THE BATTLE OF THE GATE By now heavy firing had begun at the north gate of the town, accompanied by much shouting.

The mist was still too thick to enable us to see anything at first.

But shortly after the commencement of the firing a strong, hot wind, which always followed these mists, got up and gradually gathered to a gale, blowing away the vapours.

Then from the top of the crest, Hans, who had climbed a tree there, reported that the Arabs were advancing on the north gate, firing as they came, and that the Mazitu were replying with their bows and arrows from behind the palisade that surrounded the town.

This palisade, I should state, consisted of an earthen bank on the top of which tree trunks were set close together.