blessing of God rest upon his messenger ! The enemies of God and of our race invaded our land and trampled the soil of Islam under their feet, but already we see a foreshadowing of the triumph with which we shall overcome them, if it be God's will. There remain but a small number of our enemies. Now is the time to exterminate them utterly. I take God to witness that that is now our duty. " You know that the only reinforcements we can expect are those that el-Melek el-Adel is now bringing us. There is the enemy. If we leave them in peace, and they remain there till the sea is open for ships, they will receive large reinforcements. The opinion I hold, and which seems to me decidedly the best, is that we should attack them forthwith- But let each of you say what he thinks." Wise and prophetic words, but the emirs were at odds about accepting them. They were of the opinion that the first thing to do was to move the camp to the healthier site of el-Kharruba. Then the men ought to have time to recover their strength and the horses also. For fifty days they had been under arms and in the saddle. Rest would revive their spirits. In the meantime el-Adel would come to advise with them and the deserters would be brought back. " The Sultan at this time was suffering from a serious indisposition, brought on by the anxiety which oppressed him, and also by the weight of his armor, which he had now worn for a long time. Therefore he was persuaded, in the end, to adopt this counsel."