As
it chanced, having taken the sea after the autumn gales and before those
of mid-winter began, they had a swift and prosperous voyage, enduring no
hardships save once from want of water. Within thirty days they came to
Rhegium, whence they marched overland to Rome, being received everywhere
very gladly by people who were eager for tidings of the war.
CHAPTER XX
THE MERCHANT DEMETRIUS
When on that fateful night in the Old Tower Miriam sprang forward to
strike the lantern from the hand of the Jew, Nehushta, who was bending
over the fallen Marcus and dragging at his body, did not even see that
she had left the door.
With an effort, the slope of the rocky passage beyond favouring her, she
half-drew, half-lifted the Roman through the entrance. Then it was, as
she straightened herself a little to take breath, that she heard the
thud of the rock door closing behind her. Still, as it was dark, she did
not guess that Miriam was parted from them, for she said:
"Ah! into what troubles do not these men lead us poor women. Well, just
in time, and I think that none of them saw us."
There was no answer. Sound could not pierce that wall and the place was
silent as a tomb.
"Lady! In the Name of Christ, where are you, lady?" asked Nehushta in
a piercing whisper, and the echoes of the gallery answered--"Where are
you, lady?"
Just then Marcus awoke.
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