f death, for
I met them as they ran shrieking in their terror and tearing at their
robes. But what need is there to dwell on omens, true or false, when
cowards man the walls, and the spears of Ithobal shine yonder like
all the stars of heaven? Prince, I tell you that this ancient city is
doomed, and in it, as I fear, we must end our wanderings upon earth."

"So be it, if it must be," answered Aziel, "at the least I will die
fighting."

"And I also will die fighting, Prince, not because I love it, but
because it is better than being butchered in cold blood by a savage with
a spear. Oh! why did you ever chance to stumble upon the lady Elissa
making her prayer to Baaltis, and what evil spirit was it which filled
your brains with this sudden madness of love towards each other? That
was the beginning of the trouble, which, but for those eyes of hers,
would have held off long enough to see us safe at Tyre, though doubtless
soon or late it must have come. But see, yonder marches Ithobal at the
head of his guard. Give me a bow, the flight is long, but perchance I
can reach his black heart with an arrow."

"Save your strength," answered Aziel, "the range is too great, and
presently you will have enough of shooting," and he turned to talk to
the officers of the guard.

CHAPTER XVI

THE CAGE OF DEATH

An hour later the attack commenced at chosen points of the double wall,
one of them being the southern gate. In front of the advancing columns
of savages were driven vast numbers of slaves, many of whom had been
captured, or had surrendered in the outer town. These men were laden
with faggots to fill the ditch, rude ladders wherewith to scale the
walls, and heavy trunks of trees to be used in breaching them. For the
most part, they were unarmed, and protected only by their burdens, which
they held before them as shields, and by the arrows of the warriors of
Ithobal. But these did little harm to the defenders, who were hidden
behind the walls, whereas the shafts of the garrison, rained on them
from above, killed or wounded the slaves by scores, who, poor creatures,
when they turned to fly, were driven onward by the spear-points of the
savages, to be slain in heaps like game in a pitfall. Still, some of
them lived, and running under the shelter of the wall, began to breach
it with the rude battering rams, and to raise the scaling ladders
till death found them, or they were worn out with excitement, fear and
labour.

Then