cried the old lawyer chuckling. "There, now for a dagger or knife to go
with it."
The dealer produced one in an ornamental sheath directly, and explained
that it was for use as a weapon, for hunting, or to divide food when on
a journey.
"That will do, then, nicely. There, my boy, these are my presents.
Now, Preston, I suppose we must each have one of these long choppers?"
"Yes, I think so," replied the professor. "They will make us look more
formidable."
"Very well, then: choose one for me too, but I warn you, I shall fasten
mine down in the sheath with gum. I'm not going to take mine out, for
fear of cutting off somebody's legs or wings, or perhaps my own."
"You feel better now?" said the professor.
"Hold your tongue, sir--do! No: I don't feel better. I had forgotten
my pain, but now you've made me think about it again. There!--choose
two swords and knives and let's get back."
Two plain useful sabres were selected, and the dealer received his
orders to send the weapons to the hotel, after which the injured man was
helped into a standing position, but not without the utterance of
several groans. Then he was walked up and down the shop several times,
ending by declaring himself much better.
"There, Lawrence!" he cried, "that's the advantage of being an
Englishman. Now, if I had been a Dutchman or a Frenchman I should have
had myself carried back, sent for a couple of doctors, and been very bad
for a month or two; but you see I'm better already, and I'm not going to
give up to please the Grand Panjandrum himself. Dear me! bless my
heart! panjandrum! Pan--pan--pan--jan--jan--jan--drum! Where did I
hear that word?"
"In a sort of nursery ditty, sir," said Lawrence laughing.
"To be sure I did," cried the old man, "and I had forgotten it; but I
say, don't laugh like that, boy."
"Why not, sir?"
"Because it will make us believe that you have been shamming all this
time, and that you're really quite well, thank you, sir!--eh?"
"I--I think I am better," said Lawrence quickly. "I don't know why, but
I have not been thinking about being ill these last few days, everything
is so bright and sunshiny here, you see."
"Yes, I see," said the old lawyer, giving the professor a peculiar look;
and they went back to the hotel.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE GREEK SKIPPER.
"No, I can't do it," said Mr Burne after several brave efforts; "I
really am a good deal jarred, and it is quite impossible. I am quite
right as long as I keep still, but in such pain if I move that I can
hardly bear it."
"Then we will put off the journey for a week," said the professor
decisively.
"And disappoint the lad?" said Mr Burne. "No; you two must go."
"How can you talk like that?" exclaimed Lawrence sharply, "when you have
come on purpose to help me get strong again? Mr Preston, we shall stay
here--shall we not?"
"Of course," replied the professor. "The enjoyment of our trip depends
upon our being staunch to one another."
Mr Burne declared that it was absurd, and ridiculous, and nonsensical,
and raked out a few other adjectives to give force to his sentiments,
speaking in the most sour way possible; but it was very evident that he
was highly pleased, and the steamer sailed without them.
The next day Mr Burne was so stiff that he could not walk about; but he
refused to see a doctor, and a week passed before he could move without
pain. Then one morning he declared that he was mending fast, and
insisted upon inquiries being made respecting the sailing of the next
steamer that would stop at one or other of the little towns on the south
coast; but there was nothing bound in that direction, nor likely to be
for another fortnight.
"And all my fault!" cried Mr Burne angrily. "Tut-tut-tut! Here, ring
for the landlord."
The landlord came and was questioned.
No, there was no possibility of a passage being made for quite a
fortnight, unless the visitors would go in a small sailing boat
belonging to one or the other of the trading crews.
The professor glanced at Lawrence, thought of the probable discomfort,
and shook his head.
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr Burne sharply.
"We can make trips in steamers at anytime; but a trip in a Greek
felucca, with real Greek sailors, is what I have longed for all my life.
Eh, Lawrence, what do you say?"
"I think with you, sir, that it would be delightful--that is, if you are
well enough to go."
"Well enough to go! of course I am. I'm longing to be off. Only a bit
stiff. Look here, landlord, see what you can do for us. One moment,
though; these Greeks--they will not rob us and throw us overboard--eh?"
"No fear, sir. I'll see that you go by a boat manned by honest fellows
who come regularly to the port. Leave it to me."
