The time had passed "since the wounding of a fellagha was considered an event. Deaths now came in dozens." A strong rebel band had been pinned down and was being strafed by French planes; but instead of attempting to slip away into the maquis, as in the past, "They went on firing back at the fighters, very confidently, at the helicopters, at ourselves, and at everything that moved or glittered."

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 513