Could he have found any, indeed, to make use of them might have brought destruction upon the Essenes, who had treated him kindly and saved his life.

Also among the Romans it was a disgrace for a soldier, and especially for an officer of high rank, to be made prisoner, and he was loth to expose his own shame.

As Gallus had told Miriam, no Roman should be taken alive.

So Marcus attempted to do nothing, but waited, sick at heart, for whatever fate fortune might send him.

Indeed, had he been quite sure that Miriam was dead, he, who was disgraced and a captive, would have slain himself and followed her.