But they were still far too one-sided, and when the five remaining
horsemen whirled at a signal and charged full upon them it looked
as if there would be a sudden ending of the battle. Both Tarzan
and Abdul sprang to the shelter of the rocks, that they might keep
the enemy in front of them. There was a mad clatter of galloping
hoofs, a volley of shots from both sides, and the Arabs withdrew
to repeat the maneuver; but there were now only four against the
two.

For a few moments there came no sound from out of the surrounding
blackness. Tarzan could not tell whether the Arabs, satisfied
with their losses, had given up the fight, or were waiting farther
along the road to waylay them as they proceeded on toward Bou Saada.
But he was not left long in doubt, for now all from one direction
came the sound of a new charge. But scarcely had the first gun
spoken ere a dozen shots rang out behind the Arabs. There came the
wild shouts of a new party to the controversy, and the pounding of
the feet of many horses from down the road to Bou Saada.

The Arabs did not wait to learn the identity of the oncomers. With
a parting volley as they dashed by the position which Tarzan and
Abdul were holding, they plunged off along the road toward Sidi
Aissa. A moment later Kadour ben Saden and his men dashed up.

The old sheik was much relieved to find that neither Tarzan nor Abdul
had received a scratch. Not even had their horses been wounded.
They sought out the two men who had fallen before Tarzan's shots,
and, finding that both were dead, left them where they lay.