"it's just three weeks ago, as we were travelling in this horrible
country at least ten miles away, we were seized by these horrid men, and
brought here. They've taken everything we had, and given us these
miserable clothes, and every night they come to us and say--"
"They'll cut off our heads to-morrow morning."
"Will you be quiet, Charley," cried the lady, stamping her foot. "How
am I to explain? Am I not always telling you what a chatter-box you
are."
"Yes, my dear, always."
"Silence, sir! Mr Preston," she continued, as her little husband went
softly to Lawrence, and drew him aside to go on whispering in his
ear--"Mr Preston, no one knows what we have suffered. As I was
saying--I hope you are listening, Mr--Mr--Mr--Mr--"
"Burne, ma'am," said the old lawyer bowing.
"Oh, yes, I had forgotten. Mr Burne. I beg your pardon. As I was
saying they come every night, and say that to-morrow morning they will
cut off our heads and send them to Smyrna as an example, if our ransom
does not come."
"Your ransom, madam?" said the professor.
"Yes. Five thousand pounds--three for me and two for poor Charley; and
though we have sent for the money, it does not come. Isn't it a shame?"
"Scandalous, madam."
"And you can't tell how glad I am to see you here. Have you brought the
money?"
"Brought the money, ma'am? Why, we are prisoners too."
"Oh, dear me, how tiresome!" cried the lady. "I thought you were at
first; and then I thought you were sent with our ransom. What are we to
do? Mr Burne," she continued, turning to him, "you said you were a
lawyer. Pray, send for these people at once, and tell them that they
will be very severely punished if they do not set us at liberty."
"My dear madam," said the old lawyer, "I am only just getting myself
thawed, and I have had nothing but snuff since breakfast. I must have
some food before I can speak or even think."
Meanwhile little Mr Chumley was whispering to Lawrence on the other
side of the fire, and relating all his troubles. "Taken everything
away, sir," he said--"watch, purse, cigars, and I actually saw the
scoundrel who is at the head of them smoking my beautiful _partagas_
that I brought with me from England. I say, what had we better do?"
"Try and escape, I suppose," said Lawrence.
"Escape! Look here, young man; are you a fly, or a bird, or a black
beetle?" whispered the little man.
"I think not," said Lawrence laughing.
"Then you can't get away from here, so don't think it. Why, it's
impossible."
Just then the fierce-looking chief entered, followed by a man carrying a
great smoking dish, and as the leader drew near the fire, Lawrence bit
his lip, for he saw that the tall ruffian was wearing his sword, and
carrying his handsome gun in the hollow of his arm.
The chief turned to Yussuf, who was seated in one corner of the room,
and said a few words to him.
Yussuf rose and addressed his little party in a low voice.
"The brigand captain says, excellencies, that you are to be prepared to
send in one of his men to-morrow morning as messenger to your agent
where you like. You are to write and say that, if injury is done to the
messenger, you will be killed. The messenger is to bring back six
thousand pounds--two for each of you--as a ransom, and that, upon the
money being paid, you will be set free."
"And if the money be not paid, Yussuf, what then?" said the professor
quietly.
"The chief says no more, excellency."
"But he will to-morrow or next day," cried Mr Chumley. "He'll say that
if the money is not paid he'll--"
"Will you be quiet, Charley?" cried his wife. "How you do chatter, to
be sure! Are you going to send for the money?"
"I don't know yet," said the professor smiling. "I must think over our
position first."
"But, Mr Burne!" cried the lady.
"My dear madam," said Mr Burne, "I can say nothing till after supper.
Here is a dish of fowl and rice to be discussed before we do anything
else. Here, Snooks, Brown, Hassan, Elecampane--what's your name?--lay
the cloth and bring some knives and forks."
The man addressed did not stir. He had placed the smoking brass dish
upon a stone near the fire, and with that his duties seemed to be ended.
"They won't give you any knives or forks," said little Mr Chumley.
"Will you be quiet, Charley?" cried his lady. "No, gentlemen, you will
have to sit down all round the dish like this, and eat with your fingers
like pigs."
"Pigs haven't got any fingers," whispered little Chumley to Lawrence.
"Come along."
"What is he whispering to you, Master Lawrence?" said the lady sharply.
"Don't take any notice of what he says. He talks too much and thinks
too little. If he had thought more and said less we should not be in
this predicament."
