Before he could spur his horse ahead, Frank called another question:
“Do you mean the Janissaries reached the pass ahead of your men?”
His voice was filled with horror.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Jepthah, with a look of sympathy. “Come on. All is not lost yet.”
Leaning forward until he lay on the neck of his splendid horse, he whispered into its ear. The animal already running swiftly seemed to leap ahead, gaining on Amonasis flying along in the lead.
Jack had drawn close during this brief conversation carried on in shouts, and had gathered the import of Jepthah’s remarks.
“Come on, Frank, come on,” he shouted. “Never say die.”
Faster and faster under shouts and blows ran the camels, and for a time the boys had all they could do to retain their precarious seats. For a time Jepthah set their course well out into the desert, in order to avoid the jumbled mass of rocks and boulders lying at the foot of the Mountain Wall. But presently he headed again toward the great bulwark and the boys, following him, saw ahead a break appear in the wall.
Narrower than the pass through which ran the Great Road, it seemed as their eyes pierced deeper with each forward lurch of the camels that it was choked with fallen boulders over which it would be difficult to make their way. But even as this thought entered their minds, and while yet they were a matter of a hundred yards distant, with Jepthah and Amonasis somewhat nearer, around the nearest bend of this pass came a fleeing mass of horsemen.
Down toward the desert leaped the horses, surefooted as goats, over the mass of boulders and debris. Involuntarily, Frank and Jack pulled up their camels, whose great padded hoofs slid in the sand as they braced their legs to come to a halt. Then they saw Jepthah turn in his saddle and wave wildly for them to approach, after which he and Amonasis flung themselves forward, unlimbering their rifles as they ran.