made to convince the Arabs that the French had the
power, if they pleased, of suffocating them in their
hiding-place, the colonel threw in letters offering to
them life and liberty if they would surrender their
arms and their horses. At first they refused, but sub-
sequently they replied that they would consent if the
French troops would withdraw. This condition was
considered inadmissible, and more burning fagots were
thrown. A great tumult now began, and it was known
afterward that it arose from a discussion as to whether
there should be a surrender or not. The party opposed
to a surrender carried their point, and a few of the
minority made their escape. Colonel Pelissier, profes-
sing a wish to spare the lives of those who remained in
the cavern, sent some Arabs to them to exhort them to
surrender. They refused, and some women, who did
not partake of the savage fanaticism of the majority,
attempted to fly, but their husbands and relations fired
upon them to prevent their escape from the martyrdom
which they had themselves resolved to suffer. Colonel
Pelissier then suspended the throwing of the burning
fagots, and sent a French officer to hold a parley with
the Ouled Riahs,.but his messenger was received with
a discharge of fire-arms, and could not perform his
mission. This state of things continued till the next
night, when the fire was renewed and rendered intense.
During this time the cries of the unhappy wretches
who were being suffocated, were dreadful, and then
nothing was heard but the crackling of the fagots.
