Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-16
CHAPTER XVI.
The Cage of Death.

of them being the southern gate In front
Of the advancing columns were driven
vast numbers of slaves, most of whom
lad been CAPTURED had surrendered in
the outer town. These men were laden
with fagots to fill the ditch rude ladders
vherewith to scale the walls and heavy
trunks of trees to be used in preaching
them For the most part they were I'M
armed and protected only by their burdens,
which they held before them as Shields
and the arrows of the warriors of Ithobai.
But these did little harm to the defenders,
who were hidden behind the walls, whereas
their shafts rained on them from above,
killed or wounded the slaves by scores,
and when they turned to fly they were
driven onward by the spear points of tho
savages. to be slain like game in a pitfall.
Still. some of them lived. and, running
under the shelter of the wall. began to
breach II with the battering rams. and
to raise the scaling LADDERS till death
found them or they We're worn out with
excitement
Then the real attack began. With fierce
yells the threefold column rushed at the
wall and began to work the rams and scale
the ladders, while the defenders above
rained spears and arrows upon them. or
crushed them with heavy stones. pour
ed upoE their heads boiling pitch and
water, heated in great caldrons which
stood at hand Time upon time they were
driven back, with heavy loss, and time
upon time fresh hordes of them advanced
to the onslaught. Thrice. at the south
gate. were the ladders raised and thrice
the heads Of the stormers appeared above
the level of the wall, 10 be hurled. crushed
and bleeding, to the earth beneath.
Thus the long day wore on, and Still
the defenders held their own.
We shall win." shouted Aziel to Metem
as fresh ladder was cast down with its
NC ipht of to fha doaf h-Cfr l1ain
Yes. here We shall win, be cause here
we fight" answered the Phoeniciln, but
elsewhere it may be otherwise and, in
deed, for q. while the attack upon the south
gate slackened.
Another hour passed, and presently to
the left of them rose wild yell of triumph
and with it a shout of Fly TO the Sc cond
wall. The foe is i'll the fosse.''
Netem looked. and there. 500 PAGES to
their left. flood of savages poured toward
them down the great ditch. Come he
said. the outer wall is lost. But as he
spoke Cnce more the ladders rose against
the gates and thanking towers. and once
more Aziel sprang to cast them down.
When the deed was done he looked behind
him to find that he cut off and sur
rounded Metem and most of his men. in
deed, had gained the inner wall in safety,
while he. with twelve only of his bravest
soldiers. Jews Of his own following, who
had stayed to help him to throw back the
ladders. were left upon the gateway tower.
both the plain without ind the fosse with
IN were filled with the men of lthobal, who
advanced also down the broad coping of the
captured wall.
can do" said Aziel. fight bravely till we
gre slain"
AS he spoke Javelin cast from the wall
beneath struck him upon the breastplate.
and, though the bronze turned the iron
point, brought him to his knees. When he
found his feet again lie heard a voice cali
Ing him by name, and. looking down, saw
Ithobal clad in goldea harness and sur
rounded by his captains.
You cannot ESCAPE, Prince Aziel,' cried
the king. Yield now to my mercy"
Aziei heard. and setting an arrow to his
bow. loosed 1t at Ithobal beneath. He was
skilled archer, AID the heavy shaft
pierced the golden helmet of the king, cut
ting his scalp down to the rome.
That is my answer. cried Aziel. as Ith-
cbal rolled upon the ground beneath the
shock of the blow. but very soon he was
up and crying his commands from behind
the shield hedge of his captains.
Let the Prince AZiel and the Jews with
him be taken alive and brought to me-" he
shouted Il viii give a great reward in
cattle 20 those who capture them unharm-
ed: but if any do them hurt they them
selves shall be put to DEATH
The captains bowed and issued their Or
ders. and presently AZiel and his compan-
ions saw lines of unarmed men creeping
up ladders set upon every side of the lofty
tower. Again and again they cast off the
ladders till at length. being SO few, they
could stir them no more because of the
weight upon them, but must hack at the
heads Of the stcrmers as they appeared
SeoVe the parapet, killing them one by one.
In this fashion they slew many, but their
arms grew weary at last and ever under
the eye OF their king the brave savagcs
crept upward. Needless Of DEATH TILL with
shout. they poured over the battlements
and rushed at the little band OF Jews. Now,
rather than be taken. Aziel sought to throw
himself from the tower, but his compan-
ions held him, and thus at last it came
about that he was seized and bound. As
they dragged him to the stairway, he look
ed across the fosse and saw the mercenaries
flying from the inner wall, although 1t was
still unbreached, and saw also the citizens
of Zimboe streaming by thousands to the
narrow gateway of the temple fortress.
Then he groaned In his heart and struggled
no more, for he knew that the fate Of the
ancient town was sealed and that the
prophecy of Issacbar would be fulfilled.
A while later Aziel and these with him.
their hands bound behind their backs, were
led by hide ropes lied about their necks
through the army of the tribes that jeered
and spat upon them as they passed to
toni on the plain, above which foated the
banner of Ithcbal. Into this tent the
prince was thrust alone, and there forced
upon his knees by the soldiers who held
him. Before him. upon couch covered
with a lion skin. lay the great shape of
wounded scalp.
Greeting. son of Israel and Pharaoh"
he said in a hooking voice. Truly, you
are Use thus TO do homage to the king of
the world
"a poor Jest answered Aziel glancing
at those who neld him down; true NOM
age is Of the heart, King Ithobal''
Il know ii, Jew, and this also you shall
give me when you humber. Who
taught you the use of the bow? You shoot
we'll and he pointed to his bood-stained
helmet, which was still transfixed by the
srrow.
Nay. answered Aziel, Il shot but ILL.,
Tor my arm was weary. When next l draw
q string against your breast. King IthobaI
i promise you d straighter shaft"
We'll said" anSv cred the king with a
laugh; but you know dog of a Jew that
now IL is my turn to draw the strinS-how
i will show you afterward. Have they told
you that the city has fallen and that nv
captains hold the gates. while the towards
of Zimboe are penned like sheep within the
temple and the cliff-edged height
above? They have fled ;hither for safety.
but 1 tell you that they would be more
safe on yonder plain. for I have the key of
their stronghold, a certain passage leading
from the palace of the Baaltis to the tenn
PIE; you know 1t, I think. Yes, and IL 1
had not, very soon hunger and thirst
fOr Yell