Miriam watched these missiles as they rushed by her, once or twice so close that the wind they made stirred her hair.
The sight fascinated her and took her mind from her own sufferings.
She could see the soldiers working at the levers and pulleys till the strings of the catapult or the boards of the balista were drawn to their places.

Then the darts or the stones were set in the groove prepared to receive it, a cord was pulled and the missile sped upon its way, making an angry humming noise as it clove the air.

At first it looked small; then approaching it grew large, to become small again to her following sight as its journey was accomplished.

Sometimes, the stones, which did more damage than the darts, fell upon the paving and bounded along it, marking their course by fragments of shattered marble and a cloud of dust.

At others, directed by an evil fate, they crashed into groups of Jews, destroying all they touched.