through them with his ax. He was but just in time. A desperate
conflict was raging across the camels. At one point several of the
Arabs had broken into the square, and these were opposed by Amuba,
Chebron, and one of the men, while the others still held back the
Arabs on the other side. The arrival of Jethro, followed closely by
the rest of his men, instantly put a stop to the conflict.

The Arabs no longer thought of attacking, but with cries of dismay
started for the hills, hotly pursued by the horsemen, who followed
them until they reached the foot of the rocks. As soon as the Arabs
gained their fastnesses they again betook themselves to their slings,
and the horsemen fell back to the camels. Jethro had not joined in the
pursuit, but as soon as the Arabs fled had leaped from his horse.

"You were almost too late, Jethro," Amuba said.

"I was, indeed," Jethro replied. "I thought that I was engaged with
the whole of the footmen, and in the heat of the fight did not notice
that a party had moved off to attack you. You are terribly hurt, I
fear, both you and Chebron. Are both the girls unharmed?"

Mysa and Ruth had both risen to their feet as soon as the attack
ceased.

"We are both safe," Mysa replied. "But oh, how terribly you are hurt,
both of you; and Jethro, too, is wounded!"

"My wound is nothing," Jethro said; "let us look to those of Chebron
first," for Chebron had sat down against one of the camels.

"Do not be alarmed," Chebron said faintly. "I think it is only loss of
blood; my shield covered my body."

"Now, girls," Jethro said, "do you get beyond the camels, open one of
the bales of cloth, and set to work tearing it up in strips for
bandages. I will look after these two."

After an examination of their wounds Jethro was able to say that he
did not think that any of them would have very serious consequences.
Both had been wounded in the leg with javelins, the side of Chebron's
face was laid open by a sword cut, and a spear had cut through the
flesh and grazed the ribs on the right side.

Amuba's most serious wound had been inflicted by a javelin thrown at
him sideways. This had passed completely through his back under both
shoulder-blades and had broken off there. Jethro cut off the ragged
end, and taking hold of the point protruding behind the left arm, drew
the shaft through. Then taking some of the bandages from the girls, he
bound up all the wounds, and then proceeded to examine those of the
m