e strove to stop them, but there were naught
but women in the house. They struck two of us to the ground, and
rushed out. Some of us ran out into the garden crying for aid, but
there we saw a terrible scene. A great struggle was going on, and
presently you broke forth, covered with blood and wounds, and ran
swiftly past. None heeded us or our cries.

"'When the soldiers arrived we told the officer what had happened; but
it was too late then, and nothing could be done. Had there been a
guard over the house all these things would never have happened.'

"I asked her if she could describe to me the appearance of the men.
She said that they were attired as respectable citizens, but that from
their language and manner she believed that they were ruffians of the
lowest class.

"For a time I was so overwhelmed with this news that I could think of
nothing, but went out and roamed through the streets. At last I
bethought me of the girl Ruth. She was with Mysa at the time, and
might, if questioned, be able to tell me more than the old woman had
done. I therefore returned, but had to wait for three hours before old
Lyptis came out again.

"'I want to speak to Ruth,' I said. 'Send her out to me.'

"'Ruth has gone,' she said.

"'Gone!' I repeated. 'Where and whither?'

"'That we know not. It was not until hours after Mysa was carried off
that any one thought of her. We were too overwhelmed with grief at the
death of our dear lord and the loss of Mysa to give a thought to the
young Israelite. Then one asked, where was she? No one had noticed
her. We went to Mysa's chamber, thinking that the villains who carried
our young mistress off might have slain her; but there were no signs
of her there.'

"'But she was with Mysa, was she not,' I asked, 'when the attack was
made? Did she not pass in with her when she came in from the garden?'

"'Yes,' she replied, 'they came in together and passed through us; for
we gathered in the front chamber, being greatly frightened at the
clamor at the gate. As they passed us our young mistress said, 'Keep
silent; what is the use of screaming and crying?''

"I asked if she was sure Ruth was not carried off as well as Mysa.

"'Quite sure,' she said. 'One bore a figure and the other three
cleared the way.'"

"'And that was the last time,' I asked, 'that any of you saw the
Israelite?'

"'It was,' she answered. 'She must have passed out by the door at the
end of the passage, which she might wel