"’But their carbines throw a dozen balls at once,’ was his hurried reply. "’Shoulder to shoulder, Jock! now for the onset,’ said I, preparing to rush recklessly upon them. ’We must take our chance of—’ "The rest was cut short by a slash the old savage made at me with his cimetar, which took three inches off the oak stick I cut at home in the green woods of Inverary, before I left them to follow the drum. My blood began to boil. "’Mohammed Djedda!’ said I, in Turkish, ’we have done no wrong; we are strangers among you, and know not the laws of the land. Allow us to depart in peace; otherwise you may have good reason to repent,’ I added, pointing to the tents of the ’auld forty-twa.’ "’Depart in peace, said you? Despicable giaour!’ thundered he, his Turkish tone becoming more guttural by his ferocity. ’Never, never! By the sacred stone of Mecca!—by every hair in the beard of the holy Prophet!—by the infernal bridge which spans the sea of fire,—slave of an accursed race, ye never shall! Never! I have sworn it.’ "I saw Cameron’s eyes flash and glare as he prepared to sell his life as dearly as possible. "’Then our steel for it, old man; and remember, should we fall, our friends in the white tents will avenge us.’ "’Thou too shalt die!’ growled the old barbarian, discharging his pistol at poor little Zela, who fell dead without a groan, with the purple blood streaming from her white bosom, which I saw heave its last convulsive throb around the death-shot. The thick muslin turban of Mohammed saved him from one tremendous blow which I dealt at his scowling visage, but he sunk to the earth beneath the weight of the claymore. "’_Allah, il Allah!_ death to the soldiers of Isauri!’[*] yelled his infuriated followers, rushing madly on me, and in an instant I was vanquished: I received a terrible blow on the back of my head from the iron mace of a Mameluke. I remember no more than just seeing Cameron cut two down to the teeth, run a third through the brisket, leap the window, and escape. [*] Jesus Christ. "’Good by, Cameron; gallantly done!’ cried I, as I sunk stunned and senseless by the lifeless corse of Zela.