"Take him into the town and lock him up, I suppose," replied Mr. Reeves. "There's another, and---- Oh!" Hugh's words broke into an exclamation of surprise, and he pointed excitedly in the direction of a thick clump of palms less than a quarter of a mile to the right. "A flank attack," replied Mr. Reeves calmly, although he realized that they were in a very awkward predicament; for out of the oasis poured a swarm of Arabs, mounted and on foot, racing at headlong speed upon the Italian rearguard. "Come along; we must place a safe distance between us and those fellows," he continued. "Make for that hollow. Don't show yourselves more than you can help." "Is there any danger?" asked Gerald. The usual smile had left his face. "Mistakes might happen. Those Arabs won't stop to question us, I fancy. Now, lie down." A rapid glance in the direction of the town showed the war correspondent that all retreat was cut off. Even from the houses on the outskirts a ragged musketry fire was opened upon the totally unprepared Italians. Like a whirlwind the Arabs fell upon the stretcher bearers. Two-handed swords and keen, broad-bladed spears completed the work that bullets had begun. Here and there the entrapped Italians, standing in little knots shoulder to shoulder over their helpless charges, fired rapidly upon their treacherous attackers; but, overborne by weight of numbers, they were literally cut to pieces. Then, having cut the way for a flank attack, the Arabs resumed their rifle fire upon the firing line of the Italians. Slowly and surely the fierce sons of the Prophet were drawing nearer to the shallow defile in which Mr. Reeves and his youthful charges were lying. The war correspondent was calm, but deathly pale. His thoughts were not for himself, but for the two lads whose idle curiosity had led them into the present danger. He could see by the massacre of the ambulance men that no mercy was to be expected of the lawless children of the desert. Barely twenty yards from where they lay grew a clump of prickly mimosa. The scrub might conceal two persons. "Be quick, lads!" said the correspondent sternly. "Crawl to that bush and hide." "And you?" asked Gerald. "Never mind me; do as you're told. I can look after myself. Obey instantly!" There was such a menacing ring in Arthur Reeves's voice that the lads could not but do as they were ordered. Unseen they gained the scanty place of concealment, and, torn by the sharp spikes, contrived to crawl into shelter. "It's a bare chance for the boys," muttered the Englishman, as he drew his Mauser pistol from its holster. "I'll shout to those fellows, but I'm afraid it won't be much use.... I hope my notebook will be found and sent home when this business is over." Then, remembering that his chance would be slightly improved if he appeared to be weaponless, he thrust the pistol into the pocket of his coat, set his jaw tightly, and waited.