois. You may go."
I leaned forward, watching them as
they waded downstream, and then
climbed the bank, disappearing in the
undergrowth. Sequitah had moved
past me, and I heard his voice speak
ing In Indian dialect. Along the forest
aisles his warriors glided by where I
stood, noiselessly as shadows. In an
other moment D'Artigny and I were
alone, the black night all about us
not a sound reaching our ears to tell
of those .vanished allies. He took mv
hand, a caress In his touch, a 6asgc
tion of pride in his voice.
"The old chief is warrior still," he
said "and, unless all signs fail, the
Iroquois will long remember this day.
Come, Adele. 'twill not do for us to
be far behind, and we have walked this
trail before together."
nad I not tested it with my own
ears, never would I have believed a
hundred men could have made way so
noiselessly In the dark, through such
thick forest, rock strewn and deeply
rutted. Yet not -a Bound of their
stealthy passage was wafted back to
us on the wind no echo of voice, no
rasping of foot, no rustle of leaves.
Ghosts could not have moved more si-,
lently. Somehow the very thought that
these grim savages were thus creep
ing forward to attack and kill, their
hearts mad with hate, wild beasts of
prey stalking their victims, yielded me
a strange feeling ofaborror. I clung
to D'Artigny's arm, shrinking from the
shadows, my mind filled with name
less fear.
"Adele, he whispered, tenderly,
"you will fear for me In this venture T
'Tea, monsieur."
"There Is no need. You heard La
Forest say he bore orders of the king
to give De Tonty command once more
of Fort St. Louis."
"Yes, monsieur; but you have al
ready been tried and condemned.
Even if they have not authority to
shoot you here, they have power to
transport to Quebec"
"There would be battle first, if I
know my old comrades well. No, as to
that there is no cause to fear. I shall
be given fair trial now, and welcome
It My fear has been for you the ven
geance of Cassion, if ever you came
within his grasp' again. But that also
is settled."
"Settled? What is it you would tell
me?"
"This, sweetheart; you should know.
although I would that , some other
might tell you. La Forest whispered
it to me while we were alone yonder,
for he knew not you were estranged
"Tis a Good Fight So Far; Would
You Have More of It?"
from your husband. He .bears with
him the king's order for the arrest of
M. Cassion. Captain de Baugis is
commissioned by La Barre to return
him safely to Quebec for trials
"On what charge?"
'Treason to France; the giving of
false testimony against a king's offi
cer, and the concealing of official rec
ords." "Mon Dieu! Was it the, case of my
father r .
"Yes; the truth has been made clear.
There Is, as I understand from what
La Forest told me, not sufficient evi
dence against La Barre to convict, yet
'tis believed the case will cost him his
office. But M. Cassion was his agent
and is guilty beyond a doubt"
"But. monsieur, 'who made the
charges? Who brought the matter to
the attention of Louis?"
"The Comte de Frontenac; he was
your father's friend, and won him res
toration of bis property. Not until La
Forest met him In France was he
aware of the wrong done Captain le
Chesnayue. Later he had converse
with La Salle, a Franciscan once sta
tioned at Montreat. and two officers of
the regiment of Carignan-Salliers.
Armed with information thus gained,
he made appeal to Louis. Tis told me
the king was so angry he signed the
order of arrest with his own hand,
and handed it to La Forest to execute.?'
"The governor knows?"
"Not yet. La Forest felt it best to
keep the secret, fearing he might be fe-'
talned. or possibly ambushed ro t'y.
way hither.".
(TO BE CONTINTIFtn
SPMfflflQL
JBjr EL O. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Swnday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
ICopyrlfht. 1916. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 8
PAUL BEFORE FELIX.
GOLDEN TEXT Herein I also exercise
myself to have a conscience void of of
fense toward God and men always. Acta
M:16.
This is a court scene, and it might
be well with certain classes to Intro
luce, the lesson by describing such a
fathering -The lesson occurred five
lavs after the last lesson, and twelve
Jays after Taul reached Jerusalem,
bearing the collection for the poor.
The plaeey Caesarea, was the Roman
capital of Judea.
