All these things and many others Miriam saw from her place of outlookin the gallery of the deserted tower. She saw the people lying deadby hundreds in the streets beneath. She saw the robbers hale them fromtheir houses and torture them to discover the hiding-place of the foodwhich they were supposed to have hidden, and when they failed, put themto the sword. She saw the Valley of the Kidron and the lower slopes ofthe Mount of Olives covered with captive Jews writhing on their crosses,there to die as the Messiah whom they had rejected, died. She saw thefurious attacks, the yet more furious sallies and the dreadful dailyslaughter, till at length her heart grew so sick within her, thatalthough she still took refuge in the ruined tower to escape the gloombeneath, Miriam would spend whole hours lying on her face, her fingersthrust into her ears, that she might shut out the sights and sounds ofthis unutterable woe.
Meanwhile, the Essenes, who still had stores of food, ventured forth butrarely, lest the good condition of their bodies, although their faceswere white as death from dwelling in the darkness, should tempt thestarving hordes to seize and torture them in the hope of discoveringthe hiding-places of their nutriment. Indeed, to several of the brethrenthis happened; but in obedience to their oaths, as will be seen in theinstance of the past President Theophilus--who went out and was no moreheard of--they endured all and died without a murmur, having betrayednothing. Still, notwithstanding the danger, driven to it by utterweariness of their confinement in the dark and by the desire ofobtaining news, from time to time one of them would creep forth at nightto return again before daybreak. From these men Miriam heard thatafter the murder of the high priest Mathias and his sons, together withsixteen of the Sanhedrim, on a charge of correspondence with the Romans,her grandfather, Benoni, had been elected to that body, in which heexercised much influence and caused many to be put to death who wereaccused of treason or of favouring the Roman cause. Caleb also was inthe Temple and foremost in every fight. He was said to have sworn anoath that he would slay the Prefect of Horse, Marcus, with whom he hadan ancient quarrel, or be slain himself. It was told, indeed, that theyhad met once already and struck some blows at each other, before theywere separated by an accident of war.
The beginning of August came at length, and the wretched city, inaddition to its other miseries, panted in the heat of a scorching summersun and was poisoned by the stench from the dead bodies that filled thestreets and were hurled in thousands from the walls. Now the Romanshad set up their battering engines at the very gates of the Temple, andslowly but surely were winning their way into its outer courts.
On a certain night, about an hour before the dawn, Miriam woke Nehushta,telling her that she was stifling there in those vaults and must ascendthe tower. Nehushta said that it was folly, whereon Miriam answered thatshe would go alone. This she would not suffer her to do, so togetherthey passed up the stairs according to custom, and, having gained thebase of the tower through the swinging door of stone, climbed the stepsthat ran in the thickness of the wall till they reached the topmostgallery. Here they sat, fanned by the faint night wind, and watched thefires of the Romans stretched far and wide around the walls and evenamong the ruins of the houses almost beneath them, since that part ofthe city was taken.
Presently the dawn broke, a splendid, fearful dawn. It was as though theangel of the daybreak had dipped his wing into a sea of blood and dashedit against the brow of Night, still crowned with her fading stars. Of asudden the heavens were filled with blots and threads of flaming colourlatticed against the pale background of the twilight sky. Miriam watchedit with a kind of rapture, letting its glory and its peace sink intoher troubled soul, while from below arose the sound of awakening campsmaking ready for the daily battle. Soon a ray of burning light, castlike a spear from the crest of the Mount of Olives across the Valley ofJehoshaphat, struck full upon the gold-roofed Temple and its courts. Atits coming, as though at a signal, the northern gates were thrown wide,and through them poured a flood of gaunt and savage warriors. They cameon in thousands, uttering fierce war-cries. Some pickets of Romans triedto stay their rush; in a minute they were overcome and destroyed. Nowthey were surging round the feet of a great wooden tower filled witharchers. Here the fight was desperate, for the soldiers of Titus rushedup by companies to defend their engine. But they could not drive backthat onset, and presently the tower was on fire, and in a last madeffort to save their lives its defenders were casting themselvesheadlong from the lofty platform. With shouts of triumph the Jews rushedthrough the breaches in the second wall, and leaving what remained ofthe castle of Antonia on the left, poured down into the maze of streetsand ruined houses that lay immediately behind the Old Tower whenceMiriam watched.
