第15章

Thelieutenantdidtheguiding。Wehadtopresentourpassports，andIanticipatednomoredifficultythaninlandingfromtheboatatBoulogne。ButIwantedtogetitover，formyhungerpinchedmeanditwasfearsomecold。Stillthegunswenton，likehoundsbayingbeforeaquarry。Thecitywasoutofrange，buttherewerestrangelightsontheridgetotheeast。

Atlastwereachedourgoalandmarchedthroughafineoldcarvedarchwayintoacourtyard，andthenceintoadraughtyhall。

’Youmustseethe_Sektionschef，’saidourguide。Ilookedroundtoseeifwewereallthere，andnoticedthatHussinhaddisappeared。Itdidnotmatter，forhewasnotonthepassports。

Wefollowedasweweredirectedthroughanopendoor。Therewasamanstandingwithhisbacktowardsuslookingatawallmap，averybigmanwithaneckthatbulgedoverhiscollar。

Iwouldhaveknownthatneckamongamillion。AtthesightofitImadeahalf—turntoboltback。Itwastoolate，forthedoorhadclosedbehindusandthereweretwoarmedsentriesbesideit。

Themanslewedroundandlookedintomyeyes。IhadadespairinghopethatImightbluffitout，forIwasindifferentclothesandhadshavedmybeard。Butyoucannotspendtenminutesinadeath—

grapplewithoutyouradversarygettingtoknowyou。

Hewentverypale，thenrecollectedhimselfandtwistedhisfeaturesintotheoldgrin。

’So，’hesaid，’thelittleDutchmen！Wemeetaftermanydays。’

Itwasnogoodlyingorsayinganything。Ishutmyteethandwaited。

’Andyou，HerrBlenkiron？Ineverlikedthelookofyou。Youbabbledtoomuch，likeallyourdamnedAmericans。’

’Iguessyourpersonaldislikeshaven’tgotanythingtodowiththematter，’saidBlenkiron，calmly。’Ifyou’rethebosshere，I’llthankyoutocastyoureyeoverthesepassports，forwecan’tstandwaitingforever。’

Thisfairlyangeredhim。’I’llteachyoumanners，’hecried，andtookastepforwardtoreachforBlenkiron’sshoulder—thegamehehadtwiceplayedwithme。

Blenkironnevertookhishandsfromhiscoatpockets。’Keepyourdistance，’hedrawledinanewvoice。’I’vegotyoucovered，andI’llmakeaholeinyourbulletheadifyoulayahandonme。’

WithaneffortStummrecoveredhimself。Herangabellandfelltosmiling。AnorderlyappearedtowhomhespokeinTurkish，andpresentlyafileofsoldiersenteredtheroom。

’I’mgoingtohaveyoudisarmed，gentlemen，’hesaid。’Wecanconductourconversationmorepleasantlywithoutpistols。’

Itwasidletoresist。Wesurrenderedourarms，Peteralmostintearswithvexation。Stummswunghislegsoverachair，restedhischinonthebackandlookedatme。

’Yourgameisup，youknow，’hesaid。’ThesefoolsofTurkishpolicesaidtheDutchmenweredead，butIhadthehappierinspiration。

IbelievedthegoodGodhadsparedthemforme。WhenIgotRasta’stelegramIwascertain，foryourdoingsremindedmeofalittletrickyouonceplayedmeontheSchwandorfroad。ButI

didn’tthinktofindthisplumpoldpartridge，’andhesmiledatBlenkiron。’TwoeminentAmericanengineersandtheirservantboundforMesopotamiaonbusinessofhighGovernmentimportance！

Itwasagoodlie;butifIhadbeeninConstantinopleitwouldhavehadashortlife。Rastaandhisfriendsarenoconcernofmine。

Youcantrickthemasyouplease。Butyouhaveattemptedtowintheconfidenceofacertainlady，andherinterestsaremine。Likewiseyouhaveoffendedme，andIdonotforgive。ByGod，’hecried，hisvoicegrowingshrillwithpassion，’bythetimeIhavedonewithyouyourmothersintheirgraveswillweepthattheyeverboreyou！’

ItwasBlenkironwhospoke。Hisvoicewasaslevelasthechairman’sofaboguscompany，anditfellonthatturbidatmospherelikeacidongrease。

’Idon’ttakenostockinhigh—falutin’。Ifyou’retryingtoscaremebythatdime—noveltalkIguessyou’vehitthewrongman。

