t every point of the
out-works and spies were sent broadcast through the country.

Then the fateful word came. Breathless scouts told of an army fast
approaching, twelve hundred men and two hundred horse, commanded by the
prophet himself, his vizier Ali, and his friend Abu Beker.

Al Kamus, the citadel, was immediately crowded with men, and soldiers
were posted along the walls, neither strong in numbers nor in arms, for
many were armed but with staves and stones. Desperation was in their
hearts, and calm, resolute faces looked forth for the advancing host.

Just as the morning sun flashed defiantly from the towers of Al Kamus,
the Moslem army came in sight. At first it seemed like a moving,
shapeless mass over the blackened fields,--and as the rising sun fell
upon it, the moving mass became dotted with glints and lines of silver,
like the ripple of waves on a sunlit sea; but the watchers recognized
the deadly import of those bright gleams, and by the flash of scimitars
and lances were able to compute in a vague way the strength of their
opponents.

On they came until the stony place called Mansela was reached, and
there, beneath a great rock, the host halted. The anxious watchers from
the city could not discern the exact meaning of this, but more than one
guessed that the halt was made for the offering of ostentatious prayer
by the prophet.

This indeed was the case. As Mohammed came in full view of the citadel
he cried out: "There, O believers, is the eyrie to which ye must climb.
But victory has been promised us. Angels shall again lend us their
invisible aid. Therefore have courage, O believers! Remember that for
each of those vile infidels slain, a double joy awaits you in paradise.
Know ye that every drop of an unbelieving Jew shed is as the crystal
drops of nectar of paradise to the happy follower of Mohammed, the
prophet of God. And fear not that ye be slain in this combat, O
faithful! Ye will not be slain except your appointed time has come, when
ye must in any case die. Remember that to be slain in battle for the
cause of Islam is to reap a glorious reward!"

Then, mounting the great rock, he called with a loud voice: "La illaha
il Allah! Mohammed Resoul Allah!" (There is no God but God! Mohammed is
the prophet of God!)

And while the fanatics below prostrated themselves he prayed long and
loudly.

Then the tents were pitched and the siege began. For many days it
lasted. So abundant had been the suppl