Then he offered, if he would let Tancred pass, himself to go with
them as prisoner to their great Sheikh, and even proposed Hassan and
half his men for additional hostages, whilst some just and equitable
arrangement could be effected. All, however, was in vain. The enemy had
no discretion; dead or alive, the young Englishman must be carried to
their chief.
'I can do nothing,' said Baroni, returning; 'there is something in all
this which I do not understand. It has never happened in my time.'
'There is, then, but one course to be taken,' said Tancred; 'we must
charge through the defile. At any rate we shall have the satisfaction of
dying like men. Let us each fix on our opponent. That audacious-looking
Arab in a red kefia shall be my victim, or my destroyer. Speak to the
Sheikh, and tell him to prepare his men. Freeman and Trueman,' said
Tancred, looking round to his English servants, 'we are in extreme
peril; I took you from your homes; if we outlive this day, and return to
Montacute, you shall live on your own land.'
'Never mind us, my lord: if it wern't for those rocks we would beat
these niggers.'
'Are you all ready?' said Tancred to Baroni.
'We are all ready.'
'Then I commend my soul to Jesus Christ, and to the God of Sinai, in
whose cause I perish.
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