came conspicuous, as we shall show.

4. In a remote part of the walls on the southern side, which looks down
on the Tigris, there was a high tower, below which yawned an abrupt
precipice, which it was impossible to look over without giddiness. From
this by a hollow subterranean passage along the foot of the mountain
some steps were cut with great skill, which led up to the level of the
city, by which water was secretly obtained from the river, as we have
seen to be the case in all the fortresses in that district which are
situated on any river.

5. This passage was dark, and because of the precipitous character of
the rock was neglected by the besiegers, till, under the guidance of a
deserter who went over to them, seventy Persian archers of the royal
battalion, men of eminent skill and courage, being protected by the
remoteness of the spot which prevented their being heard, climbed up by
the steps one by one at midnight, and reached the third story of the
tower. There they concealed themselves till daybreak, when they held out
a scarlet cloak as a signal for commencing an assault, when they saw
that the city was entirely surrounded by the multitude of their
comrades; and then they emptied their quivers and threw them down at
their feet, and with loud cries shot their arrows among the citizens
with prodigious skill.

6. And presently the whole of the mighty host of the enemy assaulted the
city with more ferocity than ever. And while we stood hesitating and
perplexed to know which danger to oppose first, whether to make head
against the foe above us, or against the multitude who were scaling the
battlements with ladders, our force was divided; and five of the lighter
balistae were brought round and placed so as to attack our tower. They
shot out heavy wooden javelins with great rapidity, sometimes
transfixing two of our men at one blow, so that many of them fell to the
ground severely wounded, and some jumped down in haste from fear of the
creaking engines, and being terribly lacerated by the fall, died.

7. But by measures promptly taken, the walls were again secured on that
side, and the engines replaced in their former situation.

8. And since the crime of desertion had increased the labours of our
soldiers, they, full of indignation, moved along the battlements as if
on level ground, hurling missiles of all kinds, and exerting themselves
so strenuously that the Virtae, who were attacking on the south side,
were