If Mohammed was the Mahdi, steel weapons could not kill him, and Yussuf would not risk an encounter; so he rode through the fighting demons until he reached the side of Max.
“The Mahdi forever!” shouted Max, as he suddenly wheeled round and aimed a blow at Yussuf’s head.
The veteran officer parried the blow and made a lunge at Max.
But the American’s sword swung round with cyclonic speed, and Yussuf’s sword merely struck the air.
As the heavy scimiters clashed together sparks of fire flew out, and seemed to keep fiery time to the music of the steel.
Yussuf got angry.
“Do you also bear a charmed life?” he sneeringly asked, during a pause in the duel.
“I am an American,” answered Max, “and fight for liberty.”
Again the fight was resumed.
Great heaps of dead were to be found in every direction.