In front of this building, which the Romans had never attempted toenter, since for military purposes it was useless to them, lay the openspace, once, no doubt, part of its garden, but of late years used as acattle market and a place where young men exercised themselves in arms.Bordering the waste on its further side were strong fortifications, thecamping ground of the twelfth and fifteenth legions. Across this openspace those who remained of the Romans fled back towards their outerline, followed by swarms of furious Jews. They gained them, such aswere not overtaken, but the Jews who pursued were met with so fiercea charge, delivered by the fresh troops behind the defences, thatthey were in turn swept back and took refuge among the ruined houses.Suddenly Miriam's attention became concentrated upon the mounted officerwho led this charge, a gallant-looking man clad in splendid armour,whose clear, ringing voice, as he uttered the words of command, hadcaught her ear even through the tumult and the shouting. The Romanonslaught having reached its limit, began to fall back again like thewater from an exhausted wave upon a slope of sand. At the moment theJews were in no condition to press the enemy's retreat, so that themounted officer who withdrew last of all, had time to turn his horse,and heedless of the arrows that sang about him, to study the groundnow strewn with the wounded and the dead. Presently he looked up at thedeserted tower as though wondering whether he could make use of it, andMiriam saw his face. It was Marcus, grown older, more thoughtful also,and altered somewhat by a short curling beard, but still Marcus and noother.
"Look! look!" she said.
Nehushta nodded. "Yes, it is he; I thought so from the first. And now,having seen him, lady, shall we be going?"
"Going?" said Miriam, "wherefore?"
"Because one army or the other may chance to think that this buildingwould be useful to them, and break open the walled-up door. Also theymight explore this staircase, and then----"
"And then," answered Miriam quietly, "we should be taken. What of it?If the Jews find us we are of their party; if the Romans--well, I do notgreatly fear the Romans."
"You mean you do not fear one Roman. But who knows, but that he maypresently lie dead----"
"Oh! say it not," answered Miriam, pressing her hand upon her heart."Nay, safe or unsafe, I will see this fight out. Look, yonder isCaleb--yes, Caleb himself, shouting to the Jews. How fierce is his face,like that of a hyena in a snare. Nay, now I will not go--go you andleave me in peace to watch the end."
"Since you are too heavy and strong for my old arms to carry down thosesteep steps, so be it," answered Nehushta calmly. "After all, we havefood with us, and our angels can guard us as well on the top of a toweras in those dirty cisterns. Also this fray is worth the watching."
As she spoke, the Romans having re-formed, led by the Prefect Marcus andother officers, advanced from their entrenchment, to be met half-way bythe Jews, now reinforced from the Temple, among whom was Caleb. There,in the open space, they fought hand to hand, for neither force wouldyield an inch. Miriam, watching through the stone bars from above, hadeyes for only two of all that multitude of men--Marcus, whom she loved,and Caleb, whom she feared. Marcus was attacked by a Jew, who stabbedhis horse, to be instantly stabbed himself by a Roman who came to therescue of his commander. After this he fought on foot. Caleb killedfirst one soldier than another. Watching him, Miriam grew aware that hewas
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 waytowards Caleb. Nearer and nearer they came, till at length they met andbegan to rain blows upon each other; but not for long, for just then acharge of some Roman horsemen separated them. After this both partiesretired to their lines, taking their wounded with them.
Thus, with pauses, sometimes of two or three hours, the fight went onfrom morning to noon, and from noon to sunset. During the latter partof the time the Romans made no more attacks, but were contented withdefending themselves while they awaited reinforcements from without thecity, or perhaps the results of some counter-attack in another part.
