ing as they
advanced,--evidently in pursuit of the former.

The Arabs who were hunting for us rushed off on hearing the sounds, and
we were left in safety, as far as they were concerned; but whether the
pursuers of our late masters would prove friends or foes, we could not
tell. They were just at the end of the wood when the fugitives rallied,
and charged them with such fury that they were driven back, and we
feared that the fortunes of the day would be changed. Several fell on
both sides. Siddy Boo Cassem fought with the greatest bravery, and
encouraging his followers to merit paradise, again and again charged his
foes.

We looked in vain for Bu Saef. Had the camel appeared, our doubts as to
Ben's safety, and the way we should be treated by the hitherto
victorious party, would have been set at rest.

Just then, amid the clouds of dust which surrounded the combatants, we
caught sight of a fresh body of horsemen coming from the northward. In
a few minutes they had reached the scene of conflict, shouting, as they
advanced, various battle-cries, some in Arabic, others in French.
Presently a cry louder than all the rest reached our ears--a truly
British Hurrah!--and at the same time I caught sight of Ben, sticking
like wax to the back of a fiery steed, and flourishing a huge sabre, as
he led on a party of dark-skinned Arabs, who had to urge forward their
steeds to keep up with him. The front ranks, which had hitherto been
hotly engaged and hard pressed, wheeled aside to let the new-comers
pass. Siddy Boo Cassem saw them coming, and knowing that all hope of
victory was lost, shouted to his people, wheeled round his horse, and
galloped off as fast as the animal could put his feet to the ground.
Ben and his followers then swept by like a whirlwind, and our only fear
now was that the gallant fellow might lose his life by a chance shot
from the flying enemy.

Having no longer any doubt as to the reception we would meet with, we
were about to rush out and join the Algerines; but Boxall stopped us.
"Stay," he exclaimed; "they may suppose we are a party of the enemy
lying in ambush. Let one of us go forward and present himself."

I volunteered, and descending from our place of concealment, advanced
outside the wood. Already a party of the Algerine forces had halted to
attend to the wounded; while several of the Arabs levelled their rifles
at me, and two or three bullets whistled near my head, before I could
make them