f many
things, and long ago he had learned the work of an artilleryman. In a
moment a shot, well directed, made a gap in the ranks of the advancing
foe. An instant afterwards a shot from the other gun fired by the
unwounded pasha, who, in his youth, had been an officer of artillery,
added to the confusion in the swerving ranks, and the force hesitated;
and now from Ebn Ezra Bey's river steamers, which had just arrived,
there came a flank fire. The force wavered. From David's gun another
shot made havoc. They turned and fell back quickly. The situation was
saved.

As if by magic the attack of the enemy all over the field ceased. By
sunset they had meant to finish this enterprise, which was to put
the besieged wholly in their hands, and then to feast after the day's
fasting. Sunset had come, and they had been foiled; but hunger demanded
the feast. The order to cease firing and retreat sounded, and three
thousand men hurried back to the cooking-pot, the sack of dourha,
and the prayer mat. Malaish, if the infidel Inglesi was not conquered
to-day, he should be beaten and captured and should die to-morrow! And
yet there were those among them who had a well-grounded apprehension
that the "Inglesi" would win in the end.

By the trenches, where five men had died so bravely, and a traitorous
pasha had paid the full penalty of a crime and won a soldier's death,
David spoke to his living comrades. As he prepared to return to the
city, he said to the unwounded pasha: "Thou wert to die at sunset; it
was thy sentence."

And the pasha answered: "Saadat, as for death--I am ready to die, but
have I not fought for thee?" David turned to the wounded pasha.

"Why did Achmet Pasha spare thee?"

"He did not spare us, Saadat. Those who fought with us but now were
to shoot us at sunset, and remain here till other troops came. Before
sunset we saw the danger, since no help came. Therefore we fought to
save this place for thee."

David looked them in the eyes. "Ye were traitors," he said, "and for an
example it was meet that ye should die. But this that ye have done shall
be told to all who fight to-morrow, and men will know why it is I pardon
treachery. Ye shall fight again, if need be, betwixt this hour and
morning, and ye shall die, if need be. Ye are willing?"

Both men touched their foreheads, their lips, and their breasts.
"Whether it be death or it be life, Inshallah, we are true to thee,
Saadat!" one said, and the other repeated