* * *
In the big tent, the Arabs are holding a strategy meeting. All the attackers’ leaders and the commanding officers of the military have gathered here. El Dota is at the word. “Tomorrow morning at first light, we will attack if we have not heard anything back from the French captain.”
“What about the Dulac army?” asks one of the Sheiks.
“We are not going to wait on the Dulacs any longer,” says El Dota with finality, and spontaneous applause breaks out. “We have been waiting long enough on them.”
“But they have these new weapons, these gas rifles,” the sheik adds.
“With the force that has gathered here, we will take Dini Salam without the help of these modern weapons,” El Dota reiterates.
The people cheer loudly again.
“The swords of Islam are strong enough against this Frenc
