One of our men was wiping a long knife by stabbing it into the dirt.

There was also a led horse added to the escort.

Anazeh looked very cool and dignified; he had an extra rifle now, slung by a strap across his shoulders.

He was examining a bandolier that had blood on it.
We rode on at once, and for the next hour Ahmed was kept busy interpreting to me the lies invented by every member of the escort for my especial benefit.

If they were true, each man had slain his dozen; but nobody would say who the opposing faction were.