encounter had taken place. The clashing of the weapons had startled
him, and he breathed quick, and his ears showed that the nervous
energy of his frame was aroused, but a spear point thrust into his
very flanks would not have started him away until his master bade
him to go.

"Yield thou now, or die!" shouted the excited Bedouin, drawing his
long dagger.

"By the Prophet, never!" again exclaimed the Turk, with vehemence,
though he panted sorely from the extraordinary exertion he had made
to defend himself from the attack of his two assailants.

All this had transpired in far less time than we have occupied in
the relation, and once more now having him greatly at disadvantage,
the Bedouins rushed upon him.

But there came now upon the scene a third party, at this excited
moment, from out the forest of Belgrade. He seemed but a weary
traveller, though when his eyes rested upon the scene we have
described, an instantaneous change came over him, and he appeared at
once to comprehend the meaning of the whole affair. Just at the very
moment when the Arab, who had been partially vanquished and somewhat
severely wounded, regained his feet, and was coming once more to the
contest, the traveller, espousing the side of the weaker party, who
was now indeed unarmed, fiercely attacked the robbers with a heavy
staff that he carried, and in a moment, being comparatively fresh,
and aided by the surprise as well as the lusty blows that he dealt
about him, he caused the two Bedouins to retreat precipitately,
though they made a last and nearly successful effort to carry off