The chief and his follower had passed silently behind the great rug
stretched over the doorway, and, led by their hunger, the prisoners all
sat down round the dish "like this," to use Mrs Chumley's words--_this_
being tailor fashion, or cross-legged _a la Turcque_; and then, in very
primitive fashion, the supper of poor stringy fowl and ill-cooked rice
began.
The food was very poor, the bread being heavy and black; but all were
too hungry to be particular, and at last the dish was completely
finished, and conversation respecting their position began, while Yussuf
sat aside and waited patiently to be questioned.
"Look here, Yussuf," said the professor at last; "what is to be done?"
"I fear, excellency," replied the guide, "that the only way of escape is
by paying the ransom."
"But, man, it is ruinous, and they dare not injure us. Why, if the
English people knew of our position troops would be sent to our
assistance."
"And the brigands would resent their coming by killing you and your
friends, excellency."
"They would not dare, Yussuf."
"I'm afraid they would, effendi. They are utterly reckless scoundrels,
the sweepings of the country, and they are so powerful, and secure here
that they laugh at the law, such law as we have in this unhappy land."
"But such a state of affairs is monstrous, sir," said Mr Burne. "I am
a lawyer, sir, and I ought to know."
"It is monstrous, excellency," said Yussuf; "but these men are outlaws.
You see what a stronghold they have if it came to a fight; but your
friends or the government would not dare to let it come to a fight, for
if they did they would be slaying you."
"Tchah!" cried Mr Burne; "this is about the knottiest case I ever did
meet. I say, you, Lawrence, a nice position you have placed us all in."
"I, Mr Burne!" cried the lad wonderingly.
"Yes, sir, you. If you had only been quite well, like a reasonable boy
of your age, we should not have come out here, and if we hadn't come out
here we should not have been in this mess. There, I'm too tired to
talk. Good-night."
He threw himself down upon one of the rugs and was asleep directly,
while the professor walked to the doorway, and found two fierce-looking
sentries outside, one of whom menacingly bade him go back.
He spoke in the Turkish language; but his manner made his meaning plain,
so Mr Preston went back to the fireside, and sat talking to the
Chumleys and Lawrence till the latter fell fast asleep; and at last, in
spite of the peril of his position, the professor grew so weary that the
account of the Chumleys' troubles began to sound soothing, and, what
with the long day's work, the exposure to the keen mountain air, and the
warmth of the fire, he too fell asleep, and silence reigned in the
ancient structure that had been made their prison.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.
SUGGESTIONS OF ESCAPE.
The morning broke so bright and clear, and from the window there were so
many wonders of architecture visible in the old stronghold, that the
professor and Lawrence forgot for the time that they were prisoners, and
stood gazing out at the wonderful scene.
Where they had been placed was evidently a portion of an old castle, and
looking down there were traces of huge buildings of the most solid
construction, such as seemed to date back a couple of thousand years,
and yet to be in parts as strong as on the day they were placed and
cemented stone upon stone.
Huge wall, tremendous battlement, and pillared remains of palace or hall
were on every side, and as they gazed, it seemed to them that they could
easily imagine the presence of the helmeted, armoured warriors who had
once owned the land.
The sun was so glorious that the professor proposed a look round before
breakfast.
"Never mind the inconvenience, Lawrence," he said, "we have fallen into
a wonderful nest of antiquities, worth all our journey and trouble.
Here, come along."
They went to the doorway, drew the great rug hanging before it aside,
and were stepping out when a couple of guns were presented at their
breasts, and they were angrily bidden to go back.
It was a rude reminder that they were no longer upon a touring journey,
and the fact was farther impressed upon them, after a breakfast of
yaourt or curd, bread, and some very bad coffee, by a visit from the
chief and half a dozen men.
Yussuf was called upon to interpret, and that which he had to say was
unpalatable enough, for he had to bid them empty their pockets, and pass
everything they possessed over to their captors.
Watches, purses, pocket-books, all had to go; but it was in vain to
resist, and everything was handed over without a word, till it came to
Mr Burne's gold snuff-box, and this he slipped back into his pocket.
The attempt to save it was in vain; two sturdy scoundrels seized him,
one on each side, and the snuff-box was snatched away by the chief
himself.
