ounded comrades who could not walk, the legionaries fell back, heedless
of the storm of spears and arrows, reaching their own lines before the
outflanking body of Jews could get among them. Then seeing that there
was nothing more to be gained, since to attempt to storm the Roman works
was hopeless, the victorious Jews also retreated, this time not to the
houses behind the tower, but only to the old market wall thirty or forty
paces in front of it, which they proceeded to hold and strengthen in the
fading light. Seeing that they were lost, such of the wounded Romans as
remained upon the field committed suicide, preferring to fall upon their
own spears than into the hands of the Jews to be tortured and crucified.
Also for this deed they had another reason, since it was the decree of
Titus that any soldier who was taken living should be publicly disgraced
by name and expelled from the ranks of the legion, and, if recaptured,
in addition suffer death or banishment.

Gladly would Marcus have followed their example and thereby--though he
knew it not--save himself much misery and shame in the future, but he
had neither time nor weapon; moreover, so weak was he with struggling
and the loss of blood, that even as he and Caleb were dragged by savage
hands from among the fallen, he fainted. At first they thought that he
was dead, but one of the Jews, who chanced to be a physician by trade,
declared that this was not so, and that if he were left quiet for a
while, he would come to himself again. Therefore, as they desired to
preserve this Prefect alive, either to be held as an hostage or to be
executed in sight of the army of Titus, they brought him into the Old
Tower, clearing it of their own wounded, except such of them as had
already breathed their last. Here they set a guard over him, though of
this there seemed to be little need, and went under the command of the
victorious Caleb to assist in strengthening the market-wall.

All of these things Miriam watched from above in such an agony of fear
and doubt, that at times she thought that she would die. She saw her
lover and Caleb fall locked in each other's arms; she saw the hideous
fray that raged around them. She saw them dragged from the heap of
slain, and at the end of it all, by the last light of day, saw Marcus,
living or dead, she knew not which, borne into the tower, and there laid
upon the ground.

"Take comfort," whispered Nehushta, pitying her dreadful grief. "The
lo