Part 50 (1/2)
”Fight, eh?” said the professor gravely.
”Yes, sir, fight, and I only wish I understood the use of this gun and long knife as well as I do that of a ruler and a pen.”
”Look here, Yussuf, if we fight, what will be the consequences?”
”I will fight for your excellencies to the last,” said the Turk calmly; ”but I am afraid that we can do no good.”
”Confound you, sir!” cried Mr Burne; ”if we give in they will take off our heads.”
”No, no, excellency, they will make us prisoners, and strip us of our arms and all that we have of value.”
”Humph! Is that all?”
”No, excellency. They will demand a heavy ransom for your release--so many Turkish pounds.”
”Then we'll fight,” cried Mr Burne furiously. ”I never would and I never will be swindled. Ransom indeed! Why, confound it all, Preston!
is this real, or is it a c.o.c.k-and-bull story told in a book?”
”It is reality, Burne, sure enough,” said the professor calmly; ”and I feel with you, that I would sooner fight than give up a s.h.i.+lling; but, cowardly as it may seem, I fear that we must give up.”
”Give up? Never, sir. I am an Englishman,” cried the old lawyer.
”But look at our position. We are completely at their mercy. Here we are in the centre of this half-moon curve, and the scoundrels hold the two horns in force.”
”Then we'll dash up the mountain.”
”It is impossible, excellency,” said Yussuf.
”Then we'll go downwards.”
”To death, Burne?” said the professor smiling.
”Confound it all!” cried Mr Burne, ”we are in a complete trap. Here, you, Yussuf, this is your doing, and you are in league with these rascals to rob us.”
”Excellency!”
”Oh, Mr Burne!” cried Lawrence, with his face scarlet; and he leaned towards Yussuf, and held out his hand to the Turk, who sat with angry, lowering countenance upon his horse.
”Mr Burne is angry, Yussuf,” said the professor in a quiet, stern manner. ”He does not mean what he says, and I am sure he will apologise as an English gentleman should.”
Yussuf bowed coldly, and Mr Preston continued:
”I have the most perfect confidence in your integrity, sir, and as we are brothers in misfortune, and you know these people better than we--”
”Of course,” said Mr Burne, with an angry e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.
”I ask you,” said Mr Preston, ”to give us your advice. What had we better do--fight or give up?”
Yussuf's face brightened, and he turned to the old lawyer.