Now he is content to be a Legionnaire in the 20th Marching Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment with his comrades in arms the American Muggsy and the Englishman Bilgey.

Granted leave in the town of Zabala, Bob is romantically pursued by Nina De Bernay, a French nightclub singer.

Initially upset that Don has thrown away his university education and business potential away, Bob soon resigns himself to his brother's company.

Immature and oblivious to local custom and military discipline, Don strikes Sergeant Garcia who gleefully has him arrested and vows to send him to the dreaded Penal Battalion.

Unknown to all, Nina uses her friendship with Shiek Ibrahim-Ul-Ahmed to have two of his men free Don and smuggle him to a port where he may leave French North Africa and desert the Legion.

The Shiek plans his assault with fire support from the two machine guns manned by the legionnaires who are offered their freedom to switch sides.