He darted down the corridor into the darkness, with the two Greeks at his heels. At the end of a dozen yards they turned quickly to the left, up a flight of stairs, and then through other passageways, until they reached a second short stairway and emerged upon the roof.
They stood panting and listening beside the head of the stair. Above them the wide arch of the sky was sown with stars. From the black opening at their feet came a confused sound of cries and shouting.
"They have found the jailer's body," Nathan said. "I fear we are lost. It shall be as Jehovah wills!"
He drew a short sword from its sheath at his side.
"Is there no other way to the roof?" Clearchus asked.
"No other way," Nathan replied; "but how can we hope to hold this against them?"
The Athenian looked about him. The roof was built of huge slabs of stone, fitted together without mortar, and there was nothing that might serve as even a temporary barricade.
"If we could only raise one of these," he said, stooping over one of the slabs.
"Not ten men could do it," Nathan replied, shaking his head.
"Let us see," said Chares.