"
"Good. You who are present, remember his words and my decree. In Rome,
if we live to reach it, you shall give account to me of the captive
lady, Miriam. Now take her away, for there are greater matters to be
dealt with than the fortunes of this girl."
CHAPTER XIX
PEARL-MAIDEN
Many days had gone by, but still the fighting was not ended, for the
Jews continued to hold the Upper City. As it chanced, however, in one of
the assaults upon it that officer who had rescued Miriam was badly hurt
by a spear-thrust in the leg, so that he could be of no more service
in this war. Therefore, because he was a man whom Titus trusted, he was
ordered to sail with others of the sick for Rome, taking in his charge
much of the treasure that had been captured, and for this purpose
travelled down to Tyre, whence his vessel was to put to sea. In
obedience to the command of Caesar he had carried the captive Miriam to
the camp of his legion upon the Mount of Olives, and there placed her
in a tent, where an old slave-woman tended her. For a while it was not
certain whether she should live or die, for her sufferings and all that
she had seen brought her so near to death that it was hard to keep her
from passing its half-opened gates.
Pages:
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350