helped them in their plans.
The two Greeks were hard at work with the spar, using it as a lever; and
twice over they obtained so good a purchase that they raised the
submerged side just above the water, but it slipped back directly.
The professor did not hesitate, but said a few words to Yussuf, who
handed his loaded pistol to Lawrence, tucked up his garment, and waded
into the water at once along with Mr Preston.
"Humph! just as they were getting so nice and dry," said Mr Burne.
"Well, when one is in Cyprus, one must act like a Cypriote, eh,
Lawrence, my lad? I say, fancy one of my clients seeing me doing this."
He took off his coat, and rolled up his shirt-sleeves, nodding
laughingly at Lawrence.
"Look here, my boy," he said, "if that Greek rascal there moves, just
you go up and shoot him somewhere. Don't kill him, but we cannot stand
any of his nonsense now."
The two Greek sailors stared as the three travellers came wading to
them, and seemed disposed to leave off their task; but Yussuf gave them
their orders direct from Mr Preston, who made them get out some pieces
of board and cut loose a couple of spars.
The result of this was that one of the long spars was securely lashed by
their aid to the top of the principal mast which acted as a lever, when
all took hold of the spar and pushed upwards. By this means the side of
the boat was raised a foot or so, and could not sink back, for the free
end of the spar rested on the sand. Then another foot was gained, the
end of the spar being dragged along, and so on and on, till from being
where it was lashed to the top of the mast, quite an obtuse angle of the
widest, it was by degrees worked into a right angle, and by that time
the submerged bulwark was quite out of the water, and the keel touched
the bottom and kept them from moving the boat any farther.
The next thing to be done was to bale out the enormous quantity of water
within, and there was no bucket or anything of the kind; but the
professor was equal to the occasion. There was a small box in the big
provision basket and the biscuit tin. These were emptied at once, and
the two sailors set to work baling, while, as soon as it was possible,
an attempt was made to get something serviceable out of the little
cabin.
The search was vain, but just then one of the sailors took out his
knife, left the biscuit tin with which he was baling, and going forward
thrust down his knife-armed hand, and cut free a good-sized cask which
was lashed there for the purpose of holding water.
This floated up directly, and when the man had got so far, he stood
holding on and looking at it.
Yussuf had seized the biscuit tin, and was baling so as to lose no time,
but the professor waded to the sailor, tossed the cask over, and
following it, dragged it out on to the sandy shore, where the sea-water
with which it was now filled ran gurgling out of the big bung-hole.
While it was emptying the professor walked some little distance to where
a few pieces of rock were lying, and securing one weighing about half a
hundredweight, he brought it back, set the cask up, and dashed in its
head.
This made a baling implement of wonderful power, as soon as it was
floated back and lifted into the boat. Certainly it took two men to use
it, but the professor called to Yussuf to give the baling tin back to
the Greek, and come to his side, and then Christian and Muslim set to
work, stripping to it and displaying energy that made the Greeks work
the harder in spite of the burning sun. For seizing the cask, as he
stood waist-deep, the professor depressed and sank it, and as soon as it
was full, he and Yussuf raised it between them till the edge was against
the low side of the boat, and then they tilted it, sending its contents
into the sea.
It was slow and terribly laborious work, but at the end of an hour the
amount they had discharged was something tremendous, and after a rest
for refreshment, the baling went on till, towards evening, the felucca
was afloat once more, and riding to a little anchor cast out upon the
shore.
There was still a great deal more water in her, but everyone was wearied
out, and the professor gave the word for a cessation of labour, when
some more provision was secured, with wine, and fairly distributed, when
the Greeks encamped by their skipper, and the travellers went up close
to the rocks, where a little thread of delicious fresh water trickled
down and lost itself in the sand.
This was a treasure to the travellers, and at the professor's desire
Yussuf filled the biscuit tin, and took it to the Greeks, who, however,
only laughed and said they preferred the wine.
The deliriously warm evening was spent in drying the wet garments in the
heated sand, and in resting. The professor, who seemed a good deal
fagged by his exertions, would hardly hear of sleeping, but was
exceedingly anxious about Lawrence, who, however, seemed to be none the
worse for the past night's exposure, the warmth of the day and the rest
he had had having recouped him to a wonderful extent. Mr Burne, too,
though he had worked very hard, declared that he never felt better, and
after smoking a cigar, which he took as a sandwich between two layers of
snuff, preparations were made for the night, it being decided to lie
down early and rise at daybreak, when a couple more hours' work would,
it was considered, make the felucca in a condition to sail at any time.
