"To the wall!--and let the herd go by!" So, clinging to the masonry at their right hand, they escaped the might of the rush, and little by little made headway until, at last, the square was reached.
"Keep together now, and follow me!" By this time Ben-Hur's leadership was perfect; and as he pushed into the seething mob his party closed after him in a body.
And when the Romans, clubbing the people and making merry as they struck them down, came hand to hand with the Galileans, lithe of limb, eager for the fray, and equally armed, they were in turn surprised.

Then the shouting was close and fierce; the crash of sticks rapid and deadly; the advance furious as hate could make it.

No one performed his part as well as Ben-Hur, whose training served him admirably; for, not merely he knew to strike and guard; his long arm, perfect action, and incomparable strength helped him, also, to success in every encounter.

He was at the same time fighting-man and leader.

The club he wielded was of goodly length and weighty, so he had need to strike a man but once.
He seemed, moreover, to have eyes for each combat of his friends, and the faculty of being at the right moment exactly where he was most needed.