t the thought that a number of the enemy--for, from the
fire breaking out simultaneously, it was certain at least a score
of men must have been engaged in the matter--should penetrate
unseen into the midst of their camp; and worse still that, after
effecting all this damage, all should have succeeded in making
their escape--for, so far as they knew, the whole of the Jews got
safely away.

But not for a moment did they relax their siege operations. The
troops engaged upon the embankment were relieved at the usual hour;
and half a legion went up into the mountains, as usual, to procure
timber; while four thousand archers, divided into parties two
hundred strong, extended themselves all over the hills, and
searched the forest for miles for some sign of their enemy--who
were, they were now convinced, comparatively few in numbers.

The news of the daring attack on the Roman camp spread far and wide
among the towns and villages of the plains; and aroused the
drooping spirits of the people, who had begun to think that it
would be worse than useless to offer any opposition to the Roman
power. Whence came the party which had accomplished the deed, or
who was its leader, none knew; and the inhabitants of the villages
near Hippos who, alone, could have enlightened them, were careful
to maintain an absolute silence; for they knew that if, by any
chance, a rumor reached the Romans of the locality from which their
assailants had come, they would have carried fire and sword among
all the villages by the lake.

Titus was away, being absent on a mission in Syria; and Vespasian
himself went among the troops, exhorting them not to be downcast at
the disaster that had befallen them, for that the bravest men were
subject to sudden misfortunes of this kind; and exhorted them to
push on the siege with all the more vigor, in order that they might
the sooner remove to camping grounds where they would not be
exposed to such attacks by a lurking foe.

The soldiers replied with cheers; and the next day, the embankment
being completed, they opened so terrible a fire from their war
engines upon the defenders of the walls that these were forced to
retire into the city. The Romans at once pushed forward their
battering rams to the walls and, setting to work with the greatest
vigor, speedily made three breaches; through which they rushed,
with exulting shouts. The Jews ran down to oppose them, and a
desperate conflict took place in the narrow str