You’relikethesweepthatstuckinthechimney，abittoobigforyourjob。Ireckonyou’veatalentforro—mancethat’sjustwastedinsoldiering。Butifyou’regoingtoplayanyuglygamesonmeI’dlikeyoutoknowthatI’manAmericancitizen，andprettywellconsideredinmyowncountryandinyours，andyou’llsweatbloodforitlater。That’safairwarning，ColonelStumm。’

Idon’tknowwhatStumm’splanswere，butthatspeechofBlenkiron’sputintohismindjusttheneededamountofuncertainty。

Yousee，hehadPeterandmerightenough，buthehadn’tproperlyconnectedBlenkironwithus，andwasafraideithertohitoutatallthree，ortoletBlenkirongo。ItwasluckyforusthattheAmericanhadcutsuchadashintheFatherland。

’Thereisnohurry，’hesaidblandly。’Weshallhavelonghappyhourstogether。I’mgoingtotakeyouallhomewithme，forIamahospitablesoul。Youwillbesaferwithmethaninthetowngaol，forit’satrifledraughty。Itletsthingsin，anditmightletthingsout。’

Againhegaveanorder，andweweremarchedout，eachwithasoldierathiselbow。Thethreeofuswerebundledintothebackseatofthecar，whiletwomensatbeforeuswiththeirriflesbetweentheirknees，onegotupbehindonthebaggagerack，andonesatbesideStumm’schauffeur。Packedlikesardineswemovedintothebleakstreets，abovewhichthestarstwinkledinribbonsofsky。

Hussinhaddisappearedfromthefaceoftheearth，andquiterighttoo。Hewasagoodfellow，buthehadnocalltomixhimselfupinourtroubles。

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

SparrowsontheHousetops’I’veoftenregretted，’saidBlenkiron，’thatmiracleshaveleftoffhappening。’

Hegotnoanswer，forIwasfeelingthewallsforsomethinginthenatureofawindow。

’ForIreckon，’hewenton，’thatitwantsagoodold—fashionedcopper—bottomedmiracletogetusoutofthisfix。It’splumbagainstallmyprinciples。I’vespentmylifeusingthetalentsGodgavemetokeepthingsfromgettingtothepointofrudeviolence，andsofarI’vesucceeded。Butnowyoucomealong，Major，andyouhustlearespectablemiddle—agedcitizenintoanaboriginalmix—up。It’smightyindelicate。Ireckonthenextmoveisuptoyou，forI’mnogoodatthehousebreakingstunt。’

’NomoreamI，’Ianswered;’butI’mhangedifI’llchuckupthesponge。Sandy’ssomewhereoutside，andhe’sgotaheftycrowdathisheels。’

Isimplycouldnotfeelthedespairwhichbyeverylawofcommonsensewasduetothecase。Thegunshadintoxicatedme。Icouldstillheartheirdeepvoices，thoughyardsofwoodandstoneseparatedusfromtheupperair。

Whatvexedusmostwasourhunger。Barringafewmouthfulsontheroadwehadeatennothingsincethemorning，andasourdietforthepastdayshadnotbeengenerouswehadsomeleewaytomakeup。Stummhadneverlookednearussincewewereshovedintothecar。Wehadbeenbroughttosomekindofhouseandbundledintoaplacelikeawine—cellar。Itwaspitchdark，andafterfeelingroundthewalls，firstonmyfeetandthenonPeter’sback，Idecidedthattherewerenowindows。Itmusthavebeenlitandventilatedbysomelatticeintheceiling。Therewasnotastickoffurnitureintheplace:nothingbutadampearthfloorandbarestonesides，ThedoorwasarelicoftheIronAge，andIcouldhearthepacesofasentryoutsideit。

Whenthingsgettothepassthatnothingyoucandocanbetterthem，theonlythingistoliveforthemoment。Allthreeofussoughtinsleeparefugefromouremptystomachs。Thefloorwasthepoorestkindofbed，butwerolledupourcoatsforpillowsandmadethebestofit。SoonIknewbyPeter’sregularbreathingthathewasasleep，andIpresentlyfollowedhim……

Iwasawakenedbyapressurebelowmyleftear。IthoughtitwasPeter，foritistheoldhunter’strickofwakingamansothathemakesnonoise。Butanothervoicespoke。Ittoldmethattherewasnotimetoloseandtoriseandfollow，andthevoicewasthevoiceofHussin。