The landlord departed and the question was discussed. The professor was
ready enough to go in the manner proposed so long as Lawrence felt equal
to the task, and this he declared he was; and certainly, imperceptibly
as it had come about, there was an improvement in his appearance that
was most hopeful.
The principal part of their luggage had gone on by steamer, and would be
lying waiting for them at Ansina, a little port on the south coast which
had been considered a suitable starting-point; and they had been
suffering some inconvenience, buying just such few things as would do to
make shift with till they overtook their portmanteaux.
Oddly enough, Mr Burne expressed the most concern about their new
purchases, the weapons and ammunition, which had been sent on to the
steamer by the landlord as soon as they arrived from the store.
"Such things must be so tempting to the people who see them," said the
old lawyer.
"But they were all carefully packed in cases," said the professor.
"They would not know what was inside."
"Nonsense, my dear sir. We English folk would not have known, but a
Greek or a Turk would. These people smell powder just like crows in a
corn-field. I'm afraid that if we don't make haste we shall find our
things gone, and I wouldn't lose that gun for any money."
The landlord came back in about a couple of hours to say that he had had
no success, but that it would become known that he had been inquiring,
and an application might be made.
This turned out correct, for as the travellers were seated that evening
over their dessert, enjoying by an open window the deliciously soft
breeze, as Lawrence partook of the abundant grapes, and the professor
puffed at a water-pipe--an example followed by Mr Burne, who diligently
tried to like it, but always gave up in favour of a cigar at the end of
a quarter of an hour--the waiter brought their coffee and announced that
the master of a small vessel desired to see their excellencies.
The man was shown in, and proved to be a picturesque-looking fellow in a
scarlet cap, which he snatched from his curly black hair and advanced
into the room, saying some words in modern Greek whose import the
professor made out; but his attempts to reply were too much for the
skipper, who grew excited, shook his head, and finally rushed out of the
room, to the great amusement of Mr Burne, who knocked the ash off the
cigar he had recently lit.
"That's what I always say," he cried. "Book language is as different as
can be from spoken language. I learned French for long enough when I
was a boy, but I never could make a Frenchman understand what I meant."
"Let's ring and inquire," said the professor, to hide a smile. "I hope
we have not driven the fellow away."
"Hope you have, you mean," said Mr Burne.
The professor rose to reach the bell, but just then the landlord entered
with the Greek sailor, who smiled and showed his white teeth.
With the landlord as interpreter the matter became easy. The man was
going to sail in three days, that was as soon as the little vessel, in
which he had brought a cargo of oranges and other fruit from Beyrout,
had discharged her load and was ready to return. He was going to
Larnaca on his return voyage, but for a consideration he was ready to
take the English excellencies to any port they liked on the south
coast--Ansina if they wished--and he would make them as comfortable as
the boat would allow; but they must bring their own food and wine.
The bargain was soon struck, the Greek asking a sum which the landlord
named to the professor--so many Turkish pounds.
"But is not that a heavy price for the accommodation we shall receive?"
"Yes," said the landlord smiling. "I was going to suggest that you
should offer him one-third of the amount."
"Then we shall offend him and drive him away," said Mr Burne.
"Oh, dear me! no, gentlemen. He does not expect to get what he asks,
and the sum I name would be very fair payment. You leave the settlement
in my hands."
The professor acquiesced, and the landlord turned to the Greek sailor to
offer him just one-third of the sum he had asked.
"I thought as much," said the old lawyer. "The landlord thinks we're in
England, and that it was a bill of costs that he had to tax. Look at
the Greek, Lawrence!"
The latter needed no telling, for he was already watching the sailor,
who was protesting furiously. One moment his hands were raised, the
next they were clenched downwards as if about to strike the floor.
Again they were lifted menacingly, and there seemed danger, for one
rested upon a knife in his belt, but only for it to be beaten furiously
in the other. Quick angry words, delivered with the greatest
volubility, followed; and then, turning and looking round in the most
scornful manner, the man seemed to fire a volley of words at the whole
party and rushed from the room.
"I'm sorry for this," said the professor, "for we would have paid
heavily sooner than wait longer."
"Humph! Yes," exclaimed Mr Burne. "Why not call the man back and
offer him two-thirds of his price?"
