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bearded chieftain was still reclining upon his pillows, but Rob bowed
before him, and by means of signs managed to ask for a band of warriors
to assist him in assaulting the town. The chieftain appeared to doubt the
wisdom of the enterprise, not being able to understand how the boy
could expect to succeed; but he graciously issued the required order, and
by the time Rob reached the city gate he found a large group of Tatars
gathered to support him, while the entire camp, roused to interest in the
proceedings, stood looking on.
Rob cared little for the quarrel between the Turks and Tatars, and under
ordinary circumstances would have refused to side with one or the other;
but he knew he could not hope to recover his electrical machines unless
the city was taken by the band of warriors who had befriended him, so
he determined to force an entrance for them.
Without hesitation he walked close to the great gate and shattered its
fastenings with the force of the electric current directed upon them from
the tube. Then, shouting to his friends the Tatars for assistance, they
rushed in a body upon the gate and dashed it open.
The Turks had expected trouble when they heard the fastenings of the
huge gate splinter and fall apart, so they had assembled in force before
the opening. As the Tatars poured through the gateway in a compact
mass they were met by a hail of bullets, spears and arrows, which did
fearful execution among them. Many were killed outright, while others
fell wounded to be trampled upon by those who pressed on from the rear.
Rob maintained his position in the front rank, but escaped all injury
through the possession of the Garment of Repulsion. But he took an
active part in the fight and pressed the button of the electric tube again
and again, tumbling the enemy into heaps on every side, even the horses
and camels falling helplessly before the resistless current of electricity.
The Tatars shouted joyfully as they witnessed this marvelous feat and
rushed forward to assist in the slaughter; but the boy motioned them all
back. He did not wish any more bloodshed than was necessary, and
knew that the heaps of unconscious Turks around him would soon
recover.
So he stood alone and faced the enemy, calmly knocking them over as
fast as they came near. Two of the Turks managed to creep up behind
the boy, and one of them, who wielded an immense simitar with a two-
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