held the head of the bridge, and already the Jews were hacking at
its timbers, so in that endeavour he failed and in his heart made sure
that Miriam had perished. So bitterly did Caleb mourn, who, fierce and
wayward as he was by nature, still loved her more than all the world
besides, that for six days or more he sought death in every desperate
adventure which came to his hand, and they were many. But death fled
him, and on the seventh day he had tidings.

A man who was hidden among the ruins of the cloisters managed to escape
to the Upper City. From him Caleb learned that the woman, who was said
to have been found upon the roof of the gate Nicanor, had been brought
before Titus, who gave her over to the charge of a Roman captain, by
whom she had been taken without the walls. He knew no more. The story
was slight enough, yet it sufficed for Caleb, who was certain that this
woman must be Miriam. From that moment he determined to abandon the
cause of the Jews, which, indeed, was now hopeless, and to seek out
Miriam, wherever she might be. Yet, search as he would, another fifteen
days went by before he could find his opportunity.

At length Caleb was placed in charge of a watch upon the wall, and, the
other members of his company falling asleep from faintness and fatigue,
contrived in the dark to let himself down by a rope which he had
secreted, dropping from the end of it into the ditch. In this ditch he
found many dead bodies, and from one of them, that of a peasant who
had died but recently, took the clothes and a long winter cloak of
sheepskins, which he exchanged for his own garments. Then, keeping only
his sword, which he hid beneath the cloak, he passed the Roman pickets
in the gloom and fled into the country. When daylight came Caleb cut
off his beard and trimmed his long hair short. After this, meeting a
countryman with a load of vegetables which he had licence to sell in the
Roman camp Caleb bought his store from him for a piece of gold, for he
was well furnished with money, promising the simple man that if he said
a word of it he would find him out and kill him. Then counterfeiting the
speech and actions of a peasant, which he, who had been brought up among
them down by the banks of Jordan, well could do, Caleb marched boldly to
the nearest Roman camp and offered his wares for sale.

Now this camp was situated outside the gate of Gennat, not far from the
tower Hippicus. Therefore, it is not strange that althoug