"Because, sir," replied the landlord, "it would have been giving him
twice as much as would pay him well. Don't you see, sir, that he is
going back empty, and every piastre you pay him is great profit.
Besides, I presume that you will take far more provisions than will
suffice for your own use."
"Naturally," replied the professor.
"And this man and his little crew will reap the benefit?"
"But you have driven him away."
"Oh dear, no, sir!" replied the landlord smiling. "He will be back
to-night, or at the latest to-morrow morning, to seal the bargain."
"Do you think so?" cried Lawrence, who looked terribly disappointed at
this new delay.
"I am sure," said the landlord laughing. "Here he is."
For there was a quick step on the stair, the door was opened, and the
swarthy face of the Greek was thrust in, the red cap snatched off, and,
showing his white teeth in a broad smile, he came forward, nodding
pleasantly to all in turn.
A few words passed, the bargain was made, and the tall lithe fellow
strode out in high glee, it being understood that he was to well clean
out the little cabin, and remove baskets and lumber forward so as to
make the boat as comfortable as he could for his passengers; that he was
to put in at any port they liked, or stop at any island they wished to
see; and, moreover, he swore to defend them with his men against enemies
of every kind, and to land them safely at Ansina, or suffer death in
default.
This last was his own volunteered penalty, after which he darted back to
say that their excellencies might bring a little tobacco for him and his
men, if they liked, and that, in return, they might be sure of finding a
plentiful supply of oranges, grapes, and melons for their use.
"Come, landlord," said Mr Burne, "I think you have done wonders for
us."
"I have only kept you from being cheated, gentlemen," was the reply.
"These men generally ask three or four times as much as they mean to
take."
"And do the landlords?" said the professor drily.
"I hope not, sir," was the reply. "But now, gentlemen, if you will
allow me, I should like to offer you a bit of advice."
"Pray, give it," said the professor gravely.
"I will, sir. It is this. You are going into a very wild country,
where in places you will not be able to help yourselves in spite of your
firman. That will be sufficient to get you everything where the law is
held in anything like respect, but you will find yourselves in places
where the rude, ignorant peasants will look upon you as Christian dogs,
and will see you starve or die of exposure before they will give or even
sell you food for yourselves or horses."
"Mighty pleasant set of barbarians to go amongst, I must say!" cried Mr
Burne.
"I am telling you the simple truth, gentlemen. You will find no hotels
or inns, only the resting-places--the khans--and often enough you will
be away from them."
"He is quite right," said the professor calmly. "I was aware that we
should sometimes have to encounter these troubles."
"Humph! 'Pon my word!" grumbled Mr Burne. "Look here, Lawrence, let's
go back."
"What for?" cried the lad flushing. "Oh, no! we must go on."
The professor glanced at him quickly, and smiled in his calm grave way
before turning to the landlord.
"You have not given us your advice," he said.
"It is very simple, gentlemen, and it is this: Take with you a man who
knows the country well, who can act as guide, and from his frequent
travels there can speak two or three languages--a faithful trusty fellow
who will watch over you, guard you from extortion, and be ready to
fight, if needs be, or force the people he comes among to give you or
sell you what you need."
"Oh! but are they such savages as this--so near to the more civilised
places of the East?"
"Quite, sir," replied the landlord.
"And where is this pearl among men to be found?" said the professor with
a slight sneer. "Do you know such a one?"
"Yes, sir; he only returned from a journey yesterday. I happened to see
him this morning, and thought directly of you."
"Would he go with us?" said the old lawyer quickly.
"I cannot say for certain," was the reply; "but if you will give me
leave I will see him and sound him upon the subject."
"Humph!" from the old lawyer.
"He has just been paid, and would no doubt like to stay and rest here a
little while, but I daresay I could prevail upon him to go with you if
he saw you first."
"Then he is to be the master, not we?"
"Well, gentlemen, I don't say that," said the landlord smiling; "but
people out here are very different to what they are at home. I have
learned by bitter experience how independent they can be, and how strong
their natural dislike is to Christians."
"This man is not a Christian, then?"
"Oh, no, sir! a Muslim, a thorough-going Turk."
"He will not carry his religious feelings to the pitch of pushing us
over some precipice in the mountains, eh? and then come home thinking he
has done a good work, eh, Mr Landlord?" said the old lawyer.
