Ussuf laughed, showing his straight rows of white teeth in genuine amusement.
"That we shall see," he said.
The attack came almost at once, but the rifles of the six shot back the assault. At the end of two hours the little party stood intact. A second attack followed; one man of the Arab guard went down with an arrow through his throat, but Ussuf's shooting was effective, and again the northern regiment drew off.
Before the hill, and in the direction of Akarti city, was the king's legion. It was from this point that Ussuf expected the last destroying assault.
"Lapai," he said, turning round, "I——"
The woman had gone! In the fury of the defence he had not noticed her slip away from him. Suddenly she appeared half-way down the hill and turned to him.
"Come back!" he called.
She framed her mouth with two hands that her words might carry better. In the still evening air every word came distinctly.
"Lord," she said, "this is best, for if they have me, they will let you go, and death will come some day to you, and I shall be waiting."
She turned and ran quickly down the hill towards the stiff lines of warriors below.