t should
be spared.

Hunger was now doing its work among the people of Gamala. The
inhabitants suffered terribly, for the provisions were all taken
for the use of the fighting men; and the rest had to subsist, as
best they could, on any little hoards they might have hidden away,
or on garbage of all kinds. Numbers made their escape through the
sewers and passages which led into the ravines, where the Romans
had placed no guards.

Still the assaults of the Romans were bravely repelled until, on
the night of the 22d of September, two soldiers of the Fifteenth
Legion contrived to creep, unobserved, to the foot of one of the
highest towers of the wall; and began, silently, to undermine its
foundations. Before morning broke, they had got in so far that they
could not be perceived from the walls. Still they worked in,
leaving a few stones in their place, to support the tower until the
last moment. Then they struck these away, and ran for their lives.

The tower fell with a terrible crash, with the guards upon it. In
their terror, the defenders of the walls leaped up and fled in all
directions; and many were killed by the Romans' darts--among them
Josephus, one of their two leaders--while Chares, who was lying in
the height of a fever, expired from the excitement of the calamity.

The confusion in the town was terrible. Deprived of their two
leaders, and with the town open to assault, none knew what was to
be done. All expected instant destruction, and the air was filled
with the screams and wailings of the women; but the Romans, mindful
of their last repulse, did not at once advance to the assault. But
in the afternoon Titus--who had now returned--taking two hundred
horse, and a force of infantry, crossed the breach and entered the
town.

Some of the defenders rushed to meet him. Others, catching up their
children, ran with their wives to the citadel. The defenders fought
bravely, but were driven steadily up the hill by the Romans--who
were now reinforced by the whole strength of the army, led by
Vespasian. Quarter was neither asked nor given. The defenders
contested every foot of the hill, until the last defender of
Gamala, outside, the citadel had fallen.

Then Vespasian led his men against the citadel itself. It stood on
a rugged rock, of great height, offering tremendous difficulties to
the assailants. The Jews stood upon the summit, rolling down great
stones and darts upon the Romans, as they strove to ascend. B