He uttered a few guttural sounds as he opened the box, and seemed
disappointed as he found therein only a little fine brown dust, into
which he thrust his finger and thumb.
He looked puzzled and held it to his nose, giving a good sniff, with the
result that he inhaled sufficient of the fine dust to make him sneeze
violently, and scatter the remainder of the snuff upon the earth.
Mr Burne made a start forward, but he was roughly held back, and the
chief then turned to Yussuf.
"Tell them," he said in his own tongue, "to write to their friends, and
ask for the ransom--two thousand pounds each, and to say that if the
money is not given their heads will be sent. Bid them write."
The fierce-looking scoundrel turned and stalked out of the place with
his booty, and the moment he was free, Mr Burne dropped upon his knees
and began sweeping the fallen snuff together in company with a great
deal of dust and barley chaff, carefully placing the whole in his
handkerchief ready for clearing as well as he could at his leisure.
"That's just how they served us," said Mrs Chumley dolefully. "I
thought they would treat you the same."
"So did I," said her husband dolefully. "They've got my gold repeater,
and--"
"Now, Charley, don't--don't--don't bother Mr Preston about that
miserable watch of yours, and I do wish you wouldn't talk so much."
"But we must talk, madam," cried Mr Burne. "Here, you, Yussuf, what's
to be done?"
"I can only give one piece of advice, effendi," said Yussuf gravely;
"Write."
"What, and ruin ourselves?"
"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?"
"Hush! 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 assistance, 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 space 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.
He walked to his men, gave them some further instructions, and they saw
the two ambassadors go in and out among the ruins till they passed
between two immense buttresses of rock, and then disappear down the
perilous zigzag path that led to the shelf-like way.
"Yes," said Yussuf, looking at Mr Preston, and interpreting his
thoughts, "that is the only way out, excellency, but I do not despair of
making our escape. It must be a long time before arrangements can be
made for your release, and the winter comes early here in these high
places."
"Winter?" cried Lawrence.
"Yes," said Yussuf. "It is fine and sunny one day, the next the snow
has fallen, and a place like this may be shut off from the plains below
for months. You do not wish to pass the winter here, Lawrence effendi?"
"I don't think I should mind," replied the lad, "everything is so fresh,
and there is so much to see."
"Well, now they are giving me leave to go about," said Mr Preston
thoughtfully, "I think I could spend some months in drawing and writing
an account of this old city, especially if they would let me make some
excavations."
"But his excellency, Mr Burne?" said Yussuf.
"Oh! I've got my snuff--at least I am to have it, and if they will feed
us well I don't suppose I should mind very much. The fact is, Preston,
I've been working so hard all my life that I like this change. Doing
nothing is very pleasant when you are tired."
"Of course it is," said the professor smiling.
"And so long as there's no nonsense about cutting off men's heads, or
any of that rubbish, I rather like being taken a prisoner by brigands.
I wonder what a London policeman would think of such a state of
affairs."
"My masters are submitting wisely to their fate," said Yussuf gravely;
"and while we are waiting, and those people think we are quite patient,
I shall come with his excellency Preston, and while he draws I shall
make plans, not of the city, but how to escape."
Further conversation was cut short by the coming of Mr and Mrs
Chumley, who eagerly asked--at least Mr Chumley wished to ask eagerly,
but he was stopped by his lady, who retained the right--what
arrangements had been made. And she was told.
"Oh, dear!" she sighed, "then that means weary waiting again. Oh,
Charley! why would you insist upon coming to this wretched land?"
Mr Chumley opened his mouth in astonishment, but he did not speak then,
he only waited a few minutes, and then took Lawrence's arm, and sat
whispering to him apart, telling him how Mrs Chumley had insisted upon
coming to Turkey when he wanted to go to Paris, and nowhere else, and
that he was the most miserable man in the world.
Lawrence heard him in silence, and as he sat he wondered how it was the
most miserable man in the world could look so round and happy and grow
so fat.
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
YUSSUF HAS HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.
