That day was the longest Vashti had ever known, but it came to an end in due course, and shortly before the sixth hour of the night she got ready for her departure. With tears in her eyes she took a last, lingering look at the silent star-lit court of the dwelling that had been her home since childhood, knowing that she would see the place no more; the flaming torch and the iron crow of the Roman were destined ere many weeks had passed to bring this and ten thousand other houses crashing to the ground. The two closed the gate behind them, and made their way through the dark streets. As Vashti drew nigh to the great black wall of Ophel, she looked up and saw a sight that made her shudder. Was she never to get away from the sight of death? There upon the battlements and standing out in ghastly relief against the dark-blue sky of night was a line of lofty posts, twenty-one in number, to each of which was nailed a naked human body! Pacing to and fro upon the rampart was the Jewish trio, Asaph and his two comrades. Having caught sight of the prearranged sign, the spear set erect, Crispus, exercising a spirit of caution, bade Vashti remain where she was while he went forward to reconnoiter. Having found all satisfactory, Asaph and his companions receiving him with unfeigned joy, he returned and assisted Vashti to mount the stairway ascending to the battlements, where he threw off his Jewish gabardine, and resumed his crested helmet. “Who are these?” asked Vashti, shrinking at the sight of the dead bodies. “Matthias, alas! the one-time high priest, his three sons, and others of the priesthood. Accused by Simon of corresponding with the Romans they were slain to-day by Ananus,[31] the most savage of Simon’s fifty captains, and their bodies hung here on high for Titus to see.” Of all the events that had occurred since the beginning of the siege, there was in Crispus’ opinion scarcely any more mournful or more significant than this, the death of Matthias, THE LAST OF THE HIGH PRIESTS--for the irregularly chosen Phannias must be excluded from the catalogue--stabbed by the hand of a brutal ruffian, his body denied sepulture, and exposed naked upon the ramparts of the holy city to become the prey of the fowls of the air. “_Non hunc, sed Barabbam!_” had been the cry of the chief priests. And this was how Barabbas had rewarded them! While thinking thus, Crispus made a sudden dash forward, and then stood disappointedly peering down the flight of steps. “What is amiss?” asked Asaph, seeing excitement written on Crispus’ face. “I saw a black shape rise, and run down these stairs.” As Crispus spoke, the deep silence of the night was suddenly broken by the startling scream of a trumpet coming from beneath the very part of the wall on which he stood. It was the Jewish call to arms.