Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

were swiftly and silently encircling the village and we thought that we had a reasonable chance of preventing the escape of the inhabitants. Suddenly shouts were heard; it was evident that the villagers were alarmed; rifle shots rang clear through the morning air raising the white dust at every sharp report; through the haze could be seen the dark forms of men emerging from the village of Abdul Hussain and hurrying across the open for the neighbouring village of Sultan Manahi. The village was by this time well guarded on the East; No. 1 Party had enclosed it on that side; the only escape was to the West in which direction it was evident the Arabs were making as fast their legs could move them; the vital question was whether /