Thus the advantage rested, or seemed to rest, with the Jews, who heldall the ruined houses and swept the open space with their arrows. Nowit was that Nehushta's fears were justified, for having a little leisurethe Jews took a beam of wood and battered in the walled-up doorway ofthe 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 thatif they mounted the stair some sudden rush of Romans might trap suchof them as were within before they had time to descend again. Only theymade use of the base of the tower to shelter those of their woundedwhose hurts were so desperate that they dared not move them.
Now the fighting having ceased for a while, the soldiers of both sidesamused themselves with shouting taunts and insults at each other, orchallenges to single combat. Presently Caleb stepped forward from theshelter of a wall and called out that if the Prefect Marcus would meethim alone in the open space he had something to say which he would beglad to hear. Thereupon Marcus, stepping out from his defences, whereseveral 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 metby Caleb.
Here the two of them spoke together alone, but of what they said Miriamand 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.
While she spoke Marcus, shaking his head as though to decline someproposal, and pointing to the men of his command, who stood up watchinghim, turned to walk back to his own lines, followed by Caleb, whoshouted out that he was a coward and did not dare to stand alone beforehim. At this insult Marcus winced, then went on again, doubtless becausehe thought it his duty to rejoin his company, whereon Caleb, drawinghis sword, struck him with the flat of it across the back. Now the Jewslaughed, while the Romans uttered a shout of rage at the intolerableaffront offered to their commander. As for Marcus, he wheeled round,sword in hand, and flew straight at Caleb's throat.
But it was for this that the Jew had been waiting, since he knew that noRoman, and least of all Marcus, would submit to the indignity of such ablow. As his adversary came on, made almost blind with fury, he leaptto one side lightly as a lion leaps, and with all the force of his longsinewy arm brought down his heavy sword upon the head of Marcus. Thehelm was good, or the skull beneath must have been split in two by thatblow, which, as it was, shore through it and bit deeply into the bone.Beneath the shock Marcus staggered, threw his arms wide, and let fallhis sword. With a shout Caleb sprang at him to make an end of him, butbefore he could strike the Roman seemed to recover himself, and, knowingthat his weapon was gone, did the only thing he could, rushed straightat his foe. Caleb's sword fell on his shoulder, but the tempered mailwithstood it, and next instant Marcus had gripped him in his arms. Downthey came together to the earth, rolling over each other, the Jew tryingto stab the Roman, the Roman to choke the Jew with his bare hand. Thenfrom the Roman lines rose a cry of "Rescue!" and from the Jews a cry of"Take him."
Out poured the combatants from either side of the market-place byhundreds and by thousands, and there in its centre, round the strugglingforms of Caleb and of Marcus, began the fiercest fight of all that day.Where men stood, there they fell, for none would give back, since theRomans, outnumbered though they were, preferred to die rather than leavea wounded and beloved captain a prisoner in the hands of cruel enemies,while the Jews knew too well the value of such a prize to let it escapethem easily. So great was the slaughter that presently Marcus and Calebwere hidden beneath the bodies of the fallen. More and more Jews rushedinto the fray, but still the Romans pushed onwards with steady valour,fighting shoulder to shoulder and shield to shield.
Then of a sudden, with a savage yell a fresh body of Jews, three orfour hundred strong, appeared at the west end of the market-place, andcharged upon the Romans, taking them in flank. The officer in commandsaw his danger, and knowing that it was better that his captain shoulddie than that the whole company should be destroyed and the arms ofCaesar suffer a grave defeat, gave orders for a retirement. Steadily,as though they were on parade, and dragging with them those of theirwounded comrades who could not walk, the legionaries fell back, heedlessof the storm of spears and arrows, reaching their own lines before theoutflanking body of Jews could get among them. Then seeing that therewas nothing more to be gained, since to attempt to storm the Roman workswas hopeless, the victorious Jews also retreated, this time not to thehouses behind the tower, but only to the old market wall thirty or fortypaces in front of it, which they proceeded to hold and strengthen in thefading light. Seeing that they were lost, such of the wounded Romans asremained upon the field committed suicide, preferring to fall upon theirown 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 ofTitus that any soldier who was taken living should be publicly disgracedby 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 heknew it not--save himself much misery and shame in the future, but hehad neither time nor weapon; moreover, so weak was he with strugglingand the loss of blood, that even as he and Caleb were dragged by savagehands from among the fallen, he fainted. At first they thought that hewas 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 awhile, he would come to himself again. Therefore, as they desired topreserve this Prefect alive, either to be held as an hostage or to beexecuted in sight of the army of Titus, they brought him into the OldTower, clearing it of their own wounded, except such of them as hadalready breathed their last. Here they set a guard over him, though ofthis there seemed to be little need, and went under the command of thevictorious Caleb to assist in strengthening the market-wall.