Peterwasawake，andwestirredBlenkironoutofheavyslumber。

Wewerebiddentakeoffourbootsandhangthembytheirlacesroundournecksascountryboysdowhentheywanttogobarefoot。

Thenwetiptoedtothedoor，whichwasajar。

Outsidewasapassagewithaflightofstepsatoneendwhichledtotheopenair。Onthesestepslayafaintshineofstarlight，andbyitshelpIsawamanhuddledupatthefootofthem。Itwasoursentry，neatlyandscientificallygaggedandtiedup。

Thestepsbroughtustoalittlecourtyardaboutwhichthewallsofthehousesroselikecliffs。WehaltedwhileHussinlistenedintently。Apparentlythecoastwasclearandourguideledustooneside，whichwasclothedbyastoutwoodentrellis。Onceitmayhavesupportedfig—trees，butnowtheplantsweredeadandonlywitheredtendrilsandrottenstumpsremained。

Itwaschild’splayforPeterandmetogoupthattrellis，butitwasthedeuceandallforBlenkiron。Hewasinpoorconditionandpuffedlikeagrampus，andheseemedtohavenosortofheadforheights。Buthewasasgameasabuffalo，andstartedingallantlytillhisarmsgaveoutandhefairlystuck。SoPeterandIwentuponeachsideofhim，takinganarmapiece，asIhadonceseendonetoamanwithvertigointheKloofChimneyonTableMountain。IwasmightythankfulwhenIgothimpantingonthetopandHussinhadshinnedupbesideus。

Wecrawledalongabroadishwall，withaninchortwoofpowderysnowonit，andthenupaslopingbuttressontotheflatroofofthehouse。ItwasamiserablebusinessforBlenkiron，whowouldcertainlyhavefallenifhecouldhaveseenwhatwasbelowhim，andPeterandIhadtostandtoattentionallthetime。Thenbeganamoredifficultjob。Hussinpointedoutaledgewhichtookuspastastackofchimneystoanotherbuildingslightlylower，thisbeingtheroutehefancied。AtthatIsatdownresolutelyandputonmyboots，andtheothersfollowed。Frost—bittenfeetwouldbeapoorassetinthiskindoftravelling。

ItwasabadstepforBlenkiron，andweonlygothimpastitbyPeterandIspread—eaglingourselvesagainstthewallandpassinghiminfrontofuswithhisfacetowardsus。Wehadnogrip，andifhehadstumbledweshouldallthreehavebeeninthecourtyard。

Butwegotitover，anddroppedassoftlyaspossibleontotheroofofthenexthouse。Hussinhadhisfingeronhislips，andIsoonsawwhy。Fortherewasalightedwindowinthewallwehaddescended。

Someimppromptedmetowaitbehindandexplore。TheothersfollowedHussinandweresoonatthefarendoftheroof，whereakindofwoodenpavilionbroketheline，whileItriedtogetalookinside。Thewindowwascurtained，andhadtwofoldingsasheswhichclaspedinthemiddle。ThroughagapinthecurtainIsawalittlelamp—litroomandabigmansittingatatablelitteredwithpapers。

Iwatchedhim，fascinated，asheturnedtoconsultsomedocumentandmadeamarkingonthemapbeforehim。Thenhesuddenlyrose，stretchedhimself，castaglanceatthewindow，andwentoutoftheroom，makingagreatclatterindescendingthewoodenstaircase。Heleftthedoorajarandthelampburning。

Iguessedhehadgonetohavealookathisprisoners，inwhichcasetheshowwasup。Butwhatfilledmymindwasaninsanedesiretogetasightofhismap。Itwasoneofthosemadimpulseswhichutterlycloudrightreason，athingindependentofanyplan，acrazyleapinthedark。ButitwassostrongthatIwouldhavepulledthatwindowoutbyitsframe，ifneedbe，togettothattable。

Therewasnoneed，fortheflimsyclaspgaveatthefirstpull，andthesashesswungopen。Iscrambledin，afterlisteningforstepsonthestairs。Icrumpledupthemapandstuckitinmypocket，aswellasthepaperfromwhichIhadseenhimcopying。VerycarefullyI

removedallmarksofmyentry，brushedawaythesnowfromtheboards，pulledbackthecurtain，gotoutandrefastenedthewindow。

