He had not marched far before he saw the caps of the Arabs dodging behind some of the loose stones, topping hillocks before them. And, from what he could observe, it was clear that the foe was in ambuscade, and preparing to let fly at them as they passed. Keet’s mind was made up in a minute as to the best course to pursue; so calling to his people to follow him, and do as he did, as the only course they had, he rode quietly forward at a slow pace, but just as he got abreast of the stone-work of the hillocks, he made a sharp detour to the right, and passing round the hillocks, attacked the Arabs suddenly in flank on the other side. Bang! bang! bang! bang! from four of the double-barreled muskets, and four of the Arabs fell from their camels. Keet spurred on, and attacked the leader sword in hand, but he was speedily unhorsed by the thrust of a spear into his back. At the very moment of his falling, however, he took out one of his pistols, and blew out the chieftain’s brains. The boatswain’s mate, at the same time, cut down the lance-man who had thus intruded on Keet’s rear quarters. The two lieutenants had adroitly jumped off their horses, and, from a secure embrasure of the rocks above the hillocks, kept loading and firing their pieces with the utmost expedition, and eleven or twelve of the Arabs were soon prostrate. The remainder, observing the warm reception, and perceiving Keet, although on the ground, valiantly and deliberately loading his rifle and pistols, and feeling the “peppering” of the other sailor and the lieutenants, and being not a little astonished at the conduct of Jim Crank—who kept leaping, hollowing, firing, and shouting like a wild demon, and calling them all the wicked names of which the English tongue is so capable—began to sheer off, and, in a very short time, nothing was seen of them but a small cloud of dust far away in the desert. The remainder of the journey was passed without molestation, and Keet and his companions arrived safe at Bassora. [Illustration] [Illustration] Glastonbury Abbey. WITH THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR. Glastonbury is called by Fuller “the ground of God—the first ground of the saints in England, and the rise and fountain of all religion in Britain.” Because, “it was here,” says the tradition, “that Christianity was first introduced into England.” But the early history of the introduction of Christianity into these islands, is veiled in considerable obscurity. We see the “Light of the Word” shining here fully enough, but we see not they who kindled it. The honour of first evangelizing England has, indeed, been confidently ascribed to various individuals, and, amongst others, to Joseph of Arimathea. [Illustration]