152 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
head ; but, as he expected, the courier returned unsuc- 
cessful ; and at his heels, in two close columns, the 
foe came quickly on, preparing to wheel and charge 
the bandit’s inferior line, on either flank. 
At this moment Yakoob Lais rode to the left wing, 
a little in advance of the line, and was apparently 
animating his men to stand firm, while, in truth, 
he was repeating certain secret instructions previously 
given. The enemy were within five hundred yards. 
The bandit’s line was seen to waver, and, despite 
his loud and energetic appeals to their courage, 
the centre soon gave way and fled ; the right wing 
followed them ; but a small subdivision of picked 
men, upon the extreme left, stood fast, until ordered 
by their commander to retire within the defile. This 
they did deliberately and in perfect order ; and no 
sooner were they clear of the entrance of the narrow 
avenue, than a large tree fell prostrate across the 
pass, effectually intercepting the impetuous career 
of the assailants, and giving the dispersed freebooters 
time to rally and beat an orderly retreat. 
Having cleared the temporary impediment which 
had been so suddenly and unexpectedly cast in their 
path, Dherm-ben-N assuk’s cavalry renewed the pur- 
suit, directed by the false fakhir , who displayed a 
military ardour, and a perfection of horsemanship, 
which nothing but his late alliance with inborn sol- 
diery could account for. The I)herm-ben-Nassukites, 
however, considered themselves especially fortunate, 
