"Tell thy ruler or his officers," thus replied Kara-al Zariel, "that I refuse his proffered pardon; that Ibrahim is an assassin and usurper I despise and defy; that I will never deliver up to his hands those who have sought my hospitality, and that I and my tribe, and my guests, will resist him and his, to the death."
This rebuff was sufficiently conclusive.
There was nothing now but to commence the fight.
Shots came forth from the midst of the mass of Turkish horsemen, and were promptly answered from the muskets of the Arabs.
The battle cry of the Bedouins rang out clear in the morning air.
The first rays of the sun now lit up the plain, piercing the clouds of mist and desert-dust, and gleaming upon the rapidly-moving blades and barrels.
Now shone out the white naiks of the Arabs and the red caps of the Turks.
The Ottoman cavalry pressed with terrible force upon the Bedouins, whose old-fashioned long guns were inadequate to compete with the modern European rifles of their foe.
But on each side, the bullets tore through the ranks and laid low many a gallant warrior.
The fray soon became a fierce and close one.