The professor insisted upon Yussuf lying down at once to get the first
rest, so as to be roused up towards midnight to take the watch.
He consented rather unwillingly, and then the point had to be settled
who should have the pistol and take the first watch.
The professor wished to commence, but Mr Burne was so indignant and
insisted so sternly that the pistol was handed to him, after Yussuf had
been asleep for about a couple of hours, and then Mr Preston and
Lawrence sought their sandy couches, and lay for a little while
listening to the soft murmur of the sea, and watching the brilliant
stars in the dark sky and in the purply black water, while with regular
and slow beat, like a sentry, Mr Burne walked up and down, pistol in
hand.
Lawrence lay awake long enough to hear the professor's deep breathing,
and his muttering of something once or twice. Then he lay gazing at the
old lawyer, thinking how comical it was, and what a change from Guilford
Street in busy London, till it all seemed to be dim and strange and
dreamlike.
Then it really was dreamlike, for, though the old lawyer was still
marching up and down before Lawrence's mental vision, it seemed to him
that he had swollen out to ten times his natural size, and that he was
not walking to and fro between him and the sea, but in front of the
railings in Bloomsbury, and that, to prevent his making a noise and
disturbing the sleepers, he had wound list all about his boots, which
now made not a sound upon the pavement.
To and fro, to and fro he seemed to go, till his head swelled and
swelled and no longer appeared to be a head, but a great rough
grenadier's cap, and it was no longer Mr Burne, but one of the sentries
in front of the British Museum, who marched, and marched, and marched,
till he marched right out of sight, and all was blank as a deep, deep
sleep is sometimes, from which the lad started into wakefulness just
before dawn, upon hearing the professor say loudly:
"Eh? What? Is it time?"
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
HOW MR. BURNE KEPT WATCH.
"Yes, effendi, quite time," said a stern voice which Lawrence, as he sat
up, recognised as Yussuf's; and there was the grave-looking Turk, misty
and strange of aspect, bending down.
"Quite time, eh?" said Mr Preston yawning.
"Quite time, effendi. Look there!"
Mr Preston rose and gazed in the direction of the Turk's pointing
finger, which was directed towards something indistinctly seen a few
yards away.
"Mr Burne! Asleep!" said the professor quickly.
"Yes, effendi; I lay down to rest as you bade me, and I slept, expecting
to be called later on to watch; but I was not awakened, and slept
heavily. I was weary."
"But Mr Burne was to watch for only three hours as near as he could
guess, and then call me. It is too bad. Those scoundrels might have
stolen upon us in our sleep."
Lawrence had risen and joined them.
"Poor fellow!" he said softly; "he must have been tired out. Let me
watch now, Mr Preston."
"No," said the professor sternly. "Lie down and sleep, my lad. Sleep
brings strength. You shall have your turn as soon as you are well
enough."
"Thy servant will watch now," said Yussuf. "It is nearly day."
"It is too bad," said the professor again; and with the Turk he walked
to where Mr Burne lay fast asleep--so soundly, indeed, that he did not
stir when Yussuf bent down and took the pistol from his hand.
"Let him sleep, then," said Mr Preston rather bitterly. "I will
watch;" and as he spoke he looked in the direction of the Greeks' camp.
"Let thy servant," said Yussuf quietly; "I am well rested now."
The result was that Lawrence, after a glance round to see that
everywhere it was dark and still, once more lay down to sleep, leaving
Mr Preston and the Turk talking in a low voice about their proceedings
the next day.
Then once more all was blank, but to the lad he did not seem to have
been asleep a minute when he heard voices and started up, to see that it
was broad daylight, and that Mr Preston and Yussuf were in earnest
conversation with Mr Burne, who was sitting up rubbing his eyes.
"Been asleep!" he cried; "nonsense! I don't believe I have closed my
eyes."
"No," said Mr Preston as Lawrence hurried up. "I do not suppose you
did. It was nature, and she laid you down comfortably on this soft
sandy bed."
"But you astound me," cried the old lawyer. "I can't believe it."
"Quite true all the same," said the professor; "but never mind now."
"It is of no use to mind, my dear sir. We must make the best of it."
"Of course, but you should have awakened me when you felt weary."
