Three or four touched me, and one pierced my hair and remained hanging in it with the feather at the end of the shaft.
"How the battle went elsewhere I cannot tell you, for the blood mounted to my head, and I was only conscious that I myself snorted and shouted like a madman and wrestled with the heathen now here and now there, and more than once lifted my axe to cleave a skull.

At the same time I saw a part of our men turn to fly, and I called them back with furious words; then they turned round and followed me again.
"Once, in the midst of the struggle, I saw Miriam too, clinging pale and trembling to a rock and looking on at the fight.

I shouted to her to leave the spot, and go back to my father, but she stood still and shook her head with a gesture--a gesture so full of pity and anguish--I shall never forget it.

With hands and eyes she signed to me that my father was dead, and I understood; at least I understood that some dreadful misfortune had happened.

I had no time for reflection, for before I could gain any certain information by word of mouth, a captain of the heathen had seized me, and we came to a life and death struggle before Miriam's very eyes.