I do not understand. It has never happened in my time.'

'There is, then, but one course to be taken,' said Tancred; 'we must
charge through the defile. At any rate we shall have the satisfaction of
dying like men. Let us each fix on our opponent. That audacious-looking
Arab in a red kefia shall be my victim, or my destroyer. Speak to the
Sheikh, and tell him to prepare his men. Freeman and Trueman,' said
Tancred, looking round to his English servants, 'we are in extreme
peril; I took you from your homes; if we outlive this day, and return to
Montacute, you shall live on your own land.'

'Never mind us, my lord: if it wern't for those rocks we would beat
these niggers.'

'Are you all ready?' said Tancred to Baroni.

'We are all ready.'

'Then I commend my soul to Jesus Christ, and to the God of Sinai, in
whose cause I perish.' So saying, Tancred shot the Arab in the red kefia
through the head, and with his remaining pistol disabled another of the
enemy. This he did, while he and his band were charging, so suddenly and
so boldly, that those immediately opposed to them were scattered. There
was a continuous volley, however, from every part of the defile, and the
scene was so involved in smoke that it was impossible for Tancred to see
a yard around him; still he galloped on and felt conscious that he had
companions, though the shouting was so great that it was impossible to
communicate. The smoke suddenly drifting, Tancred caught a glimpse of
his position; he was at the mouth of the defile, followed by several of
his men, whom he had not time to distinguish, and awaited by innumerable
foes.

'Let us sell our lives dearly!' was all that he could exclaim. His sword
fell from his wounded arm; his horse, stabbed underneath, sank with him
to the ground. He was overpowered and bound. 'Every drop of his blood,'
exclaimed the leader of the strange Arabs, 'is worth ten thousand
piastres.'

CHAPTER XXX.

_Plans for Rescue_

THERE is Besso?' said Barizy of the Tower, as the Consul Pasqualigo
entered the divan of the merchant, about ten days after the departure of
Tancred from Jerusalem for Mount Sinai.

'Where is Besso? I have already smoked two chibouques, and no one has
entered except yourself. I suppose you have heard the news?'

'Who has not? It is in every one's mouth.' 'What have you heard?' asked
Barizy of the Tower, with an air of malicious curiosity.

'Some things that everybody knows,' replied Pas