Stilltherewasnosoundofhisreturn。ThenIstartedofftocatchuptheothers。

Ifoundthemshiveringintheroofpavilion。’We’vegottomoveprettyfast，’Isaid，’forI’vejustbeenburglingoldStumm’sprivatecabinet。Hussin，mylad，d’youhearthat？Theymaybeafterusanymoment，soIprayHeavenwesoonstrikebettergoing。’

Hussinunderstood。Heledusatasmartpacefromonerooftoanother，forheretheywereallofthesameheight，andonlylowparapetsandscreensdividedthem。Weneversawasoul，forawinter’snightisnotthetimeyouchoosetosaunteronyourhousetop。Ikeptmyearsopenfortroublebehindus，andinaboutfiveminutesIheardit。Ariotofvoicesbrokeout，withonelouderthantherest，and，lookingback，Isawlanternswaving。Stummhadrealizedhislossandfoundthetracksofthethief。

Hussingaveoneglancebehindandthenhurriedusonatbreak—

neckpace，witholdBlenkirongaspingandstumbling。Theshoutsbehindusgrewlouder，asifsomeeyequickerthantheresthadcaughtourmovementinthestarlitdarkness。itwasveryevidentthatiftheykeptupthechaseweshouldbecaught，forBlenkironwasaboutasusefulonaroofasahippo。

Presentlywecametoabigdrop，withakindofladderdownit，andatthefootashallowledgerunningtotheleftintoapitofdarkness。Hussingrippedmyarmandpointeddownit。’Followit，’

hewhispered，’andyouwillreacharoofwhichspansastreet。Crossit，andontheothersideisamosque。Turntotherightthereandyouwillfindeasygoingforfiftymetres，wellscreenedfromthehigherroofs。ForAllah’ssakekeepintheshelterofthescreen。

SomewherethereIwilljoinyou。’

Hehurriedusalongtheledgeforabitandthenwentback，andwithsnowfromthecornerscoveredupourtracks。Afterthathewentstraightonhimself，takingstrangeshortstepslikeabird。I

sawhisgame。Hewantedtoleadourpursuersafterhim，andhehadtomultiplythetracksandtrusttoStumm’sfellowsnotspottingthattheyallweremadebyoneman。

ButIhadquiteenoughtothinkofingettingBlenkironalongthatledge。Hewasprettynearlyfoundered，hewasinasweatofterror，andasamatteroffacthewastakingoneofthebiggestrisksofhislife，forwehadnoropeandhisneckdependedonhimself。I

couldhearhiminvokingsomeunknowndeitycalledHolyMike。

Butheventuredgallantly，andwegottotheroofwhichranacrossthestreet。Thatwaseasier，thoughticklishenough，butitwasnojokeskirtingthecupolaofthatinfernalmosque。Atlastwefoundtheparapetandbreathedmorefreely，forwewerenowundershelterfromthedirectionofdanger。Isparedamomenttolookround，andthirtyyardsoff，acrossthestreet，Isawaweirdspectacle。

Thehuntwasproceedingalongtheroofsparalleltotheonewewerelodgedon。Isawtheflickerofthelanterns，wavedupanddownasthebearersslippedinthesnow，andIheardtheircrieslikehoundsonatrail。Stummwasnotamongthem:hehadnottheshapeforthatsortofbusiness。Theypassedusandcontinuedtoourleft，nowhidbyajuttingchimney，nowcleartoviewagainsttheskyline。Theroofstheywereonwereperhapssixfeethigherthanours，soevenfromourshelterwecouldmarktheircourse。IfHussinweregoingtobehuntedacrossErzerumitwasabadlook—outforus，forIhadn’tthefoggiestnotionwherewewereorwhereweweregoingto。

Butaswewatchedwesawsomethingmore。Thewaveringlanternswerenowthreeorfourhundredyardsaway，butontheroofsjustoppositeusacrossthestreetthereappearedaman’sfigure。I

thoughtitwasoneofthehunters，andweallcrouchedlower，andthenIrecognizedtheleanagilityofHussin。Hemusthavedoubledback，keepinginthedusktotheleftofthepursuit，andtakingbigrisksintheopenplaces。Buttherehewasnow，exactlyinfrontofus，andseparatedonlybythewidthofthenarrowstreet。

Hetookastepbackward，gatheredhimselfforaspring，andleapedcleanoverthegap。Likeacathelightedontheparapetaboveus，andstumbledforwardwiththeimpetusrightonourheads。

