When Alexander had personally inspected the fulfilment of his instructions, he commanded a simultaneous assault to be made upon the wall and city, from every warlike engine on the Causeway. It was useless: the brave defence exceeded in its results any injury received from the spirit of the attack; for where the battering-rams would otherwise have had effect, bales of cloths, linen and wool were hung, so that no impression could be made; at the same time hundreds of the invaders were crushed or slain by the high-mounted besieged, who continued to hurl down upon those beneath, and upon their works, ponderous stones, showers of darts and javelins, together with ignited combustibles and fascines. In this manner were several attempts upon the City completely foiled by the Tyrians. The Macedonians were, therefore, compelled to retire towards the shore, for the purpose of repairing their shattered and burnt engines and towers;--and who, amid the irreverend shouts of triumph from the Islanders, daily buried their dead within the adjacent camp: but these untimely rejoicings, and the death of the Envoys, only the more securely sealed the judgment upon Tyrus! It has already been stated that the vessels composing the captured fleet had been moored on either side of the Causeway, and consequently they were placed between the Island and the shore. Upon this disposition of the Macedonian Navy being made known at _Sidon, several of her most determined Citizens manned a few of their own merchant-galleys, hoisted sails, and lowered oars for Tyrus_, which was distant but twenty-three miles. They arrived and hovered on the sea-side of the Island, so as to be unperceived by the invaders; and even if they were seen at, or after the storming of the city, they were _Sidonians_, and would be treated by the besiegers in a friendly manner, for they were already tributary to the Macedonian. Their deep _intent_, however, could not be known, and their _presence_ merely, would, therefore, pass unquestioned. Although, by their intended act, a portion of the Sidonians broke their treaty of surrender with Alexander, and were in fact as guilty as if detected in the act itself, and consequently within the sentence of death; still they were determined to prove the truth of a prior faith to the Tyrians, and were thus prepared to rescue any "remnant" of their descendants, should the City be stormed and taken. It was no hollow friendship that amid the whirlwind would come forth, and from the Conqueror's field of blood--the Aceldama of his shame and cruelty--would boldly "glean" the Tyrian "olive-tree," or the remaining fruit from Slaughter's "vintage." This was an act worthy of renown from the Sculptor's magic, yet enduring Art, worthy to grace the "Chief Altar" of a land, wherever the "gleanings" of the bloody-harvest should be housed in safety!