midday
Which ? the brethren asked , but Jesus said a choice would be but guess-work at present , none could pick out the making of a good ram till past the second month . Caleb marked one which he was sure would be chosen later , and Benjamin another , and Eleazar another ; but when the time came for Jesus to choose , it was none of these that he chose , and on hearing of their mistakes , the brethren were disappointed , and thought no more of the flock , asking only casually for Cæsar , and forgetting to mourn his decease at the end of the fourth year ; his successor coming to them without romantic story , the brethren were from henceforth satisfied to hear from time to time that the hills were free from robbers ; that the shepherds had banded together in great wolf hunts ; and that freed from their natural enemies , the wolves and robbers , the flock had increased in numbers beyond the memory of the oldest shepherd on the hills . The brethren waxed rich , and after their midday meal they talked of the exceeding good fortune that had been vouchsafed to them , dwelling on the matter so earnestly that a scruple sometimes rose up in their hearts . Did we do well to forgo all troubles ? Do the selfish find favour in God 's sight ? they were asking , when Caleb said : we have visitors to-day , and looking across the chasm they saw three men emerging from the shadow of the high rock .