th each shot at a hundred yards."

Jethro chose six of the men who professed themselves to be good
archers. Their horses' legs were tied and the animals thrown down just
outside the square formed by the kneeling camels. Strict instructions
were given to the girls to lie down, and the saddles and bales were
arranged outside the camels to shield them from missiles. Then when
all was prepared the white flag was lowered, and Jethro with his
fourteen men rode at full gallop against the Arabs.

Trusting to their somewhat superior numbers the Arab horsemen advanced
to meet them; but Jethro's party, obeying his orders to keep in a
close line together with their spears leveled in front of them, rode
right over the Arabs, who came up singly and without order. Men and
horses rolled over together, several of the former transfixed by the
spears of the horsemen. Jethro called upon his men to halt and turned
upon the Arabs.

Some of the latter fled toward the footmen, who were running up to
their assistance, but were pursued and cut down. Others fought to the
last silently and desperately; but these, too, were slain. As soon as
the footmen approached they opened fire with slings and stones. Jethro
rallied his men and formed them in line again, and at their head
charged the Arabs. The latter fought steadily. Giving way for a
moment, they closed in round the little party of horsemen, throwing
their javelins and hacking at them with their swords. Jethro spurred
his horse into their midst, dealing blows right and left with his
heavy ax. His followers pressed after him, and after hard fighting cut
their way through their opponents.

Again and again the maneuver was repeated, the resistance of the Arabs
weakening, as most of their best men had fallen, while the large
shields carried by the horsemen repelled the greater part of the
missiles they hurled at them. Another minute or two and the Arabs
broke and fled from the hills, leaving over twenty of their number on
the ground, in addition to the whole of their mounted men. Jethro had
now time to look round, and saw for the first time that he had not, as
he supposed, been engaged with the whole of the enemy's party. While
some fifty of them had attacked him, the rest had made direct for the
camels, and were now gathered in a mass around them.

With a shout to his men to follow him Jethro galloped at full speed
toward the Arabs, and with a shout flung himself upon them, clearing
his way