The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-08

approach Of day as the coming Of q t1ene An
night he had searched for Sherah- Al times
tho clanzor Of the mighty conflict raging IN
te streets lured him. but ne bowed to another
call. The battle cries OF his Aramean-ven
] row ringing out-told him Of the progress Of tie
invasion. He knew when they advanced ana
when they fell back. and OF the result thera was
only one period Of doubt
This was when the Assyrian chariot, MAIDS
their first charge. and then the impulse TO rush
to the assistance of his comrades nearly mastered
him. Il was now slngularly quiet on the mound.
ana going to the eastern parapet he looked down
upon the convulsed city. The familiar sounds
of the fierce strife OF contending hosts was soIacs
to him and rested him. CHANGING over beyond
the dark city and Its terrific turGult and beyond
the Swallowed eastern wall with its fringe OF
towers and battlernents he beheld the aureols eS
the approaching sun.
Folding his arms he liStlessly watched ths
amber chang 70 Oh-vs7rr4ss the rhrzon-a..
break into an opaIescsnt emulsion OF smethy.s
and vanish before The rich. royal ruby OF the
god Of hight
If any OF the ccm5atants below him stopped
TO greet the orb hs saw them not. so glortously
did 1t I'LL his houzon. 4 baImy wind erept IN
from the dry plains Of the West and dallied
with the smoke that curled up from the affairs.
which everywhere in the city reeked sacrifice.
From the Kings palace a thick column Of smoks
climbed higher than all the rest
/ The tranquility OF the Kings mound was nom
d1cive TO reflection. Talmai looked in vain for
the broad platform at the summit Of the double
stairs. where he changed places with the mes
EeIEcE. lie 4isC0NtTEu IlaL not only IL. Out that
the stairs to the street were gone. The Inhabi-
tsnts OK the mound had thus cut themselves OF
from the city. leaving the people below TO their
fate. To complete the isolation of King and
court in this. their citadel. intricate barbados
had been erected during the night on the western
city wall near the mound.
Affected By fatigue and the warmth OF tho
sun Talnai gazsd upon the turbulent scene be-
low as one who gazed into a vast pit where men
instead of animals fought for their lives. He
was Of It vet not In it. With admiration he
nO-Al tia fRz-a-ara -a=Fas--r. - =. A..-H--.
contestinG every inch Of ground. He saw here
and yonder, IN streets and squares. deeds II
individual daring. and he saw the hooters who
followed close upon the heels Of the fighters
He saw s~hriekinG women. tearing their hair
and beating their breast. dragged out Of the
hidden reccsses OF their homes. and he saw
into the food. He saw soldiers loading them
selves with pIunder. while Their companions
were trampied under foo; In some desperate
charge Of the Assyrian chariotry- The thought
came to TaImaI: Who besides himself knew the
secret q the underground passage by which he
and IttibeI had gained the summit ar the mound
cnar1ots and horses gained the summit OF tho
hours passed since then:
Itti-BeI. for one. knew. but where was the
Ionian? Frequently durins his search Talmai
had looked about expecting 70 see him. Well
he would endeavOr 10 Gad The lad
Zaya also knew. He vas with the ing.
Istar-Bcla knew. She was with the King.
Tnlmai laughed almost mirth!essly as he thought
OF the futility OF the preparations for a pro-
lonEed siege that were going on. After the cap
tire Of the city proper. which was inevitable.
the walls must be conquered Upon them the
remnant O the Assyrians could take refuge and
continue the contest for days
kkar on. over the gates. he could see In,
Assyr!an warriors actively engaged In repellihx
the vigorous assaults Of the invaders. and IA
these parts OF tho city which had not been
reached by the enemy. he saw excited women.
children and old men driving herds of boats ana
sheep UP the narrow inclined ways, BY which
chsriots an horses gained the summit OF the
walls.
chatte1s through streets with vague hopes that
the tide Of battle would not reach them, and he
saw eunichs burdened with their masters gold
and silver staggering TO sorae place where they
might hide their wealth. He saw courage and de-
spair, hope and despondsncy. frenzy and col.
ness, the basest and the nobiest acts. the
grandeur Of men and their deEradaton.