’Wearesafeforthemoment，’hewhispered，’butwhentheymissmetheywillreturn。Wemustmakegoodhaste。’

Thenexthalf—hourwasamazeoftwistsandturns，slippingdownicyroofsandclimbingicierchimney—stacks。Thestirofthecityhadgone，andfromtheblackstreetsbelowcamescarcelyasound。Butalwaysthegreattattooofgunsbeatintheeast。Graduallywedescendedtoalowerlevel，tillweemergedonthetopofashedinacourtyard。Hussingaveanoddsortofcry，likeadementedowl，andsomethingbegantostirbelowus。

Itwasabigcoveredwagon，fullofbundlesofforage，anddrawnbyfourmules。Aswedescendedfromtheshedintothefrozenlitteroftheyard，amancameoutoftheshadeandspokelowtoHussin。

PeterandIliftedBlenkironintothecart，andscrambledinbesidehim，andIneverfeltanythingmoreblessedthanthewarmthandsoftnessofthatplaceafterthefrostyroofs。Ihadforgottenallaboutmyhunger，andonlyyearnedforsleep。Presentlythewagonmovedoutofthecourtyardintothedarkstreets。

ThenBlenkironbegantolaugh，adeepinternalrumblewhichshookhimviolentlyandbroughtdownaheapofforageonhishead。Ithoughtitwashysterics，therelieffromthetensionofthepasthour。Butitwasn’t。Hisbodymightbeoutoftraining，buttherewasneveranythingthematterwithhisnerves。Hewasconsumedwithhonestmerriment。

’Say，Major，’hegasped，’Idon’tusuallycherishdislikesformyfellowmen，butsomehowIdidn’tcottontoColonelStumm。ButnowIalmostlovehim。YouhithisjawverybadinGermany，andnowyou’veannexedhisprivatefile，andIguessit’simportantorhewouldn’thavebeensomightysetonsteeple—chasingoverthoseroofs。Ihaven’tdonesuchathingsinceIbrokeintoneighbourBrown’swoodshedtostealhistame’possum，andthat’sfortyyearsback。It’sthefirstpieceofgenooineamusementI’vestruckinthisgame，andIhaven’tlaughedsomuchsinceoldJimHookertoldthetaleof"CousinSallyDillard"whenwewerehuntingducksinMichiganandhiswife’sbrotherhadanapoplexyinthenightanddiedofit。’

TotheaccompanimentofBlenkiron’schucklesIdidwhatPeterhaddoneinthefirstminute，andfellasleep。

WhenIwokeitwasstilldark。Thewagonhadstoppedinacourtyardwhichseemedtobeshadedbygreattrees。Thesnowlaydeeperhere，andbythefeeloftheairwehadleftthecityandclimbedtohigherground。Therewerebigbuildingsononeside，andontheotherwhatlookedliketheliftofahill。Nolightswereshown，theplacewasinprofoundgloom，butIfeltthepresencenearmeofothersbesidesHussinandthedriver。

Wewerehurried，Blenkirononlyhalfawake，intoanoutbuilding，andthendownsomestepstoaroomycellar。ThereHussinlitalantern，whichshowedwhathadoncebeenastorehouseforfruit。

Oldhusksstillstrewedthefloorandtheplacesmeltofapples。

Strawhadbeenpiledincornersforbeds，andtherewasarudetableandadivanofboardscoveredwithsheepskins。

’Wherearewe？’IaskedHussin。

’InthehouseoftheMaster，’hesaid。’Youwillbesafehere，butyoumustkeepstilltilltheMastercomes。’

’IstheFrankishladyhere？’Iasked。

Hussinnodded，andfromawalletbroughtoutsomefood—

raisinsandcoldmeatandaloafofbread。Wefellonitlikevultures，andasweateHussindisappeared。Inoticedthathelockedthedoorbehindhim。

Assoonasthemealwasendedtheothersreturnedtotheirinterruptedsleep。ButIwaswakefulnowandmymindwassharp—

setonmanythings。IgotBlenkiron’selectrictorchandlaydownonthedivantostudyStumm’smap。

ThefirstglanceshowedmethatIhadlitonatreasure。ItwasthestaffmapoftheErzerumdefences，showingthefortsandthefieldtrenches，withlittlenotesscribbledinStumm’sneatsmallhandwriting。

