Or if one must die, take my life for his, oh! take my life for his." "Cease," said Nehushta, "for I think I hear an answer to your prayer.
Look now, he is laid just where the stair starts and not six feet from the stone door that leads down into the cistern.

Except for some dead men the tower is empty; also the two sentries stand outside the breach in the brickwork with which it was walled up, because there they find more light, and their prisoner is unarmed and helpless, and cannot attempt escape.

Now, if the Roman lives and can stand, why should we not open that door and thrust him through it ?" "But the Jews might see us and discover the secret of the hiding-place of the Essenes, whom they would kill because they have hidden food." "Once we were the other side of the door, they could never come at them, even if they have time to try," answered Nehushta.

"Before ever they could burst the door the stone trap beneath can be closed and the roof of the stair that leads to it let down by knocking away the props and flooded in such a fashion that a week of labour would not clear it out again.

Oh! have no fear, the Essenes know and have guarded against this danger." Miriam threw her arms about the neck of Nehushta and kissed her.
"We will try, Nou, we will try," she whispered, "and if we fail, why then we can die with him." "To you that prospect may be pleasing, but I have no desire to die with the lord Marcus," answered Nehushta drily.