“I tried to warn you of treachery this morning!” I said hotly.  Pain and memory did nothing toward keeping down choler.  “Where’s Peter Measel?  Seen him anywhere?  Where’s Maga Jhaere?  Seen her, either?  Those Turks are coming on into what they must know is a trap, with the confidence that proves their leaders have special information!  Look at them!  They can see this pass is lined, with our riflemen, yet on they come!  They must suspect we’ve a surprise in store—­yet look at them!”

They were coming on line after line, although Fred had turned the ammunition loose, and the rifle-fire of our well-hidden men was playing havoc.  Monty seemed to me to look more puzzled than afraid.  I went on telling him of the message Kagig had sent, and offered him Will’s note, but he did not even look at it.

“Ah!” he said suddenly.  “Now I understand!  Yes, it’s treachery.  I beg your pardon for my thoughts this morning.”

“Granted,” said I, “but what next?”

“Look!” he said simply.

There were two sudden developments.  What was left of the first advancing company of Turks halted below the ramp, and with sublime effrontery, born no doubt of knowledge that we had no artillery, proceeded to dig themselves a shallow trench.  The Zeitoonli were making splendid shooting, but it was only a question of minutes until the shelter would be high enough for crouching men.

The second disturbing factor was that in a long line extending up the flank of the mountain, roughly parallel to the lower end of the track that Monty had caused to be cut from the castle, the trees were coming down as if struck by a cyclone!  There must have been more than a regiment armed with axes, cutting a swath through the forest to take our secret road in flank!

That meant two things clearly.  Some one had told Mahmoud of our plan to charge down from the height and surprise him, thus robbing us of all the benefit of unexpectedness; and, when the charge should take place, our men would have to ride down four abreast through ambush.  And, if Mahmoud had merely intended placing a few men to trap our horsemen, he would never have troubled to cut down the forest.  Plainly, he meant to destroy our mounted men at point-blank range, and then march a large force up the horse-track, so turning the tables on us.  Considering the overwhelming numbers he had at his disposal, the game to me looked almost over.

Not so, however, to Monty.  He glanced over his shoulder once at the men and women waiting for his orders, and I saw the women begin inspiriting their men.  Then he turned on me.

“Now damn your ankle,” he said.  “Try to forget it!  Climb up there and tell Fred to choose a hundred men and bring them down himself to oppose the enemy in front if he comes over the top of that ditch.  Then you gallop back and get word to Rustum Khan to bring both squadrons down here.  Tell him to stay by Fred and hold his horses until the last minute.  Then you get all the women you can persuade to follow you, and man the castle walls!  Hurry, now—­that’s all!”