All of these things Miriam watched from above in such an agony of fearand doubt, that at times she thought that she would die. She saw herlover and Caleb fall locked in each other's arms; she saw the hideousfray that raged around them. She saw them dragged from the heap ofslain, 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 laidupon the ground.
"Take comfort," whispered Nehushta, pitying her dreadful grief. "Thelord Marcus lives. If he were dead they would have stripped him andleft his body with the others. He lives, and they purpose to hold himcaptive, else they would have suffered Caleb to put his sword throughhim, as you noted he wished to do so soon as he found his feet."
"Captive," answered Miriam. "That means that he will be crucified likethe others whom we saw yesterday upon the Temple wall."
Nehushta shrugged her shoulders.
"It may be so," she said, "unless he finds means to destroy himselfor--is saved."
"Saved! How can he be saved?" Then in her woe the poor girl fell uponher knees clasping her hands and murmuring: "Oh! Jesus Christ whom
Iserve, teach me how to save Marcus. Oh! Jesus, I love him, although heis not a Christian; love him also because I love him, and teach me howto save him. Or if one must die, take my life for his, oh! take my lifefor his."
"Cease," said Nehushta, "for I think I hear an answer to your prayer.Look now, he is laid just where the stair starts and not six feet fromthe stone door that leads down into the cistern. Except for some deadmen the tower is empty; also the two sentries stand outside the breachin the brickwork with which it was walled up, because there they findmore light, and their prisoner is unarmed and helpless, and cannotattempt escape. Now, if the Roman lives and can stand, why should we notopen that door and thrust him through it?"
"But the Jews might see us and discover the secret of the hiding-placeof the Essenes, whom they would kill because they have hidden food."
"Once we were the other side of the door, they could never come at them,even if they have time to try," answered Nehushta. "Before ever theycould burst the door the stone trap beneath can be closed and the roofof the stair that leads to it let down by knocking away the props andflooded in such a fashion that a week of labour would not clear it outagain. Oh! have no fear, the Essenes know and have guarded against thisdanger."
Miriam threw her arms about the neck of Nehushta and kissed her.
"We will try, Nou, we will try," she whispered, "and if we fail, whythen we can die with him."
"To you that prospect may be pleasing, but I have no desire to die withthe lord Marcus," answered Nehushta drily. "Indeed, although I like himwell, were it not for your sake I should leave him to his chance. Nay,do not answer or give way to too much hope. Remember, perhaps he isdead, as he seems to be."
"Yes, yes," said Miriam wildly, "we must find out. Shall we go now?"
"Aye, while there is still a little light, for these steps are breakneckin the dark. No, do you follow me."
So on they glided down the ancient, darksome stairway, where owls hootedand bats flittered in their faces. Now they were at the last flight,which descended to a little recess set at right angles to the steps andflush with the floor of the basement, for once the door of the stairwayhad opened here. Thus a person standing on the last stair could not beseen by any in the tower. They reached the step and halted. Then verystealthily Nehushta went on to her hands and knees and thrust her headforward so that she could look into the base of the tower. It was darkas the grave, only a faint gleam of starlight reflected from his armourshowed where Marcus lay, so close that she could touch him with herhand. Also almost opposite to her the gloom was relieved by a patchof faint grey light. Here it was that the wall had been broken in, forNehushta could see the shadows of the sentries crossing and recrossingbefore the ragged opening.
She leant yet lower towards Marcus and listened. He was not dead, for hebreathed. More, she heard him stir his hand and thought that she couldsee it move upwards towards his wounded head. Then she drew back.
