At this insult Marcus winced, then went on again, doubtless because he thought it his duty to rejoin his company, whereon Caleb, drawing his sword, struck him with the flat of it across the back.

Now the Jews laughed, while the Romans uttered a shout of rage at the intolerable affront offered to their commander.

As for Marcus, he wheeled round, sword in hand, and flew straight at Caleb's throat.
But it was for this that the Jew had been waiting, since he knew that no Roman, and least of all Marcus, would submit to the indignity of such a blow.

As his adversary came on, made almost blind with fury, he leapt to one side lightly as a lion leaps, and with all the force of his long sinewy arm brought down his heavy sword upon the head of Marcus.

The helm was good, or the skull beneath must have been split in two by that blow, which, as it was, shore through it and bit deeply into the bone.
Beneath the shock Marcus staggered, threw his arms wide, and let fall his sword.