Part 33 (1/2)

”Are you sure?”

Yussuf smiled.

”I went out at the mouth of the ravine to observe,” he said; ”and I could see nothing till, all at once, I saw a flash of light.”

”Well?”

”Such a flash could only be reflected from a sword or gun.”

”From water--a piece of gla.s.s--or crystal.”

”No, excellency. There is no water up on the mountain slope. Pieces of gla.s.s are not seen there, and a crystal must be cut and polished to send forth such rays. The enemy are waiting for us in a depression, out there beyond the mouth of the plain, and we must go back the other way.”

”Of course. It will be safer. But after a time they will follow us.”

”I think I can stop that, effendi,” said their guide smiling; and while the horses were being loaded, and everything was being got ready for a start, Yussuf took out his knife, and selecting from among the bushes a good straight stick, he cut and trimmed it carefully till it was about the length of a gun.

This done, he climbed up the ridge that screened them from the mouth of the gorge, and, selecting a spot from whence a good view of the sloping plain beyond could be obtained, he walked up and down for a few minutes.

After this he beckoned to the professor and the others to join him; and as soon as they were there he drew their attention to a clump of bushes, as they seemed, but which must have been trees, a couple of miles away, though in that wondrously clear mountain air the distance did not seem to be a quarter.

Mr Burne was nearest to the guide, in his straw hat, which he had retained in safety so far through having it secured by a lanyard, but it was growing very shabby, and was much out of shape from its soaking in the sea.

The professor noticed that Yussuf--who was conspicuous in his red fez skull-cap, about which was rolled a good deal of muslin in the form of a turban or puggree--kept walking up and down on the edge of the ridge, and pointing out to Mr Burne the beauty of the prospect, with the distant ranges of snow-topped mountains, and the old lawyer kept on nodding his satisfaction.

”Yes. Very fine--very fine,” he said; ”but I want my breakfast.”

”There!” exclaimed Mr Preston suddenly. ”I saw it yonder.”

”The flash of light, effendi?” said Yussuf quietly.

”Yes. And there again.”

”I saw it then,” said Lawrence quickly; and no one doubted now that their guide was right.

After staying there for about a quarter of an hour Yussuf suggested that as the horses were ready, breakfast should be hastily eaten and they should start. Consequently all went down, a hearty meal was made, Yussuf taking his walking to and from the ridge to guard against surprise, and then he approached Mr Burne to request him to give up his straw hat.

”My straw hat!” exclaimed the old gentleman in astonishment.

”Yes, effendi,” replied Yussuf. ”I propose to fasten it, after wearing it for a few minutes and walking up and down, on one of the little bushes at the top of the ridge, and to stick this little pole out by its side.”

”What! to look like a man on guard?” cried Lawrence eagerly.

”Yes,” replied Yussuf. ”It will keep the enemy where they are watching it for half the day, even if it does not keep them till evening before they find out their mistake.”

”Then, stick your turban there,” said Mr Burne shortly.

”I would, effendi, if it would do as well, but it would not be so striking, nor so likely to keep them away. They might suspect it to be a trick; but they would never think that an English effendi would leave his hat in a place like that.”

”And quite right, too,” said the old lawyer with a snort. ”No; I shall not expose my brains to the risk of sunstroke, sir. Bah! Pis.h.!.+ Pooh!

Absurd!”