Max was up in an instant and trying to locate the sound.
He had no difficulty in so doing, for a girl—her face half covered with a white veil—rushed past him, shrieking and crying.
“Allah! Allah!” she shouted.
Two men were in pursuit.
Max never stopped to think.
He leaped forward, and without knowing why he did so, or whether it would be wise to interfere, he struck one of the Arabs to the earth, and threw himself against the other, who was a strong, powerful fellow, with muscles like iron.
That did not worry Max, for he was lithe and strong, but he was unaccustomed to foul play.
When, therefore, he found that the man he had knocked down had risen and drawn a long, sharp dagger, with which he threatened his life, Max saw the unwisdom of his defense of the Arab girl.
A muscular Arab in front of him, and another at his back brandishing a dagger, was enough to frighten an older man than Max.
The Arabs jabbered away in a gibberish which Max did not understand.