If was through the latter"s acuteness that the vaults beneath the castle had been discovered, and conjecturing that the fugitives had escaped thus, he had traced them into the desert.
He, therefore, organized an expedition to set out and surprise them in the camp.
Abdullah"s plans were deeply laid.
He wished to capture the Greek girl, that he might curry favour with the Pasha Ibrahim by presenting her to him.
He was resolved to secure and punish Harkaway and the other Christians, to turn away every public suspicion from himself and Ibrahim, as to the late pasha"s a.s.sa.s.sination.
After that, it is exceedingly probable that the unscrupulous interpreter meant in some way to destroy Ibrahim, and set up as pasha himself.
These subtle treacheries are common under the corruptions of Oriental rule.
The vizier intended to take the Arabs by surprise, and he would have succeeded in this, had it not been for Thyra.
Instead, therefore, of finding a sleeping encampment, he found the whole tribe up in arms, and ready to receive him.
Other tactics were therefore necessary, but Abdullah believed that his own superiority in numbers would ensure victory.
As the Turkish regiment approached, they spread themselves out, their object being to surround the force opposed to them.
On came the Turks.
Their sabres flashing and clashing.
The steeds neighing.
The sands of the desert rising up in clouds beneath their thundering tread.
Arrived within a short distance, the two armies halted and surveyed each other.
Then a trumpet sounded to parley, and a messenger rode forward to communicate with the Arab chief.
"To the Emir Kara-al Zariel," said the soldier, "thus saith the great Lord Ibrahim, pasha of Alla-hissar. Whereas, though thou hast been often a rebel against his highness"s lawful authority, yet will he pardon thee all past misdeeds on condition that thou shalt give up the Frankish men and the Greek woman, who are accused of the secret murder of his late highness, Moley Pasha. Refuse this, and no mercy will be shown to thee or to thy tribe.
"Tell thy ruler or his officers," thus replied Kara-al Zariel, "that I refuse his proffered pardon; that Ibrahim is an a.s.sa.s.sin and usurper I despise and defy; that I will never deliver up to his hands those who have sought my hospitality, and that I and my tribe, and my guests, will resist him and his, to the death."
This rebuff was sufficiently conclusive.
There was nothing now but to commence the fight.
Shots came forth from the midst of the ma.s.s of Turkish hors.e.m.e.n, and were promptly answered from the muskets of the Arabs.
The battle cry of the Bedouins rang out clear in the morning air.
The first rays of the sun now lit up the plain, piercing the clouds of mist and desert-dust, and gleaming upon the rapidly-moving blades and barrels.
Now shone out the white _naiks_ of the Arabs and the red caps of the Turks.
The Ottoman cavalry pressed with terrible force upon the Bedouins, whose old-fashioned long guns were inadequate to compete with the modern European rifles of their foe.
But on each side, the bullets tore through the ranks and laid low many a gallant warrior.
The fray soon became a fierce and close one.
A fight, hand to hand, muzzle to muzzle, and sword to sword.
One slight advantage was on the side of the Arabs.
They and their horses were quite fresh, while the Turks and their chargers were wearied with a long and difficult march.
Our friends did not forget they were Englishmen, and upheld the honour of their country in the personal bravery they showed upon this occasion.
Jack Harkaway and Harry Girdwood hewed their way right and left among the Turkish hors.e.m.e.n.
They were like mowers among the corn, their sickles sharp, and their harvest heavy.
Soon shone the morning sun brightly upon this scene of strife.
The Turks, from their numbers, could relieve their comrades when they became tired.
The Arabs had no such advantage.
They began to thin terribly.
But still they fought on with unabated vigour, and succeeded in preventing the enemy surrounding their encampment, and enclosing them in.
Kara-al-Zariel was ever in the thickest and most perilous part of the contest, encouraging his men with his presence.
He performed prodigies of valour, and his long hiltless Arab sabre was stained deeply with the blood of his foes.
The diver and the waiter both showed themselves skilful and valorous in fighting, and if Mole and Figgins failed to distinguish themselves so much, and preferred the more modest and retiring rearguard of the army, we must consider the weak nerves of one and the wooden legs of the other.
Bogey and Tinker were in their element, and their African blood spurred them on to deeds of bravery sometimes even approaching barbarity.
Thyra, stationed on horseback in the rear, had in her a spirit of heroism, which of her own will, would have led her to the very front of the battle.
But the entreaties of the chief and of Jack induced her to restrain her valour, and remain in a position of comparative safety from which she could see all that went on, and discharge a pistol when she saw a chance of bringing down a foe.
But by degrees the Arabs ranks were broken.
Their numbers where fearfully diminished, and no efforts of theirs seemed to make any perceptible diminution of that of the enemy.
So the chief resolved upon a retreat.
But ere this could be effected, the Turks succeeded in placing a large contingent in a position to intercept them.
"We must cut through them, or we are lost," exclaimed the chief.