eeful.
"Well, we're ready for 'em--eh, Hassan?"

The Arab, who was firing as steadily as though at a pigeon-shooting
match, nodded, his white teeth flashing out in a merry grin; and as the
Bedouins, taking heart, recommenced their attack, the two men, native
and Englishman, turned back to their task with renewed vigour.

Neither Iris nor Anstice ever had a very clear recollection of the next
ten minutes. It was an inferno, a babel, a confusion of shots and yells
and angry clamour; but beyond a slight, flesh wound sustained by Hassan
neither of the defenders sustained any casualties; and had their
ammunition been as plentiful as their courage was high there would have
been no doubt as to the ultimate issue.

Suddenly Anstice turned to Iris with a question on his lips; and her
face paled as she replied:

"Not much, now. I think--only enough for three more rounds." She spoke
steadily.

"I see. And then----" He broke off, handing her the empty revolver he
held.

"And then?" She breathed the question softly; but there was no fear in
her face.

"And then--I am not quite clear what happens then." He looked at her
more searchingly. "Mrs. Cheniston, what do you say--then? I'm ready, as
you know, to die for you, but"--he paused, then resumed in a rather
hoarse tone--"if I die what will become of you? I suppose"--he faltered,
and his lips were dry, but some inward impulse drove him on--"I suppose
you would not wish me to--save--a last cartridge...."

"For me?" Her smile, as she faced him, was splendid. "No, Dr. Anstice,
I'm not afraid to die, if I must, at the hands of our enemies. But I
will not accept death--from _you_."

He knew--irrevocably--what she meant. She was determined at least to
spare him a recurrence of the tragedy which had ruined so many of what
should have been the best years of his life; and although he knew he
could have faced even that risk courageously in her service, none the
less did he rejoice that he was not called upon to do this thing a
second time.

"Then--if the worst should happen--if we are not relieved in time----"

"We can all die--together," she said very simply; and in her face he
read something which, told him that for all her youth this girl would
know how to die.

But further speech was suddenly cut short The Bedouins, who had been
hanging back for a moment's parley, had evidently rallied their forces
for another effort; for with a yell destined to strike terror into the
heart