"O God!" she cried, kneeling before the cross, "deliver us from evil! Let not the city fall until my Jucundus returns! Alas! if he does not find his mother! Oh, let him again come the way he went that unhappy day, when he descended into the secret labyrinth to seek the hidden treasure! Show him to me as I saw him last night in my dream, rising up from below the roots of the tree!" And she turned to look at the hole. "O dark passage! into which my happiness disappeared, give it up to me again! God! by this way lead him back to me." She stood exactly before the opening with folded hands, her eyes piously raised to heaven. Johannes hesitated as he issued from the hole and perceived her. "She prays," he murmured. "Shall I kill her whilst praying!" He waited; he hoped that she would turn away. "It lasts too long! God knows I cannot help it!" And he got quickly out from among the roots. The old woman now raised her half-blind eyes; she saw a glittering form rise from the earth. A ray of ecstasy flashed across her features. She spread out her arms. "Jucundus!" she cried. It was her last breath. The sword of the Byzantine had pierced her heart. Without a cry, a smile upon her lips, she sank down amid the flowers; Miriam's flowers. Johannes turned and quickly helped up his brother Perseus, and then the Jew and the first three soldiers. "Where is the sally-port?" "Here to the left. I will go and open it!" Perseus directed the soldiers. "Where are the steps to the tower?" "Here on the right," answered Jochem--it was the staircase which led to Miriam's chamber--how often had Totila slipped in there! "Be quiet! I hear the old man." It was really Isaac. He had heard the noise from above; he came to the top of the steps with his torch and spear. "Who is it down there? is it thou, Miriam? who comes?" he asked. "I, Father Isaac," answered Jochem; "I wished once more to ask----" and he stealthily went up another step. But Isaac heard the rattle of arms. "Who is with thee!" he asked, advancing and holding out his torch. He now saw the armed men crouching behind Jochem. "Treachery! treachery!" he screamed; "die, thou blot upon the Hebrews!" and he furiously struck his broad partisan into Jochem's heart, who could not retreat. Jochem fell dead among the soldiers. "Treachery!" again cried Isaac. But the next moment Johannes struck him down, sprang over his corpse, hurried to the ramparts, and unfolded the flag of Byzantium. Below the axes were busy; the sally-port fell, beaten down from within, and with shrill cries--it was already quite dark--the Huns rushed by thousands into the city. All was over. A portion filled the streets with carnage; one troop broke open the nearest gates, letting in their comrades from outside. Old Uliaris, with his little troop, hurried from the castle; he hoped to drive the intruders out; in vain; a spear was hurled which felled him to the ground.