on foot.  Caleb killed first one soldier than another.  Watching him, Miriam grew aware that he was cutting his way towards some point, and that the point was Marcus.  This Marcus seemed to know; at least, he also strove to cut his way towards Caleb.  Nearer and nearer they came, till at length they met and began to rain blows upon each other; but not for long, for just then a charge of some Roman horsemen separated them.  After this both parties retired to their lines, taking their wounded with them.

Thus, with pauses, sometimes of two or three hours, the fight went on from morning to noon, and from noon to sunset.  During the latter part of the time the Romans made no more attacks, but were contented with defending themselves while they awaited reinforcements from without the city, or perhaps the results of some counter-attack in another part.

Thus the advantage rested, or seemed to rest, with the Jews, who held all the ruined houses and swept the open space with their arrows.  Now it was that Nehushta’s fears were justified, for having a little leisure the Jews took a beam of wood and battered in the walled-up doorway of the tower.

“Look!” said Nehushta, pointing down.

“Oh, Nou!” Miriam answered, “I was wrong.  I have run you into danger.  But indeed I could not go.  What shall we do now?”

“Sit quiet until they come to take us,” said Nehushta grimly, “and then, if they give us time, explain as best we may.”

As it chanced, however, the Jews did not come, since they feared that if they mounted the stair some sudden rush of Romans might trap such of them as were within before they had time to descend again.  Only they made use of the base of the tower to shelter those of their wounded whose hurts were so desperate that they dared not move them.

Now the fighting having ceased for a while, the soldiers of both sides amused themselves with shouting taunts and insults at each other, or challenges to single combat.  Presently Caleb stepped forward from the shelter of a wall and called out that if the Prefect Marcus would meet him alone in the open space he had something to say which he would be glad to hear.  Thereupon Marcus, stepping out from his defences, where several of his officers seemed to be striving to detain him, answered: 

“I will come,” and walked to the centre of the market, where he was met by Caleb.

Here the two of them spoke together alone, but of what they said Miriam and Nehushta, watching them from above, could catch no word.

“Oh! will they fight?” said Miriam.

“It seems likely, since each of them has sworn to slay the other,” answered Nehushta.