IgotoutthebigmapwhichIhadtakenfromBlenkiron，andmadeoutthegenerallieoftheland。IsawthehorseshoeofDeveBoyuntotheeastwhichtheRussiangunswerebattering。Stumm’swasjustlikethekindofsquaredartillerymapweusedinFrance，1in10，000，withspideryredlinesshowingthetrenches，butwiththedifferencethatitwastheTurkishtrenchesthatwereshownindetailandtheRussianonlyroughlyindicated。ThethingwasreallyaconfidentialplanofthewholeErzerum_enceinte，andwouldbeworthuntoldgoldtotheenemy。NowonderStummhadbeeninawaxatitsloss。

TheDeveBoyunlinesseemedtomemonstrouslystrong，andI

rememberedthemeritsoftheTurkasafighterbehindstrongdefences。ItlookedasifRussiawereupagainstasecondPlevnaoranewGallipoli。

ThenItooktostudyingtheflanks。SouthlaythePalantukenrangeofmountains，withfortsdefendingthepasses，whererantheroadstoMushandLakeVan。Thatside，too，lookedprettystrong。

NorthinthevalleyoftheEuphratesImadeouttwobigforts，TaftaandKaraGubek，defendingtheroadfromOlti。OnthispartofthemapStumm’snoteswereplentiful，andIgavethemallmyattention。IrememberedBlenkiron’snewsabouttheRussiansadvancingonabroadfront，foritwasclearthatStummwastakingpainsabouttheflankofthefortress。

KaraGubekwasthepointofinterest。Itstoodonariboflandbetweentwopeaks，whichfromthecontourlinesroseverysteep。

SolongasitwashelditwasclearthatnoinvadercouldmovedowntheEuphratesglen。Stummhadappendedanotetothepeaks—’_not_fortified’;andabouttwomilestothenorth—easttherewasaredcrossandthename’_Prjevalsky’。IassumedthattobethefarthestpointyetreachedbytherightwingoftheRussianattack。

ThenIturnedtothepaperfromwhichStummhadcopiedthejottingsontohismap。Itwastypewritten，andconsistedofnotesondifferentpoints。Onewasheaded’_Kara_Gubek’andread:’__Notimetofortifyadjacentpeaks。Difficultforenemytogetbatteriesthere，butnotimpossible。Thistherealpointofdanger，forifPrjevalskywinsthePeaksKaraGubekandTaftamustfall，andenemywillbeonleftrearofDeveBoyunmain_position。’

Iwassoldierenoughtoseethetremendousimportanceofthisnote。OnKaraGubekdependedthedefenceofErzerum，anditwasabrokenreedifoneknewwheretheweaknesslay。Yet，searchingthemapagain，Icouldnotbelievethatanymortalcommanderwouldseeanychanceintheadjacentpeaks，evenifhethoughtthemunfortified。ThatwasinformationconfinedtotheTurkishandGermanstaff。ButifitcouldbeconveyedtotheGrandDukehewouldhaveErzeruminhispowerinaday。OtherwisehewouldgoonbatteringattheDeveBoyunridgeforweeks，andlongerehewonittheGallipolidivisionswouldarrive，hewouldbeout—

numberedbytwotoone，andhischancewouldhavevanished。

Mydiscoverysetmepacingupanddownthatcellarinaperfectfeverofexcitement。Ilongedforwireless，acarrierpigeon，anaeroplane—anythingtobridgeoverthatspaceofhalfadozenmilesbetweenmeandtheRussianlines。Itwasmaddeningtohavestumbledonvitalnewsandtobewhollyunabletouseit。Howcouldthreefugitivesinacellar，withthewholehornet’snestofTurkeyandGermanystirredupagainstthem，hopetosendthismessageoflifeanddeath？

IwentbacktothemapandexaminedthenearestRussianpositions。

Theywerecarefullymarked。Prjevalskyinthenorth，themainforcebeyondDeveBoyun，andthesoutherncolumnsuptothepassesofthePalantukenbutnotyetacrossthem。IcouldnotknowwhichwasnearesttoustillIdiscoveredwherewewere。AndasIthoughtofthisIbegantoseetherudimentsofadesperateplan。ItdependedonPeter，nowslumberinglikeatireddogonacouchofstraw。

