arge a stone and, almost simultaneously, a Roman
sentinel, some forty paces away, fell with a crash upon the ground.

The Roman soldiers who had retained their armor ran instantly
forward, to support their sentries. The others hastily buckled on
their breastplates, caught up their bucklers and helmets, and
joined their comrades. Arrows continued to fall among them from
their invisible foes and, although most of these fell harmless from
their armor, several soldiers fell, in addition to the seven or
eight who had been killed by the first volley.

The centurion in command soon saw that the number of his assailants
was small but, afraid of being drawn into an ambush, he hesitated
to give orders for an advance; but dispatched a messenger instantly
to camp, contenting himself with throwing out strong parties a
hundred yards in advance of his line. These now became the objects
of attack, while arrows ceased to fall among the main body of the
troops.

John moved round the flank, till he gained a position whence he
could observe the camp. The trumpets above had been heard there,
and the troops had already taken up their position under arms. As
he looked on, he saw the messenger run up to a party of mounted
officers. A minute later a trumpet sounded, and a strong body of
Arabian archers advanced, at a run, up the slope. John at once
withdrew to his first position, and sounded the order for instant
retreat; and then, hurrying back half a mile, sounded the note for
his followers to assemble at the spot where he was standing.

In a few minutes, all had joined him. They were in high spirits at
the success of this first skirmish; and wondered why they had been
so suddenly called off, when the Romans had shown no signs of
advancing against them.

"There are fully a thousand Arab archers in the forest, by this
time," John said. "They are as fleet of foot as we are, and it
would be madness to remain. We have stopped their work, for a time;
and have killed many, without a scratch to ourselves. That is well
enough, for today. Tomorrow we will beat them up, again."

At daybreak, two of the party were sent forward to the edge of the
wood, to see with what force the Romans went out to work. They
brought back the report that they were accompanied by a strong body
of archers; and that, as soon as they reached the forest, the
archers were scattered in front of them for a long distance, and
that it would be impossible to approach them, u