Well-placed hits might wipe out most of the city and, with it, the population which had broken the Oath of the Salt.
The main body of the Legion would, of course, also perish in this _debacle_ if still alive; but the probability existed that before Nissr could take the air, all would be dead.
The program was explicit.

All five men of the rear guard fully understood its every detail and all had sworn to carry it out to the letter.

Their morale remained perfect; their discipline, under the command of Grison--left alone as they were in the midst of potentially hostile territory and with overwhelming masses of Mohammedans close at hand--held them as firmly as did that of the advance guard now whirling up the wide, paved road to the gleaming gate of Jannati Shahr.
This band of hardy adventurers, stout-hearted and armed with service-revolvers, remained rather closely grouped, with the Arabs flanking and following them.

At their head rode old Bara Miyan with the Master, who well bestrode his saddle with burnished metal peaks and stitching of silver thread.

After them came the three _imams_, Major Bohannan, Leclair, and "Captain Alden." The "captain's" mask seemed somewhat to impress the Arabs, who whispered among themselves concerning it.