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They were too late！
〃Let us stay here；〃 said Ben…Hur to Balthasar； who was wringing his hands。 〃The Nazarite may come this way。〃
The people were too intent upon what they had heard； and too busy in discussion； to notice the new…comers。 When some hundreds were gone by； and it seemed the opportunity to so much as see the Nazarite was lost to the latter； up the river not far away they beheld a person coming towards them of such singular appearance they forgot all else。
Outwardly the man was rude and uncouth； even savage。 Over a thin； gaunt visage of the hue of brown parchment； over his shoulders and down his back below the middle； in witch…like locks； fell a covering of sun…scorched hair。 His eyes were burning…bright。 All his right side was naked； and of the color of his face； and quite as meagre； a shirt of the coarsest camel's…haircoarse as Bedouin tent…clothclothed the rest of his person to the knees； being gathered at the waist by a broad girdle of untanned leather。 His feet were bare。 A scrip； also of untanned leather； was fastened to the girdle。 He used a knotted staff to help him forward。 His movement was quick； decided； and strangely watchful。 Every little while he tossed the unruly hair from his eyes； and peered round as if searching for somebody。
The fair Egyptian surveyed the son of the Desert with surprise； not to say disgust。 Presently； raising the curtain of the houdah； she spoke to Ben…Hur； who sat his horse near by。
〃Is that the herald of thy King？〃
〃It is the Nazarite；〃 he replied； without looking up。
In truth； he was himself more than disappointed。 Despite his familiarity with the ascetic colonists in En…Geditheir dress； their indifference to all worldly opinion； their constancy to vows which gave them over to every imaginable suffering of body； and separated them from others of their kind as absolutely as if they had not been born like themand notwithstanding he had been notified on the way to look for a Nazarite whose simple description of himself was a Voice from the Wildernessstill Ben…Hur's dream of the King who was to be so great and do so much had colored all his thought of him； so that he never doubted to find in the forerunner some sign or token of the goodliness and royalty he was announcing。 Gazing at the savage figure before him； the long trains of courtiers whom he had been used to see in the thermae and imperial corridors at Rome arose before him； forcing a comparison。 Shocked； shamed； bewildered； he could only answer；
〃It is the Nazarite。〃
With Balthasar it was very different。 The ways of God； he knew； were not as men would have them。 He had seen the Saviour a child in a manger； and was prepared by his faith for the rude and simple in connection with the Divine reappearance。 So he kept his seat； his hands crossed upon his breast； his lips moving in prayer。 He was not expecting a king。
In this time of such interest to the new…comers； and in which they were so differently moved； another man had been sitting by himself on a stone at the edge of the river； thinking yet； probably； of the sermon he had been hearing。 Now； however； he arose； and walked slowly up from the shore； in a course to take him across the line the Nazarite was pursuing and bring him near the camel。
And the twothe preacher and the strangerkept on until they came； the former within twenty yards of the animal； the latter within ten feet。 Then the preacher stopped； and flung the hair from his eyes； looked at the stranger； threw his hands up as a signal to all the people in sight； and they also stopped； each in the pose of a listener； and when the hush was perfect； slowly the staff in the Nazarite's right hand came down and pointed to the stranger。
All those who before were but listeners became watchers also。
At the same instant； under the same impulse； Balthasar and Ben…Hur fixed their gaze upon the man pointed out； and both took the same impression； only in different degree。 He was moving slowly towards them in a clear space a little to their front； a form slightly above the average in stature； and slender； even delicate。 His action was calm and deliberate； like that habitual to men much given to serious thought upon grave subjects； and it well became his costume； which was an undergarment full…sleeved and reaching to the ankles； and an outer robe called the talith； on his left arm he carried the usual handkerchief for the head； the red fillet swinging loose down his side。 Except the fillet and a narrow border of blue at the lower edge of the talith； his attire was of linen yellowed with dust and road stains。 Possibly the exception should be extended to the tassels； which were blue and white； as prescribed by law for rabbis。 His sandals were of the simplest kind。 He was without scrip or girdle or staff。
These points of appearance； however； the three beholders observed briefly； and rather as accessories to the head and face of the man； whichespecially the latterwere the real sources of the spell they caught in common with all who stood looking at him。
The head was open to the cloudless light； except as it was draped with hair long and slightly waved； and parted in the middle； and auburn in tint； with a tendency to reddish golden where most strongly touched by the sun。 Under a broad； low forehead； under black well arched brows； beamed eyes dark…blue and large； and softened to exceeding tenderness by lashes of the great length sometimes seen on children； but seldom； if ever； on men。 As to the other features； it would have been difficult to decide whether they were Greek or Jewish。 The delicacy of the nostrils and mouth was unusual to the latter type； and when it was taken into account with the gentleness of the eyes； the pallor of the complexion； the fine texture of the hair； and the softness of the beard； which fell in waves over his throat to his breast； never a soldier but would have laughed at him in encounter； never a woman who would not have confided in him at sight； never a child that would not； with quick instinct； have given him its hand and whole artless trust； nor might any one have said he was not beautiful。
The features； it should be further said； were ruled by a certain expression which； as the viewer chose； might with equal correctness have been called the effect of intelligence； love； pity； or sorrow； though； in better speech； it was a blending of them alla look easy to fancy as the mark of a sinless soul doomed to the sight and understanding of the utter sinfulness of those among whom it was passing； yet withal no one could have observed the face with a thought of weakness in the man； so； at least； would not they who know that the qualities mentionedlove； sorrow； pityare the results of a consciousness of strength to bear suffering oftener than strength to do； such has been the might of martyrs and devotees and the myriads written down in saintly calendars。 And such； indeed； was the air of this one。
Slowly he drew nearnearer the three。
Now Ben…Hur； mounted and spear in hand； was an object to claim the glance of a king； yet the eyes of the man approaching were all the time raised above himand not to Iras； whose loveliness has been so often remarked； but to Balthasar； the