"Oh, no! I'll answer for his integrity, sir. If he engages to go with
you, have no hesitation in trusting him with your baggage, your arms,
your purses if you like. If he undertakes to be your guide, he will
lose his life sooner than see you robbed of a single piastre."
"And what will he require?" said Mr Burne shortly; "what pay?"
"Very moderate, gentlemen, and I promise you this, that if I can
persuade him to go with you, the cost of paying him will be saved out of
your expenses. I mean that you will spend less with him than you would
without."
"And he knows something of the country?"
"A great deal, gentlemen. Shall I see if I can get him to go?"
"By all means," cried the two elders in a breath.
"If he consents I will bring him to you. I beg pardon, I am wrong. I
must bring him to see you first before he will consent."
"Then, as I said before, he is to be the master, not we," said the
professor.
"No, no, sir, you must not take it like that. The man is independent,
and need not undertake this journey without he likes. Is it surprising,
then, that if he should come and see you, and not liking your
appearance, or the prospect of being comfortable in your service, he
should decline to go?"
"You are quite right," said Mr Burne. "I would not."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
YUSSUF THE GUIDE.
At breakfast-time the next morning the landlord came and announced that
Yussuf was in waiting. A few minutes later he ushered in a rather
plain-looking, deeply-bronzed, middle-aged man, who, at the first
glance, seemed to have nothing whatever to recommend him. As a nation
his people are good-looking and dignified. Yussuf was rather
ill-looking and decidedly undignified. He did not seem muscular, or
active, or clever, or agreeable, or to have good eyes. He was not even
well dressed. But upon further examination there was a hardened wiry
look about the man, and a stern determined appearance in the lines of
his countenance, while the eyes that did not seem to be good, so sunken
were they beneath his brow, and so deeply shaded, were evidently keen
and piercing. They seemed to flash as they met those of the old lawyer,
to look defiant as they encountered the professor's searching gaze, and
then to soften as they were turned upon Lawrence, as he lay back in his
chair rather exhausted by the heat.
A few questions were asked on either side, the newcomer speaking very
good English, and also grasping the professor's Arabic at once. In
fact, it appeared evident that he was about to decline to accompany the
party; but the words spoken sonorously by the professor seemed to make
him hesitate, as if the fact of one of the party speaking the familiar
tongue gratified him, but still he hesitated.
Just then, he hardly knew why, but attracted by the eyes of the Turk,
which were fixed upon him gravely, and in a half-pitying manner,
Lawrence rose and approached.
"I hope you will go with us," he said quickly.
Yussuf took his hand and held it, gazing in the lad's face earnestly, as
a pleasant smile illumined his own.
"You are weak and ill," he said softly. "The wind that blows in the
mountains will make you strong."
Then turning slowly to the others he saluted them gravely.
"Effendis," he said, "I am thy servant. Allah be with us in all our
journeyings to and fro. I will go."
"I am glad!" cried Lawrence.
"And so am I," said the professor, hesitating for a moment, and then
holding out his hand, which Yussuf took respectfully, held for a moment,
and then turned to Mr Burne.
"Oh, all right, shake hands," said the latter, "if it's the custom of
the country; and now about terms."
"Leave me to settle that with Yussuf," said the landlord hastily, and he
and the Muslim left the room.
"Seems queer to begin by being inspected, and then shaking hands with
the servant we engage, eh, professor?" said Mr Burne.
"The man is to be more than servant," replied Mr Preston; "he is to be
our guide and companion for months. He repelled me at first, but
directly he spoke in that soft deep voice there seemed to me to be truth
in every accent. He is a gentleman at heart, and I believe we have
found a pearl. What do you say, Lawrence?"
"He made me like him directly he looked in my eyes, and I am very glad
he is going."
"I repeat my words," said the professor.
"Well, I mustn't quarrel, I suppose. My back's too bad; so I throw in
my lot with you, and say I am glad, and good luck to us."
"Amen," said the professor gravely; "but I like our guide's way of
wishing success the better of the two."
CHAPTER NINE.
YUSSUF IS SUSPICIOUS.
Lawrence watched anxiously for the arrival of the new guide Yussuf on
the day appointed for sailing. There had been one more disappointment,
the Greek having declared that he must have another day before he would
be ready, but there was no further delay.
