of their
weapons. Get close to him as they might, and spring as high as they were
able, they could not bring the tips of their daggers in contact with his
skin.

In truth, there seemed no chance for them to inflict the slightest wound
upon him; while at each fresh "wheel" of the maherry, and each new sweep
of the scimitar, one or other of them was in danger of decapitation!

On first entering upon the fight, our adventurers had not taken into
account the impregnable position of their antagonist. Soon, however, did
they discover the advantages in his favor, with their own proportionate
drawbacks. To neutralize these was the question that now occupied them.
If something was not done soon, one or other--perhaps all three--would
have to succumb to that keen cutting of the scimitar.

"Let's kill the camel!" cried Harry Blount, "that'll bring him within
reach; and then--"

The idea of the English youth was by no means a bad one; and perhaps
would have been carried out. But before he could finish his speech,
another scheme had been conceived by Terence,--who had already taken
steps towards its execution.

It was this that had interrupted Harry Blount in the utterance of his
counsel.

At school the young Milesian had been distinguished in the exercise of
vaulting. "Leap-frog" had been his especial delight; and no mountebank
could bound to a greater height than he. At this crisis he remembered
his old accomplishment, and called it to his aid.

Seeking an opportunity,--when the head of the maherry was turned towards
his comrades, and its tail to himself,--he made an energetic rush;
sprang half a score of feet from the ground; and flinging apart his
feet, while in the air, came down "stride legs" upon the croup of the
camel.

[Illustration: THE SHEIK CAPTURED]

It was fortunate for the old Arab that the effort thus made by the
amateur _saltimbanque_ had shaken the dirk from his grasp,--else, in
another instant, the camel would have ceased to "carry double."

As it was, its two riders continued upon its back; but in such close
juxtaposition, that it would have required sharp eyes and a good light
to tell that more than one individual was mounted upon it.

Fast enfolded in the arms of the vigorous young Hibernian, could scarce
be distinguished the carcass of the old Arab sheik,--shrunken to half
size by the powerful compression; while the scimitar, so late whistling
with perilous impetuosity through the air, was now se