spurs into him, set out at top speed.

"This was the signal for the Mameluke charge; and down they came.
_Sacristi!_ how the infidels rode us down! Over and over our fellows
rolled, men and horses together, while they slashed with their keen
cimeters on every side; few needed a second cut, I warrant you.

[Illustration: 296]

"By some good fortune, my beast kept his legs in the _melee_, and, with
even better luck, got so frightened that he started off, and struck out
in full gallop after the general, who, about two hundred paces in front
of me, was dashing along, pursued by a Mameluke, with a cimeter held
over his head. The Turk's horse, however, was wounded, and could not
gain even on the tired animal before him, while mine was at every stride
overtaking him.

"The Mameluke, hearing the clatter behind, turned his head. I seized the
moment, and discharged my only remaining pistol at him,--alas! without
effect. With a wild war-cry the fellow swerved round and came down upon
me, intending to take my horse in flank, and hurl me over. But the good
beast plunged forward, and my enemy passed behind, and only grazed the
haunches as he went; the moment after he was at my side. _Parbleu!_ I
did n't like the companionship. I knew every turn of a broadsword or a
rapier well; but a curved cimeter, keen as a razor, of Damascus steel,
glittering and glistening over my head, was a different thing: the great
dark eyes of the fellow, too, glared like balls of fire, and his white
teeth were clenched. With a swing of his blade over his head, so loosely
done I thought he had almost flung the weapon from his hand, he aimed
a cut at my neck; but, quick as lightning, I dropped upon the mane,
and the sharp blade shaved the red feather from my shako, and sent it
floating in the air, while, with a straight point, I ran him through
the body, and heard his death-shout as he fell bathed in blood upon the
sands. The general saw him fall, and cried out something; but I could
not hear the words, nor, to say truth, did I care much at the time: my
happiest thought just then was to see the remainder of the escort, which
we had left behind, coming up at a smart canter.

"The Turks no sooner perceived them than they wheeled and fled; and so we
returned to the camp, with a loss of some twenty brave fellows, and none
the wiser for all our trouble.

"'What shall I do for you, friend?' said the general to me, as I stood
by his orders at the door of his