d were soon sound asleep. Zaki was the first
to wake.

"Day is just breaking, master."

"You don't say so!" Gregory grumbled, sleepily. "It seems to me that we
have only just lain down."

They ate the remainder of their dates, took a drink of water, and gave
two gourdfuls to the horses; and, in a quarter of an hour, were on
their way again. They had ridden but two or three miles, when Zaki
exclaimed:

"There are some horsemen!"

"Eight of them, Zaki, and they are evidently riding to cut us off! As
far as I can see, only four of them have guns; the others have spears.

"I think we can manage them. With my breech-loader I can fire two shots
to their one, and we have pistols, as well."

The Arabs drew up ahead of them, and remained quiet there until the
others came to within fifty yards, and checked their horses. A man who
appeared to be the leader of the party shouted the usual salutation, to
which Gregory replied.

The leader said, "Where are my friends going and why do they halt?"

"We are on a mission. We wish to see if the infidels are still at
Ambukol."

"For that you will not want guns," the man said, "and we need them
badly. I beg of you to give them to us."

"They may be of use to us. We may come upon infidel scouts."

"Nevertheless, my friends, you must hand them over to us. We are, as
you see, eight, and you are only two. The law of the desert is that the
stronger take, and the weaker lose."

"It may be so, sometimes," Gregory said quietly, "but not in this case.
I advise you to ride your way, and we will ride ours."

Then he said to Zaki, "Dismount and stand behind your horse, and fire
over the saddle; but don't fire the first shot now."

He threw himself from his saddle. Scarcely had he done so when four
shots were fired, and Gregory took a steady aim at the chief. The
latter threw up his arms, and fell. With a yell of fury, the others
dashed forward. Zaki did not fire until they were within twenty yards,
and directly afterwards Gregory fired again. There were now but five
assailants.

"Now for your pistols, Zaki!" he cried, glancing round for the first
time.

He then saw why Zaki had not fired when he first did so--his horse was
lying dead in front of him, shot through the head.

"Stand by me! Don't throw away a shot! You take the man on the other
side of the horse. I will take the others."

Steadily the four pistols were fired. As the Arabs rode up, two of them
fell, and another was