"Lady," she whispered, "he lives, and I think he is awake. Now you mustdo the rest as your wit may teach you how, for if I speak to him he willbe frightened, but your voice he may remember if he has his senses."
At these words all her doubts and fears seemed to vanish from Miriam'sheart, her hand grew steady and her brain clear, for Nature told herthat if she wished to save her lover she would need both clear brain andsteady hand. The timid, love-racked girl was transformed into a womanof iron will and purpose. In her turn she kneeled and crept a littleforward from the stair, so that her face hung over the face of Marcus.Then she spoke in a soft whisper.
"Marcus, awake and listen, Marcus; but I pray of you do not stir or makea noise. I am Miriam, whom once you knew."
At this name the dim form beneath her seemed to quiver, and the lipsmuttered, "Now I know that I am dead. Well, it is better than I hopedfor. Speak on, sweet shade of Miriam."
"Nay, Marcus, you are not dead, you are only wounded and I am not aspirit, I am a woman, that woman whom once you knew down by the banks ofJordan. I have come to save you, I and Nehushta. If you will obey what Itell you, and if you have the strength to stand, we can guide you intoa secret place where the Essenes are hidden, who for my sake will takecare of you until you are able to return to the Romans. If you do notescape I fear that the Jews will crucify you."
"By Bacchus, so do I," said the whisper beneath, "and that will be worsethan being beaten by Caleb. But this is a dream, I know it is a dream.If it were Miriam I should see her, or be able to touch her. It is but adream of Miriam. Let me dream on," and he turned his head.
Miriam thought for a moment. Time was short and it was necessary to makehim understand. Well, it was not difficult. Slowly she bent a littlelower and pressed her lips upon his.
"Marcus," she went on, "I kiss you now to show you that I am no dreamand how needful it is that you should be awakened. Had I light I couldprove to you that I am Miriam by your ring which is upon my fingers andyour pearls which are about my neck."
"Cease," he answered, "most beloved, I was weak and wandering, now Iknow that this is not a dream, and I thank Caleb who has brought ustogether again, against his wish, I think. Say, what must I do?"
"Can you stand?" asked Miriam.
"Perhaps. I am not sure. I will try."
"Nay, wait. Nehushta, come hither; you are stronger than I. Now, while Iunlatch the secret door, do you lift him up. Be swift, I hear the guardstirring without."
Nehushta glided forward and knelt by the wounded man, placing her armsbeneath him.
"Ready," she said. "Here is the iron."
Miriam took it, and stepping to the wall, felt with her fingers for thecrack, which in that darkness it took time to find. At length she hadit, and inserting the thin hooked iron, lifted the hidden latch andpulled. The stone door was very heavy and she needed all her strength tomove it. At last it began to swing.
"Now," she said to Nehushta, who straightened herself and dragged thewounded Marcus to his feet.
"Quick, quick!" said Miriam, "the guards enter."
Supported by Nehushta, Marcus took three tottering steps and reached theopen door. Here, on its very threshold indeed, his strength failed him,for he was wounded in the knee as well as in the head. Groaning, "Icannot," he fell to the ground, dragging the old Libyan with him, hisbreastplate clattering loud against the stone threshold. The sentrywithout heard the sound and called to a companion to give him thelantern. In an instant Nehushta was up again, and seizing Marcus by hisright arm, began to drag him through the opening, while Miriam, settingher back against the swinging stone to keep it from closing, pushedagainst his feet.
The lantern appeared round the angle of the broken masonry.
"For your life's sake!" said Miriam, and Nehushta dragged her hardest atthe heavy, helpless body of the fallen man. He moved slowly. It was toolate; if that light fell on him all was lost. In an instant Miriam tookher resolve. With an effort she swung the door wide, then as Nehushtadragged again she sprang forward, keeping in the shadow of the wall. TheJew who held the lantern, alarmed by the sounds within, entered hastilyand, catching his foot against the body of a dead man who lay there,stumbled so that he fell upon his knee. In her hand Miriam held the key,and as the guard regained his feet, but not before its light fell uponher, she struck with it at the lamp, breaking and extinguishing it.
