At one point, however, the besieged became again the attacking
party. This was where Achmet Pasha had command. His men on one side of
the circle, as Ebn Ezra Bey's men on the other, fought with a valour as
desperate as the desert ever saw. But David, galloping here and there to
order, to encourage, to prevent retreat at one point, or to urge attack
at another, saw that the doom of his gallant force was certain; for the
enemy were still four to one, in spite of the carnage of the first
attack. Bullets hissed past him. One carried away a button, one caught
the tip of his ear, one pierced the fez he wore; but he felt nothing of
this, saw nothing. He was buried in the storm of battle preparing for the
end, for the final grim defence, when his men would retreat upon the one
last strong fort, and there await their fate. From this absorption he was
roused by Lacey, who came galloping towards him.
"They've come, Saadat, they've come at last! We're saved--oh, my God, you
bet we're all right now! See! See, Saadat!"
David saw. Five steamers carrying the Egyptian flag were bearing around
the point where the river curved below the town, and converging upon
David's small fleet.
Pages:
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757