between the enemy and the brook from which they drew their water supply.

These positions were maintained for three days and nights, the enemy during this time keeping up a well-sustained fire, which our men did not return; in fact, for these three days and nights hardly a shot was fired on our side, except when the enemy attempted a sortie. On the third day, under a flag of truce, the Arab chiefs sent ten men to the Commandant offering ten guns for a bowl of water. The Commandant ordered a bowl of water to be brought to him, and poured it on the ground before them, after which he sent them back into the fort with their guns.

This ruse succeeded. In half an hour the fort capitulated — the men having seen water, there was no holding them. They piled arms in our camp, after which the