Half a dozen sabres at once circled round Jack's head.
Abdullah made a lunge at him with his sword, which would have proved the death of Jack had not Harry Girdwood at that instant caught the thrust upon his arm.
Poor Harry! His devotion to his friend had cost him dear.
He reeled, and would have fallen from his saddle, probably trampled to death, had not Bogey, at the risk of his own life, caught him and led his horse apart from the thick of the battle.
Burning to avenge his friend, Jack struck with all his force at Abdullah's head.
The interpreter received the blow upon his sword, which, proving the stronger of the two, Jack's weapon snapped in the clash, and he was left weaponless.
He seemed, indeed, at the mercy of his pitiless foe.
Abdullah smiled a cruel smile as he again raised his sabre.
But that smile was his last.
A lance-head gleamed past Jack, and transfixed Abdullah through the chest, so that he was borne down among the trampling hoofs of the horses.