"Yes, exactly; I meant to--I--dear me! I remember now. I thought I
would lie down for a few moments to take off a drowsy feeling. I meant
to get up again directly, strong and refreshed. Dear, dear, dear! I am
very sorry! So unbusiness-like of me! What time is it?"
The professor smiled.
"About four, I think."
"Ah, yes; it must be about four," said the old lawyer looking about him
and encountering the stern eyes of Yussuf, which were full of reproach.
"Good job the Greeks did not come and disturb us."
"They did not disturb you, then?" said the professor gravely.
"No; not they--the scoundrels! They had too serious a lesson in the
boat, and--"
He stopped short and looked in the direction of the spot where the three
Greek sailors had lain down to sleep the night before, and then he
turned his gaze out to sea.
"Why, where are they?" he exclaimed at last.
"Where, indeed!" replied the professor.
"You don't mean to say--you don't want to make me believe that they are
gone!" cried Burne excitedly.
"They are not anywhere near here on shore," replied the professor; "and
the boat has sailed away. There is only one in sight, miles away
yonder. That may be it, but I am not sure."
"Do you mean to say that those scoundrels have taken advantage of our
being asleep to get on board the boat and escape?" said the lawyer
angrily.
"That is the only point at which I can arrive," said the professor.
"Look around and judge for yourself."
The old lawyer looked sharply about him and then walked slowly away.
"A mistake--a mistake," he muttered; "I ought never to have come upon
such a trip. Not fit for it--not fit for it. Disgraceful--disgraceful!
I never--never could have believed it of myself."
He stopped and turned back.
"Send away this man," he said quickly.
Yussuf turned and walked away without another word.
"Preston," exclaimed the old lawyer, "I don't know what to say in my
defence. I have nothing to say, only that I never felt anything so
bitterly before."
"Then say nothing," replied Mr Preston coldly. "You were overcome by
sleep, and no wonder. But it was a terrible risk to run. Fortunately
these men were cowed by what had previously taken place, and they could
not know but what we were keeping a good watch."
"It is inexcusable," cried Mr Burne. "I feel as if I could hardly look
you in the face again. Left helpless here! For goodness' sake,
Preston, tell me what we are to do."
"Quietly consult together what is to be done," was the reply. "There,
man! pray, don't look at me in that imploring way."
"But it is so inexcusable," cried Mr Burne.
"Wait a bit," said the professor smiling; "my turn may come soon, and I
shall have to ask your pardon for doing wrong. There! perhaps it is for
the best. If we had retained the scoundrels they might have been too
much for us and played us some far worse trick."
Mr Burne was about to speak again, but the professor arrested him and
suggested a walk along the shore to the north-east; but it was finally
decided to partake first of an early breakfast, then to pack together
what was left of the food and start at once upon a journey that they
hoped would soon lead them to a village or town.
After a visit to the shore, where the deep blue water came softly
rippling upon the sand, they sat down to their frugal breakfast by the
spring, carefully husbanding the supplies, and then with enough
provision to keep them for about a couple of days, they started off,
this provision being the only luggage they had to carry, what few things
they possessed having been annexed by the Greeks, who seized upon them
by way of payment for the trip, as of course they would not have dared
to make any claim after what had occurred; and besides, it was not
likely that the skipper would care to show himself at any port
frequented by Englishmen for some time to come.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
THE LAWYER'S APOLOGY.
For some distance the way was along good firm sand, and they got over
several miles before the heat became too much for Lawrence, who was glad
to sit down under the shade of a low cliff facing the sea and nibble one
of the biscuits that had been pretty well soaked with sea-water, and
drink from a rivulet whose presence suggested the halt.
When the heat of the day had somewhat abated the journey was continued;
and, at last, when the night was beginning to fall and arrangements had
to be made for sleep, the outlook was very black, for they were in a
very desert place, and, though Yussuf and the professor both climbed
eminences from time to time, there was not a trace of human habitation,
while their supply of food was growing very short.
"Never mind," said the professor cheerily. "Let's have a good night's
rest. I don't think we need set a watch here, eh, Yussuf?"
"It is always better to do so, effendi," said the Muslim, in his quiet
thoughtful manner; "there is a great ridge of rocks yonder in front, and
who knows what may be on the other side."
"But no one has seen us come here; and if they had, we have not much to
lose."
"Except the Turkish gold the two excellencies have in the belts round
their waists," said Yussuf quietly.
