As it chanced, at the moment they were in the centre
of an open space that once had been covered with houses but was now
cumbered with hundreds of blackened and tottering walls, for fire had
devoured them.
"It is the men of John who attack us," cried a voice, whereon, moved by
a common impulse, the little band turned and fled for shelter among the
ruined houses; yes, even Caleb and Benoni fled.
Before they reached them, lo! from these crumbling walls that they had
thought untenanted save by wandering dogs, out rushed another body of
savage warriors, the men of Simon who held the Lower City.
After this, Miriam knew little of what happened. Swords and spears
flashed round her, the factions fell upon each other, slaughtering
each other. She saw Caleb cut down one of the soldiers of John, to be
instantly assaulted in turn by a soldier of Simon, since all desired
to kill, but none cared whom they slew. She saw her grandfather rolling
over and over on the ground in the grip of a man who looked like a
priest; she saw women and children pierced with spears. Then Nehushta
seized her by the hand, and plunging a knife into the arm of a man who
would have stayed them, dragged her away. They fled, an arrow sang past
her ear; something struck her on the foot.
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