But now there was a stirring bugle call from the Sarras men, and another answered it from the Halfa Corps.
Their camels were down also, and the men had formed up into a single, long, curved line.

One last volley, and they were charging inwards with the wild inspiriting yell which the blacks had brought with them from their central African wilds.

For a minute there was a mad vortex of rushing figures, rifle butts rising and falling, spear-heads gleaming and darting among the rolling dust cloud.

Then the bugle rang out once more, the Egyptians fell back and formed up with the quick precision of highly disciplined troops, and there in the centre, each upon his sheepskin, lay the gallant barbarian and his raiders.

The nineteenth century had been revenged upon the seventh.
The three women had stared horror-stricken and yet fascinated at the stirring scene before them.