Then she turned to fly, for, as she knew well, the stone would now beswinging on its pivot.
Alas! her chance had gone, for the man, stretching out his arm, caughther about the middle and held her fast, shouting loudly for help. Miriamstruggled, she battered him with the iron and dragged at him with herleft hand, but in vain, for in that grip she was helpless as a child whofights against its nurse. While she fought thus she heard the dull thudof the closing stone, and even in her despair rejoiced, knowing thatuntil Marcus was beyond its threshold it could not be shut. Ceasing fromher useless struggle she gathered the forces of her mind. Marcus wassafe; the door was shut and could not be opened from the further sideuntil another iron was procured;
the guard had seen nothing. But herescape was impossible. Her part was played, only one thing remained forher to do--keep silence and his secret.
Men bearing lights were rushing into the tower. Her right hand, whichheld the iron, was free, and lest it should tell a tale she cast theinstrument from her towards that side of the deserted place which sheknew was buried deep in fallen stones, fragments of rotted timber anddirt from the nests of birds. Then she stood still. Now they were uponher, Caleb at the head of them.
"What is it?" he cried.
"I know not," answered the guard. "I heard a sound as of clanking armourand ran in, when some one struck the lantern from my hand, a strongrascal with whom I have struggled sorely, notwithstanding the blows thathe rained upon me with his sword. See, I hold him fast."
They held up their lights and saw a beautiful, dishevelled maid, smalland frail of stature, whereon they laughed out loud.
"A strong thief, truly," said one. "Why, it is a girl! Do you summon thewatch every time a girl catches hold of you?"
Before the words died upon the speaker's lips, another man called out,"The Roman! The Prefect has gone! Where is the prisoner?" and with aroar of wrath they began to search the place, as a cat searches for themouse that escapes her. Only Caleb stood still and stared at the girl.
"Miriam!" he said.
"Yes, Caleb," she answered quietly. "This is a strange meeting, is itnot? Why do you break in thus upon my hiding-place?"
"Woman," he shouted, mad with anger, "where have you hidden the PrefectMarcus?"
"Marcus?" she answered; "is he here? I did not know it. Well, I saw aman run from the tower, perhaps that was he. Be swift and you may catchhim."
"No man left the tower," answered the other sentry. "Seize that woman,she has hidden the Roman in some secret place. Seize her and search."
So they caught Miriam, bound her and began running round and round thewall. "Here is a staircase," called a man, "doubtless he has gone up it.Come, friends."
Then taking lights with them, they mounted the stairs to the very top,but found no one. Even as they came down again a trumpet blew and fromwithout rose the sound of a mighty shouting.
"What happens now?" said one.
As he spoke an officer appeared in the opening of the tower.
"Begone," he cried. "Back to the Temple, taking your prisoner with you.Titus himself is upon us at the head of two fresh legions, mad at theloss of his Prefect and so many of his soldiers. Why! where is thewounded Roman, Marcus?"
"He has vanished," answered Caleb sullenly. "Vanished"--here he glancedat Miriam with jealous and vindictive hate--"and in his place has leftto us this woman, the grand-daughter of Benoni, Miriam, who strangelyenough was once his love."
"Is it so?" said the officer. "Girl, tell us what you have done with theRoman, or die. Come, we have no time to lose."
"I have done nothing. I saw a man walk past the sentries, that is all."
"She lies," said the officer contemptuously. "Here, kill thistraitress."
A man advanced lifting his sword, and Miriam, thinking that all wasover, hid her eyes while she waited for the blow. Before it fell,however, Caleb whispered something to the officer which caused him tochange his mind.
"So be it," he said. "Hold your hand and take this woman with you tothe Temple, there to be tried by her grandfather, Benoni, and the otherjudges of the Sanhedrim. They have means to cause the most obstinateto speak, whereas death seals the lips forever. Swift, now, swift, foralready they are fighting on the market-place."
So they seized Miriam and dragged her away from the Old Tower, which anhour later was taken possession of by the Romans, who destroyed it withthe other buildings.
Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem Page 20
