midday
Soon a hideous black hound appeared , and with flashing eyes and gaping jaws sprang at our hero . He was received with a sweep of the scimitar , which cleft his diabolical head in twain , and he rolled down the deep declivity , all mangled and bleeding , to the foot , missing the path and falling from rock to rock , so that when he was found by the party who followed they could not tell by what means he had received his first wound . And when the other dogs arrived at the spot , which was deluged in gore , after the wont of their race they would follow the scent no farther . Meanwhile our little party of five rescued captives went joyfully forward with renewed hope , until midday , when they found a cool spot by the side of the streams leading to the waters of Merom -- the head waters of the Jordan . And there , under a date tree which afforded them food , they watched in turn until the sun was low ; after which they renewed their journey . Soon they left the smaller lake behind , and followed the waters of the Upper Jordan to the Sea of Galilee , skirting its western shore , so rich in sacred memories , with the ruins of Capernaum , Chorazin , Bethsaida , Magdala , and other cities , long ago trodden : By those sacred feet once nailed , For our salvation , to the bitter rood . In the evening they rested amidst the ruins of Enon , near Salim ; and on the morrow resumed their course , avoiding the great towns ; begging bread in the villages -- a boon readily granted .