suffice for the conquest of the whole country.
Jotapata may save Jerusalem, yet."

John was no coward, and was prepared to fight to the last; but he
was young, and the love of life was strong within. He thought of
his old father and mother, who had no children but him; of his
pretty Mary--far away now, he hoped, on the slopes of Mount
Hermon--and of the grief that his death would cause to them; and he
resolved that, although he would do his duty, he would strain every
nerve to preserve the life so dear to them.

He had no longer any duties to perform, other than those common to
all able to bear arms. When the Romans attacked, his place would be
near Josephus or, were a sally ordered, he would issue out with the
general; but until then, his time was his own. There was no mission
to be performed, now, no fear of plots against the life of the
general; therefore, he was free to wander where he liked. Save the
newly erected wall, across the neck of rock below the town, there
were no defenses; for it was deemed impossible for man to climb the
cliffs that fell, sheer down, at every other point.

John strolled quietly round the town; stopping, now and then, to
look over the low wall that bordered the precipice--erected solely
to prevent children from falling over. The depth was very great;
and it seemed to him that there could be no escape, anywhere, save
on that side which was now blocked by the wall--and which would,
ere long, be trebly blocked by the Romans.

The town was crowded. At ordinary times, it might contain near
three or four thousand inhabitants; now, over twenty-five thousand
had gathered there. Of these, more than half were men; but many had
brought their wives and children with them. Every vacant foot of
ground was taken up. The inhabitants shared their homes with the
strangers, but the accommodation was altogether insufficient; and
the greater part of the newcomers had erected little tents, and
shelters, of cloths or blankets.

In the upper part of the town there were, at present, comparatively
few people about; for the greater part had gone to the slope,
whence they watched, with terror and dismay, the great Roman column
as it poured down, in an unbroken line, hour after hour. The news
of the destruction which had fallen on Gadara had been brought in,
by fugitives; and all knew that, although no resistance had been
offered there, every male had been put to death, and the women
taken captives.

There