I. The Prisoner's Examination (w,
t-9). In addition to the Roman gov
ernor, Felix, attired in his gorgeous
afflcial regalia, on a platform nearby,
were the high priest of the Jews, in his
highly colored and Jeweled robes, the
lawyer, Tertullus, in his Roman toga,
and the eiders of the Sanhedrin who
had come down from Jerusalem to be
witnesses against Fanl. Of Tertullus
tt was satd that, hy his persuasive
tongue, he could make white seem
black, and could therefore more easily
make It appear that Paul was "a dan
ger to the Roman power, and not mere
ly a turbulent and renegade Jew." The
Judge, Felix, was an exceptionally bad
governor, who two years later was re
called by Nero to Rome. The infer
ence of verse two Is that Paul was an
Inciter of rebellion and robberies, but
the exact charges were three-fold:
(See vv. 6-C) (a) that Paul was a
mover of insurrection ; (b) that he was
a ringleader of a sect of Nazarenes
who were causing trouble; In the prov
ince : and (c) that he had profaned the
Jewish temple at Jerusalem. The
charge of insurrection would be espe
cially obnoxious to Felix who had Just
been praised for keeping peace In his
dominion. That of being a leader of
heresy was not serious, for the Romans
had no desire to -uterf ere between one
Jewish sect and another, but it led to
the last one, viz., profaning the tem
ple. The Romans had legalized the
Jewish ritual, and for Paul to profane
the holy place would be a serious out
rage. The weakness of Tertullus' case
was that he produced no evidence to
support his charges. The accusers
were there, but they had no witnesses.
11. The Prisoner's Defense (vv. 10-21).
Pauf" cheerfully made his defense, for
he knew the Jews and their customs,
and that Felix had married a Jewess,
(v. 24). We might consider this de
fense first negatively and then positive
ly. On the negative side, Paul answers
each charge seriatim. In the first
place there had not been time for him
to cause an insurrection (v. 11). Going
back over these days ; (1) his arrival
In Jerusalem (21 :15) ; (2) his appear
ance before James (21 :18) ; (3, 4, 5 and
6), the days of his vqw (Ch. 21 :26, 27) ;
(7) his arrest ; (8) his appearance be
fore the Sanhedrin; (9) the conspiracy
and his deliverance; (10, 11, 12 and 13)
In Caesarea (See Ch. 24:1). Paul's
statement showed that the whole story
,y p his experience was fresh in the
faemories of both friends and foes. It
was the Jews who did the stirring up.
Paul answers the second charge by
acknowledging (vv. 14-16) that he be
longed to the Christian way of salva
tion, but denied that this was heresy.
Paul was a true Jew and a good
Pharisee, for (1) he worshiped the
same God (v. 14) ; (2) he believed in
the Jewish law and prophets. From
them he knew he could prove that
Jesus was the Messiah. (3) He agreed
with .the Pharisees (v. 15) In hope to
ward God, a resurrection from tne
dead and immortal life. Paul's life was
"void of offense" toward God in heart
and worship, and toward men as shown
In good deeds It was for this that he
exercised himself. literally, he worked
upon the raw material, disciplining
and training It. Paul answers the third
charge by a simple denial that It had
actually taken place, and calls for wit
nesses. Positively, Paul explains that
he had followed the God of his fathers,
that he believed in fulfilled prophecy
literally the resurrection of Jesus from
the dead that he came to Jerusalem
with alms for the poor, and, as before
the council, he stands upon his in
tegrity. III. The Judge's Delay (w. 22-27).
Felix had a "more perfect knowledge
of that way." We believe he had se
cured this knowledge from Philip, the
evangelist, and from Cornelius, the Ro
man centurion, both of whom lived la
Caesarea. By. deferring his decision,
Felix avoided an outrageous injustice
to Paul, and at the same time gave
serious offense to the troublesome
Jews who knew of his evil conduct.
From verse twenty-three we see that
Paul was given liberty, literally such
Indulgence In freedom as would be con
sistent with his safety. Luke, the phy
sician, and Philip, the evangelist, vis
ited him here, bringing food, books and
letters. After a time Felix and his
wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul to talk
with him "concerning the faith In
Christ" Drusilla was a daughter of
Elerod Agrippa I (w. 12-23), and a sis
ter of Herod II (See Ch. 26). She was
i beautiful woman, much younger than
Felix who was possibly about sixty
tears of age. She and her only child
perished in the eruption of .Vesuvius.
'V
7'