"Bissula!" rose a voice without, and a terrible blow--the first which had penetrated cleft a yawning gash in the right wing of the double gate, so that the splinters flew inside.
At the same time Bissula heard two voices call her name from the wall above. Looking up she saw Zercho and Sippilo who, in advance of all the others, had scaled the wall at the right of the gate.
"Here, little one!" shouted the Sarmatian, letting a rope slide down the inside, while he wound the other end around the ladder rising above the wall.
"Where are you, Bissula?" called Sippilo, leaning far over and holding a torch down. "Alas! I can't see her anywhere!"
The girl, standing at the left of the gate, could not make her way through the soldiers to the right; she was obliged to see a strong Thracian on the top of the wall seize a heavy pole, which he held crosswise with both hands, and springing forward hurl both the over-bold assailants (they were still standing alone) backward at a single thrust.
"Oho, Sippilo," shouted Adalo outside, "what was that?"
"A somersault!" replied the boy laughing, and jumping up again. "But you, Zercho! Alas! you cannot stand?"
"Unfortunately! My foot--I think it is broken!"
"Take him, men, two of you, and carry him out of the fight," Adalo ordered.
"Where?"