en who were already occupied in stanching the flow of blood from
their comrades' wounds. It was found that one of the defenders of the
square was dead and three others severely wounded.

Of Jethro's party two had fallen and all had received wounds more or
less severe. Had it not been for the shields that covered their
bodies, few would have emerged alive from the conflict; but these gave
them an immense advantage over the Arabs, who carried no such means of
protection. The owner of the camels had escaped unhurt, having
remained during the fight hidden under some bales. As soon as the
wounds were all bandaged and a drink of wine and water had been served
out to each, the camels were unbound and permitted to rise.

Three of the men most seriously wounded, being unable to sit on their
horses, were placed on the bales carried by camels, and the party
again set out. It was well that they were obliged to proceed at the
pace of the camels, for several men could scarcely sit their horses,
and could not have done so at a pace exceeding a walk.

"Now, Amuba, let us hear about your fight," Jethro said. "I have not
had time to ask a question yet."

"There is naught to tell," Amuba said. "We saw you charge down upon
their horsemen and destroy them, and then ride into the middle of
their foot. At once a party of about thirty strong detached themselves
and made straight for us. As soon as they came within range of our
arrows we began. I shot four before they reached us, and I think
Chebron did the same; but the men with us shot but poorly, and I do
not think that they can have killed more than seven or eight between
them. However, altogether, that accounted for about half their number,
and there were only about fifteen who got up to a hand-to-hand fight
with us. For a bit, aided by our breastwork, we kept them out. But at
last they managed to spring over, and although we were doing our best
and several of them had fallen, we had been wounded, and it would have
gone very hard with us in another minute or two if you had not come up
to the rescue. Now let us hear what you were doing."

Jethro then described the encounter he and his party had had with the
footmen.

"They fight well, these Arabs," he said, "and it was well for us that
we all carried shields; for had we not done so they would have riddled
us with their javelins. As you see, I had a narrow escape; for had
that dart that went through my ear been an inch or two to the ri