Mr Preston started at this, but said nothing then. Later on he found
that his thoughts had been shared upon the subject, for, as they sat
close up to a projecting cliff, Mr Burne leaned towards him and
whispered:
"Did you tell the guide that you had a lot of money in your cash-belt?"
"No. Did you?"
"No."
"It is very strange," said the professor.
"It is worse," was the reply; "but, look here, for goodness' sake don't
go making me uncomfortable by hinting that Yussuf has designs against
us."
"I am not going to," said the professor shortly. "I agree that it is
strange that he should know it, but I am going to place absolute faith
in Yussuf. If I am deceived in the man so much the worse for me."
"But he is an unspeakable Turk, Preston, and you are always reading what
the Turks are."
"I am always reading what their wretched government is. As a race I
believe the Turks are a particularly grave, gentlemanly race of men."
"I am sure," said Lawrence, "that Yussuf is doing all he can in our
interest."
"Tchah! stuff, boy! what do you know about human nature?" cried Mr
Burne angrily. "We are out here in the desert at this man's mercy."
"But he fought for us and saved me from drowning."
"Of course he did, boy; he is paid to do it."
"Then why don't you trust him, sir?" said Lawrence, speaking out boldly.
"Because very likely he is doing all this to save us for himself.
Suppose he robs us and then runs away to Tadmor in the wilderness, or
some other outlandish place, what can we do? There are no policemen
here."
"Hush," said Mr Preston; "here he is."
Yussuf came gravely stalking down from above where he had been taking a
fresh observation inland.
"I can see nothing, effendi," he said softly. "We must sleep and see
what another day brings forth."
"Yes," said Mr Preston; "and we are all weary. But, Yussuf."
"Effendi?"
"How did you know that my friend, here, and I carried belts containing
gold?"
The Muslim looked from one to the other sharply, and it was plain that
he read the suspicion in their eyes, for his own flashed, and a stern
aspect came over his countenance.
It passed away directly and his face lit up with a smile.
"Simply enough, excellencies," he said. "Mr Burne, here, is always
feeling his waist to find out whether it is quite safe, or lifting it up
a little because it is heavy."
"I? What? No such thing, sir--no such thing," cried the old lawyer
angrily.
"Well, I have seen you do so a great many times," said Mr Preston
laughing.
"And so have I, Mr Burne," cried Lawrence, "often."
"I deny it, gentlemen, I deny it," he cried; and sitting up he
involuntarily placed his hands just above his hips, and gave himself a
hitch after the fashion of a sailor.
The professor burst into a hearty laugh; Lawrence roared; and Yussuf's
face was so comically grave that Mr Burne could not resist the
infection, and laughed in turn.
"There," he exclaimed; "I suppose, I do without knowing it, and I am so
cautious, too."
"But come," said Mr Preston, turning to Yussuf, "you have not seen me
do this, I think."
"No, effendi, never; but when we were busy baling the water out of the
boat for these dogs of Greeks to escape, your garments were wet and
clung to you tightly, and the shape of the belt could be plainly seen."
"Of course it could," said the professor bluffly. "Why, Yussuf, I
believe now in the story about the dervish who was asked if he met the
camel, and told the owners all about it: the lame leg, the missing
tooth, the load of rice on one side, the honey on the other, and all
without seeing it."
"Nonsense!" said Mr Burne testily, "how could he?"
"Why, my dear sir, you must have forgotten that old tale. By the light
impression of one foot in the sand, by the herbage not being evenly
cropped, and by the ants being busy with the fallen grain on one side,
the flies, attracted by the honey, upon the other."
"Bah!" exclaimed the old lawyer. "Eastern tales are all gammon. I
don't believe in the East at all."
"Nor in people being cast ashore in desert places and having encounters
with Greek sailors. Nor in their having a faithful experienced
Mussulman guide, who fought for them and strove his very best to get
them out of their troubles, eh, Burne? Well, I do, and I'm very tired.
Good-night, Yussuf. You are going to sleep, I suppose?"
"No, effendi," said the Turk. "I shall watch till the stars say it is
two hours past midnight, and then I shall awaken you."
"Humph! Wrong again," cried Mr Burne testily. "I always am wrong.
What are you laughing at, sir?"
"At you, Mr Burne. I beg your pardon, I couldn't help it," said
Lawrence.