Yussuf came to say that he had examined the boat, that it was good,
seaworthy, and well manned by a stout little crew of sailors, but that
he was very much dissatisfied with the accommodation prepared for the
gentlemen.
He had not been told to report upon this matter, and his evident quiet
eagerness to serve his employers well was satisfactory.
"We expect to rough it," said the professor. "It will not be for long."
Yussuf shrugged his shoulders, and said as he looked hard at Lawrence:
"It may be long, effendi. The winds perhaps light, and there are
storms."
"I am afraid we must risk these troubles; and besides, it is a coasting
trip, and we should be able to run into some port."
Yussuf bowed.
"I thought it my duty to tell his excellency of the state of the boat,"
he said; and then, in an earnest busy way, he asked about the baggage to
go on board, and provisions, promising to bring up a couple of the Greek
sailors to carry down what was necessary.
In the course of the afternoon this was done, the consul visited and
parted from in the most friendly manner, Lawrence's eyes brightening as
the official rested his hand upon his shoulder, and declared in all
sincerity that he could see an improvement in him already.
The landlord endorsed this remark too on parting, and he as well as the
consul assured the little party that, if anything could be done to help
them, a message would receive the most earnest attention.
"You think we shall get into trouble, then?" Lawrence ventured to say,
but shrank back directly he had spoken, with his cheeks flushed and
heart beating, for his long illness had made him effeminate.
"I think it possible," said the landlord smiling; "but I sincerely hope
you will not. In fact, with a man like Yussuf your risks are greatly
reduced. Good-bye, gentlemen, and I shall look forward to seeing you
again on your way back."
"Bravo, Lawrence!" cried the professor, clapping him on the shoulder.
"I had been thinking the same thing; now I am sure of it."
"I don't understand you," said the lad wiping his face, for the
perspiration was standing in a fine dew all over his brow.
"Why, both Mr Thompson and the landlord here said that you were better,
and you have just shown me that you are."
"How, Mr Preston?" said the lad bashfully.
"By the way in which you just now spoke out, my boy," said Mr Burne,
joining in. "Why, you couldn't have spoken like that before we started.
You are not much better now; but when we settled to come on this trip
you were as weak and bashful as a delicate girl. Preston, we shall make
a man of him after all."
They were walking towards the landing-place nearest to where the Greek's
boat lay, and further conversation was stayed by Yussuf coming to them.
"The boatman will not believe, excellencies," he said, "that there is no
more luggage. Have I got all?"
"Yes; all our luggage went on by the steamer to Ansina."
Yussuf bowed and went back to the landing-place, where a small boat
manned by the Greek and one of his men was in waiting, and in the
travellers' presence Yussuf explained about their belongings.
The Greek listened with rather a moody expression, but said no more; and
in a very short time the little party were pulled to the side of a long
light craft, about the burden of a large west country fishing lugger,
but longer, more graceful in shape, and with the fore-part pretty well
cumbered with baskets, which exhaled the familiar ether-like odour of
oranges.
The accommodation was very spare, but, as the weather was deliciously
fine, there was little hardship in roughing it in the open--provision
being made for the invalid to stay in shelter as much as he liked.
They began to find the value of their guide at once, for he eagerly set
to work to find them seats by improvising places in the stern; showing
how he had arranged the provisions and fresh water, and offering
Lawrence some ripe grapes as he made him comfortable where he would be
out of the way of the men hoisting sail, and getting clear of the many
boats lying at hand. First one and then the other long tapering sail
was hoisted, each looking like the wing of a swallow continued to a
point, as it stretched out to the tip of the curved and tapering spar;
and as these filled the light vessel careened over, and began to glide
swiftly through the bright blue sea.
After lending some help the Greek skipper went behind his passengers to
the helm, his crew of three swarthy-looking fellows, each with his knife
in his belt, threw themselves down amongst the baskets forward, and as
the passengers stood or sat watching the glorious panorama of town,
coast, and shipping they were passing, Yussuf calmly shook his loose
garment about him, squatted down beside the low bulwark, and lighting a
water-pipe began to smoke with his eyes half closed, and as if there was
nothing more to trouble about in life.
"'Pon my word!" said the old lawyer. "What a place this boat seems to
be for practising the art of doing nothing comfortably!"