Beau Geste

A relief column led by Major de Beaujolais approaches Fort Zinderneuf, only to find the garrison apparently all dead.

The three brothers have returned to Brandon Abbas from university, when a valuable family heirloom, the `Blue Water' sapphire, goes missing.

To protect Michael, Digby then also leaves, taking the blame in a note left for John.

John is reunited with Michael and Digby after being sent to Oran with a draft of new recruits.

The column marches across country to Fort Zinderneuf; once there, Lejaune has Hank, Buddy and Digby sent on to a further post.

Some of the men are on the point of mutinying when the fort comes under repeated attack from the Tuareg.

John kills Lejaune in the struggle, and then flees the fort on the approach of the relief column.