" David nodded abstractedly, and motioned to Mahommed to
take the man away; then he said to Lacey: "How long do you think we can
hold out?"
"We shall have more men, but also more rifles to fire, and more mouths to
fill, if Ebn Ezra gets in, Saadat."
David raised his head. "But with more rifles to fire away your ten
thousand rounds"--he tapped the paper on the table--"and eat the eighty
hundredweight of dourha, how long can we last?"
"If they are to fight, and with full stomachs, and to stake everything on
that one fight, then we can last two days. No more, I reckon."
"I make it one day," answered David. "In three days we shall have no
food, and unless help comes from Cairo, we must die or surrender. It is
not well to starve on the chance of help coming, and then die fighting
with weak arms and broken spirit. Therefore, we must fight to morrow, if
Ebn Ezra gets in to-night. I think we shall fight well," he added. "You
think so?"
"You are a born fighter, Saadat."
A shadow fell on David's face, and his lips tightened.
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