Old bonds are, grim warrior of another day, stood guard at the passageway leading to the

top of the ancient walls of Babylon.

Up above, valiant defenders were battling to hold the walls.

Upon them depended the future existence of this great city with its hundreds of thousands

of citizens.

Over the walls came the roar of the attacking armies, the yelling of many men, the trampling

of thousands of horses, the deafening boom of the battering rams pounding the bronze

gates.

In the street, behind the gate lounged the spearmen, waiting to defend the entrance should

the gates give way.

They were but few for the task.

The main armies of Babylon were with their king far away in the east on the great expedition

against the Elamites.

No attack upon the city having been anticipated during their absence, the defending forces

were small.

Unexpectedly, from the north bore down the mighty armies of the Assyrians, and now the

walls must hold, or Babylon was doomed.

About Banzar were great crowds of citizens, white-faced and terrified, eagerly seeking

news of the battle.

With hushed awe they viewed the stream of wounded and dead, being carried or led out of the

passageway.

Here was the crucial point of the attack.

...