Part 54 (1/2)

”Better that than lose your life, effendi,” replied the guide. ”These people are fierce, and half savage. They believe that you have money, and they will keep their word if it is not sent.”

”What, and kill us, Yussuf?” said Lawrence, with a horrified look.

”Not if I can save you, Lawrence effendi,” said Yussuf eagerly. ”But the letters must be sent. It will make the villains think that we are content to wait, and put them off their guard. Preston effendi, it is a terrible increase of the risk, but you will take the lady?”

”Take the lady?”

”Hus.h.!.+ When we escape. Do not say more now; we may be overheard.

Write your letters.”

”Then you mean to try and escape.”

”Try and escape, effendi?” said Yussuf with a curious laugh; ”why, of course.”

”What will you do?”

”Wait, excellency, and see. There are walls here, and I think places where we might get down past the guards with ropes.”

”And the ropes?”

Yussuf laughed softly, and stared at the rugs as he said quietly:

”I can see the place full of ropes, your excellency; only be patient, and we'll try what can be done in the darkness. Write your letters now.”

Mr Preston had to appeal to the sentries, through Yussuf, for the necessary writing materials, and after a good deal of trouble his own writing-case, which had been in the plundered baggage, was brought to him. He wrote to the vice-consul, Mr Thompson, at Smyrna, telling of their state, and asking advice and a.s.sistance, telling him, too, how to obtain the money required if diplomacy failed, and the ransom could not be reduced.

This done, and a similar letter being written by Mr Burne, the sentry was again communicated with, and the despatches sent to the chief.

An hour later there was a little bustle in the open s.p.a.ce before their prison, and a couple of well-armed men mounted their horses, the chief standing talking to them for a few minutes, as if giving them final instructions.

He then summoned his prisoners, and spoke to Yussuf, bidding him ask Mr Burne, whose wonderful head-dress won for him the distinction of being considered the most important personage present, whether he would like to make any addition to his despatch; for, said he:

”I have told the people that any attempt at rescue means your instant death. I will wait any reasonable time for your ransoms, and you shall be well treated; but I warn you that attempts to escape will be death to you. That is all.”

”Wait a minute, Yussuf,” said Mr Burne. ”Tell him he can keep the snuff-box and welcome, but he has a canister of best snuff in the package that was on the brown pony. Ask him to let me have that.”

”Yes,” said the chief, on hearing the request, ”it is of no use to anyone. He can have it. What a dog of a Christian to take his tobacco like that! Anything else?”

”Yes,” said Mr Preston, on hearing the reply, ”tell him to send his men to watch me as much as he likes, but I want leave to inspect the old ruins and to make drawings. Tell him I will not attempt to escape.”

”No, effendi,” said Yussuf, ”I will not tell him that, but I will ask the first;” and he made the request.

”What! is he--one of the idiot giaours who waste their time in seeing old stones and imitate them upon paper?”

”Yes, a harmless creature enough,” said Yussuf.

”So I suppose, or he would have fought. Well, yes, he can go about, but tell him that if he attempts to leave my men behind they will shoot him.

Not that he can get away, unless he has a djin to help him, or can fly,” he added with a laugh.