h whom he
grappled, seeking to clutch him with the left hand by the throat and
sabre him with the right. But Harry caught his right wrist, and a
struggle took place, in which each strained every muscle.

In his efforts, Harry got his leg from under the dead horse, the sand
being loose; but as he did so his enemy got his sword-arm free and cut
him over the head--not with much force, for he was weak and in a cramped
position, but sufficiently to inflict a nasty wound. It was an expiring
effort; he fell over helpless, the blood gushing from his mouth, and
Harry had no need to give him another barrel, which he was prepared to
do, but rose to his feet to survey the scene of conflict. The Bashi-
Bazooks and their pursuers could be seen in the distance, still going at
a great pace. The horses of the broken-legged and the two dead Arabs
were careering about; his own head-dress had fallen off, which was a
serious affair, though the afternoon was waning.

But before putting it on he bound his head with a strip of cotton torn
off the garment of the Arab at his feet, for the cut on the scalp was
bleeding freely. Then, feeling very thirsty, he took the man's water-
bottle, but it was empty. So, picking up his sword, he moved over to
the other dead Arab and tried his, and with better success; there was a
refreshing draught in it, which Harry was thus able to benefit by
without infringing on his own supply. Then he considered that he must
get out of sight somewhere before the Arabs returned, which they were
sure to do, to look after their missing friends. He had now no horse,
and to make his way on foot across the open plain by daylight was to
ensure being seen by the returning horsemen and cut off.

The best place to hide in would surely be the wood, where he felt
certain that there were no more Arabs, or they would have come out to
join in the chevy. He would lie there till nightfall, and then
endeavour to make his way to the column, though he did not feel like
taking a long walk just at present.

As he was going up the hill, however, he saw the Arab with the broken
leg lying helpless. The string which held his water-bottle had broken,
and the gourd lay beyond his reach. The man glared like a wild beast
when Harry picked it up, and clutched at his waist-band, but there was
no weapon in it.

"Don't fear me," said Harry in Arabic, holding out the gourd, which the
other snatched viciously; "I am an Englishman, and the E