otter before the blows of the
battering ram. The Jews, indeed, were indifferent as to its fall;
for they knew that the possession of the inner town was of slight
importance to them, and that its fall would not greatly facilitate
the attack upon what was the natural line of defense--namely, the
heights of Zion and Moriah.

For a short time, the Roman advance was delayed by the proceedings
of Castor, the Jewish officer commanding the tower which they had
assaulted. He, with ten men, alone had remained there when the rest
of the defenders had retired; and he got up a sham battle among his
men--the Romans suspending operations, under the belief that a
party of the defenders were anxious to surrender. Castor himself
stood on the parapet, and offered Titus to surrender. Titus
promised him his life and, when an archer standing near sent an
arrow which pierced Castor's nose, he sternly rebuked him.

He then asked Josephus, who was standing beside him, to go forward
and assure Castor and his companions that their lives should be
spared. Josephus, however, knew the way of his countrymen too well,
and declined to endanger his life. But, upon Castor offering to
throw down a bag of gold, a man ran forward to receive it, when
Castor hurled a great stone down at him; and Titus, seeing that he
was being fooled, ordered the battering ram to recommence its work.
Just before the tower fell, Castor set fire to it; and leaped with
his companions--as the Romans supposed into the flames--but really
into a vault, whence they made their escape into the city.

As soon as the tower fell, Titus entered the breach, with his
bodyguard and a thousand heavy-armed troops. The inhabitants,
almost entirely of the poorer class, surrendered willingly; and
Titus gave orders that none, save those found with arms upon them,
should be killed. The Romans dispersed through the narrow and
winding streets when, suddenly, Simon and his men poured down from
the upper city; and John, at the head of his band, issued from his
quarters.

While some fell upon the Romans in the streets, others entered the
houses and rained missiles upon them from above; while another
party, issuing from the gate by Phasaelus, attacked the Romans
between the second and third walls, and drove them into their camp.
For a time, Titus and those in the lower town suffered terribly;
but at last Titus posted archers, to command the lanes leading
towards the breach, and managed--but with con