"Oh, I'll forgive you, boy. I'm glad to see you can laugh like that,
instead of being regularly knocked up with our troubles. I begin to
believe that you never have been ill, and were shamming so as to get a
holiday."
"Do you, sir?" said Lawrence sadly.
"No, my boy. Good-night. Good-night, Yussuf," he added, and then he
raised an echo by blowing his nose.
"Good-night, excellency," said the Turk, rather haughtily; and soon
there was nothing to be heard but the sighing of the night wind and the
low murmur of the rippling sea.
There was little to see, too, in the darkness, but the figures of the
reclining sleepers, and that of the grave sentinel, who sat upon a big
mass of stone, crouched in a heap and looking as if he were part of the
rock, save when he changed his position a little to refill his pipe.
The night passed without any alarm. The professor was awakened about
two and took Yussuf's place, and soon after daybreak the others were
roused, and the residue of the provisions was opened out.
"Be easier to carry when eaten," said Mr Preston laughing.
He looked serious directly, for there was a peculiarly sombre frown upon
Yussuf's brow, which suggested that he was thinking over Mr Burne's
suspicions of the previous evening, and his rather unpleasant way.
"Look here, Burne," the professor whispered, as they sat together on the
sand eating their spare meal, "I think, if I were you, I would make a
bit of an apology to Yussuf. He is really a gentleman at heart, and has
been accustomed to mix a great deal with Englishmen. He is a good deal
hurt by our suspicions, and it is a pity for there to be any disunion in
our little camp."
"Camp, indeed!" cried the old man testily; "pretty sort of a camp,
without a tent in it. I shall be racked with rheumatism in all my old
bones. I know I shall, after this wild-goose chase."
"Let's hope not," said the professor; "but you will make some advances
to him, will you not?"
"You mind your own affairs, sir. Don't you teach me. My back's
horrible this morning. Can't you wait a bit. I was going to make
amends if you had left me alone."
"That's right," said the professor cheerily. "I want him to have a good
opinion of Englishmen."
Lawrence watched eagerly for Mr Burne's apology, but he did not speak
till just as they were going to start, when he stepped aside behind a
rock for a few minutes, and then came out again and walked up to Yussuf
with something coiled up in his hand.
"Look here, Yussuf," he said. "You're a stronger man than I am, and
used to the country. I wish you would buckle this round your waist--out
of sight, of course."
As he spoke he held out his heavy cash-belt, which was thoroughly well
padded with gold coin, and then threw it over the Turk's arm.
Yussuf looked at him intently, and a complete change came over the man's
face as he shook his head and held the belt out for Mr Burne to take
again.
"No, excellency," he said, "I understand you. It is to show me that you
trust me, but you doubt me still."
"No, I do not," cried Mr Burne. "Nothing of the sort. You think I do,
because I said ugly things yesterday. But that was my back."
"Your excellency's back?"
"Yes, my man; my back. It ached horribly. There, I do trust you. I
should be a brute if I did not."
"I'll take your excellency's word, then," said Yussuf gravely. "I will
not carry the belt."
"Nonsense, man, do. There, it was to make you believe in me; but all
the same it does tire me terribly, and it frets me, just where I feel
most tender from my fall. It would relieve me a great deal, and it
would be safer with you than with me. Come, there's a good fellow;
carry it for me. I beg you will."
The Turk shook his head, and stood holding out the belt, turning his
eyes directly after to Mr Preston and then upon Lawrence.
"Come," continued Mr Burne, "you surely do not bear malice because a
tired man who was in great pain said a few hasty words. The belt has
really fretted and chafed me. I am ready to trust in your sincerity;
will you not trust in mine?"
Yussuf's countenance lit up, and he caught Mr Burne's hand in his, and
raised it to his lips hastily, after which he opened his loose robe and
carefully buckled the money-belt within his inner garment.
"That's the way," cried Mr Burne cheerily; and he looked happier and
more relieved himself; "and look here, Yussuf, I'm a curious suspicious
sort of fellow, who has had dealings with strange people all his life.
I believe in you, I do indeed, and whenever you find me saying
unpleasant things, you'll know my back's bad, and that I don't mean it.
And now, for goodness' sake, let's get to some civilised place where we
can have a cup of coffee and a glass of wine. Preston, old fellow, I'd
give a sovereign now for a good well-cooked mutton-chop--I mean four
sovereigns for four--one a-piece. I'm not a greedy man."