HussinhadlockedthedoorandImustwaitforinformationtillhecameback。ButsuddenlyInoticedatrapintheroof，whichhadevidentlybeenusedforraisingandloweringthecellar’sstores。Itlookedill—fittingandmightbeunbarred，soIpulledthetablebelowit，andfoundthatwithalittleeffortIcouldraisetheflap。IknewI

wastakingimmenserisks，butIwassokeenonmyplanthatI

disregardedthem。AftersometroubleIgotthethingprisedopen，andcatchingtheedgesoftheholewithmyfingersraisedmybodyandgotmykneesontheedge。

Itwastheoutbuildingofwhichourrefugewasthecellar，anditwashalffilledwithlight。Notasoulwasthere，andIhuntedabouttillIfoundwhatIwanted。Thiswasaladderleadingtoasortofloft，whichinturngaveaccesstotheroof。HereIhadtobeverycareful，forImightbeoverlookedfromthehighbuildings。Butbygoodlucktherewasatrellisforgrapevinesacrosstheplace，whichgaveakindofshelter。LyingflatonmyfaceIstaredoveragreatexpanseofcountry。

LookingnorthIsawthecityinahazeofmorningsmoke，and，beyond，theplainoftheEuphratesandtheopeningoftheglenwheretheriverleftthehills。Upthere，amongthesnowyheights，wereTaftaandKaraGubek。TotheeastwastheridgeofDeveBoyun，wherethemistwasbreakingbeforethewinter’ssun。OntheroadsuptoitIsawtransportmoving，Isawthecircleoftheinnerforts，butforamomentthegunsweresilent。Southroseagreatwallofwhitemountain，whichItooktobethePalantuken。I

couldseetheroadsrunningtothepasses，andthesmokeofcampsandhorse—linesrightunderthecliffs。

IhadlearnedwhatIneeded。Wewereintheoutbuildingsofabigcountryhousetwoorthreemilessouthofthecity。ThenearestpointoftheRussianfrontwassomewhereinthefoothillsofthePalantuken。

AsIdescendedIheard，thinandfaintandbeautiful，likethecryofawildbird，themuezzinfromtheminaretsofErzerum。

WhenIdroppedthroughthetraptheotherswereawake。Hussinwassettingfoodonthetable，andviewingmydescentwithanxiousdisapproval。

’It’sallright，’Isaid;’Iwon’tdoitagain，forI’vefoundoutallI

wanted。Peter，oldman，thebiggestjobofyourlifeisbeforeyou！’

CHAPTERNINETEEN

GreenmantlePeterscarcelylookedupfromhisbreakfast。

’I’mwilling，Dick，’hesaid。’Butyoumustn’taskmetobefriendswithStumm。Hemakesmystomachcold，thatone。’

Forthefirsttimehehadstoppedcallingme’Cornelis’。Thedayofmake—believewasoverforallofus。

’Nottobefriendswithhim，’Isaid，’buttobusthimandallhiskind。’

’ThenI’mready，’saidPetercheerfully。’Whatisit？’

Ispreadoutthemapsonthedivan。TherewasnolightintheplacebutBlenkiron’selectrictorch，forHussinhadputoutthelantern。Petergothisnoseintothethingsatonce，forhisintelligenceworkintheBoerWarhadmadehimhandywithmaps。Itdidn’twantmuchtellingfrommetoexplaintohimtheimportanceoftheoneIhadlooted。

’Thatnewsisworthmanyamillionpounds，’saidhe，wrinklinghisbrows，andscratchingdelicatelythetipofhisleftear。Itwasawayhehadwhenhewasstartled。

’Howcanwegetittoourfriends？’

Petercogitated。’Thereisbutoneway。Amanmusttakeit。

Once，Iremember，whenwefoughttheMatabeleitwasnecessarytofindoutwhetherthechiefMakapanwasliving。Somesaidhehaddied，othersthathe’dgoneoverthePortugueseborder，butI

believedhelived。Nonativecouldtellus，andsincehiskraalwaswelldefendednorunnercouldgetthrough。Soitwasnecessarytosendaman。’

Peterlifteduphisheadandlaughed。’ThemanfoundthechiefMakapan。Hewasverymuchalive，andmadegoodshootingwithashot—gun。ButthemanbroughtthechiefMakapanoutofhiskraalandhandedhimovertotheMountedPolice。YourememberCaptainArcoll，Dick—JimArcoll？Well，Jimlaughedsomuchthathebrokeopenawoundinhishead，andhadtohaveadoctor。’

’Youwerethatman，Peter，’Isaid。