Let the praise be his." With this preliminary, Mustapha Cadi gives his plan of action briefly.
It was his intention to go to Al Jezira, to seek the French commandant at the barracks known as the Kasbah, and give him the information concerning Bab Azoun.
It has long been the ambition of the various French generals stationed in Algeria to kill or capture the notorious desert prince who for years has defied their power, suddenly making a bold dash upon some point, and, leaving smoking ruins in his wake, as mysteriously vanish.
Again and again have they sought to track his band over the plains, along the desert and into the wild recesses of the mountains, but it has always turned out a failure.

Bab Azoun, on his native heath, laughs them to scorn, and once laid an ambuscade in which the soldiers suffered badly.
Hence, it can be set down as certain that the military governor of Algiers will be delighted with a chance to surround the tiger of the desert, and his band, so close to the city--that as soon as the news is carried to him he will fit out a secret expedition against the enemy.
Now that there are three of them instead of one, it is not necessary that all should go.

A single messenger is enough.
Whom shall it be?
Fate decrees.
They look to Monsieur Constans.

Mustapha is needed to serve as a guide to the old mines, and Doctor Chicago ought to be on hand, because it is to rescue his friends they go.
Even the French agent recognizes this fact.
"_Parbleu!_ Monsieur Craig, it ees right I should go.

Besides, I am well acquaint wiz ze commandant.