s as they galloped. But now,
to David's relief, his own forces, which should have moved half an hour
before, were coming swiftly down to cut off the approach of Ali Wad
Hei's infantry, and he turned his horse upon the position where a
handful of men were still emptying the saddles of the impetuous enemy.
But now all that were left of the fifty were upon the trenches. Then
came the flash of swords, puffs of smoke, the thrust of lances, and
figures falling from the screaming, rearing horses.

Lacey's pistol was in his hand, David's sword was gripped tight, as they
rushed upon the melee. Lacey's pistol snapped, and an Arab fell; again,
and another swayed in his saddle. David's sword swept down, and a
turbaned head was gashed by a mortal stroke. As he swung towards another
horseman, who had struck down a defender of the trenches, an Arab raised
himself in his saddle and flung a lance with a cry of terrible malice;
but, even as he did so, a bullet from Lacey's pistol pierced his
shoulder. The shot had been too late to stop the lance, but sufficient
to divert its course. It caught David in the flesh of the body under the
arm--a slight wound only. A few inches to the right, however, and his
day would have been done.

The remaining Arabs turned and fled. The fight was over. As David,
dismounting, stood with dripping sword in his hand, in imagination, he
heard the voice of Kaid say to him, as it said that night when he killed
Foorgat Bey: "Hast thou never killed a man?"

For an instant it blinded him, then he was conscious that, on the ground
at his feet, lay one of the Three Pashas who were to die at sunset. It
was sunset now, and the man was dead. Another of the Three sat upon the
ground winding his thigh with the folds of a dead Arab's turban, blood
streaming from his gashed face. The last of the trio stood before David,
stoical and attentive. For a moment David looked at the Three, the
dead man and the two living men, and then suddenly turned to where
the opposing forces were advancing. His own men were now between the
position and Ali Wad Hei's shouting fanatics. They would be able to
reach and defend the post in time. He turned and gave orders. There
were only twenty men besides the two pashas, whom his commands also
comprised. Two small guns were in place. He had them trained on that
portion of the advancing infantry of Ali Wad Hei not yet covered by his
own forces. Years of work and responsibility had made him master o