“Now there is but one thing that we can do,” said Aziel; “fight bravely till we are slain.”

As he spoke a javelin cast from the wall beneath struck him upon the breastplate, and though the bronze turned the iron point, it brought him to his knees.  When he found his feet again, he heard a voice calling him by name, and looking down, saw Ithobal clad in golden harness and surrounded by his captains.

“You cannot escape, prince Aziel,” cried the king; “yield now to my mercy.”

Aziel heard, and setting an arrow to his bow, loosed it at Ithobal beneath.  He was a strong and skilful archer, and the heavy shaft pierced the golden helmet of the king, cutting his scalp down to the bone.

“That is my answer,” cried Aziel, as Ithobal rolled upon the ground beneath the shock of the blow.  But very soon the king 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.  “I will give a great reward in cattle to those who capture them unharmed; but if any do them hurt, they themselves shall be put to death.”

The captains bowed and issued their orders, and presently Aziel and his companions saw lines of unarmed men creeping up ladders set at 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 stormers as they appeared above 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 savages crept upward, heedless of death, till, with a 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 companions held him, and thus at last it came about that he was seized and bound.

As they dragged him to the stairway he looked across the fosse and saw the mercenaries flying from the inner wall, although it was still unbreached, and saw the citizens of Zimboe streaming by thousands to the narrow gateway of the temple fortress.

Then Aziel 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 Issachar would be fulfilled.

*****

A while later Aziel and those with him, their hands bound behind their backs, were led by hide ropes tied about their necks through the army of the Tribes that jeered and spat upon them as they passed, to a tent of sewn hides on the plain, above which floated the banner of Ithobal.  Into this tent the prince was thrust alone, and there forced upon his knees by the soldiers who held him.  Before him upon a couch covered with a lion skin lay the great shape of Ithobal, while physicians washed his wounded scalp.