The weather was cold up there in the mountains, and it froze at night;
but the sun was hot in the daytime, and the sky was mostly of a most
delicious blue. The chief always seemed to be scowling, watchful, and
suspicious, but the prisoners had nothing but their captivity to
complain about. Rugs in abundance--every one of them stolen--were
supplied for bedding and keeping out the cold night air that would have
penetrated by door or window. Upon proper representations being made by
Yussuf the food supply was better, the guide installing himself at once
as cook, to Mr Chumley's great delight; and agreeable dishes--pilaf,
curry, kabobs, and the like--were prepared, with excellent coffee and
good bread, while the scowling sentries became more agreeable, and took
willingly to their duties, on finding that satisfactory snacks were
handed to them, and hot cups of coffee on the bitter nights when they
sat watching in their sheepskin or goatskin cloaks.
As for the professor, in two days he had forgotten that he was a
prisoner, and Lawrence was the best of friends with the evil-looking
guards, who followed them with loaded guns to some old ruinous patch of
wall, fortification, or hall. Here the professor was in his element,
drawing, planning, and measuring, longing the while to set a dozen
strong-armed men to work digging up the stones embedded in the earth--a
task which he was sure would be rewarded by the discovery of many
objects of antiquity.
Parties of the brigands went out now and then, but it was evident that
their object was merely to forage, large quantities of barley being
brought in, and some of the old buildings being utilised for stores.
These seemed to be well supplied, and the community was preparing for
the coming winter, so Yussuf told Lawrence--for the days when no food
would be obtainable perhaps for months.
Everyone seemed to lead a careless nonchalant life, the prisoners they
had taken would, no doubt it was considered, bring in sufficient to make
this a prosperous year's work, and till the ransoms were paid there was
little more to do.
The days glided by, and the watch over the prisoners grew less rigid.
There was apparently only one way out of the stronghold, and that was
always carefully guarded; and as it was evident to the captors that the
professor and his companions were bent upon studying the place, the
guards used to sit down upon some heap of old stones, with their guns
across their knees, and smoke and sleep, while drawings were made, and
inscriptions copied.
Yussuf became quite a favourite, for he was a cook, and often showed the
brigands' wives how to make some savoury dish; but for the most part he
was busy helping the professor, carrying his paper, cleaning stones, or
performing some such office.
And so the days glided by, with the professor perfectly contented, the
old lawyer apparently little troubled so long as his snuff held out, and
Lawrence growing sturdier, and enjoying the feeling of health more and
more.
The only discontented people were the Chumleys, the gentleman
complaining bitterly about the absence of news, and the lady because her
husband would chatter so incessantly.
"I say, Yussuf," said Lawrence one night as he sat talking to the guide,
"they won't cut off our heads, will they?"
Yussuf shook his head.
"I have only one dread," he replied; "and that is of an attempt being
made to rescue us."
"I don't see anything to be afraid of there," said Lawrence laughing.
"But I do," said the Turk seriously. "If an attack were made, those
people would become fierce like dogs or rats at bay, and then they might
take our lives."
"They would not without, then?"
"No," said Yussuf; "they would threaten, and hold out for a heavy
ransom, but if the friends that have been written to are clever, they
will make the ransom small, and we shall be freed. But it may take a
long time, for the brigands will hold out as long as they think there is
a chance of getting a large sum. They are safe here; they have abundant
stores, and nothing to do: they can afford to wait."
"Well, I'm sure Mr Preston is in no hurry," said Lawrence; "nobody is
but the Chumleys."
"And I," said Yussuf smiling.
"You? why, I thought you were happy enough. You haven't said a word
lately about escaping."
"No," replied Yussuf smiling; "but sometimes those who are so quiet do a
great deal. I am afraid of the winter coming with its snow and shutting
us in for months when we could not escape, for, even if the snow would
let us pass, we should perish in the cold. I have been hard at work."
"You have, Yussuf? What have you been doing? Oh, I know; making
plans."
"And ropes," said Yussuf gravely.
"Ropes? I have seen you make no ropes."
"No, because you were asleep. Wait a moment."
He rose quietly and walked to the entrance, drawing the rug that hung
there aside and peering out, to come back as softly as he left his seat,
and glancing at where the professor, wearied out with a hard day's work,
was, like his companions by the fire, fast asleep.
"The guards are smoking out there, and are safe," said Yussuf. "See
here, Lawrence effendi, but do not say a word to a soul."
"I shall not speak," said Lawrence.
Yussuf gave another glance at the Chumleys, and then stepped to a corner
of the great hall-like place which formed their prison, drew aside a rug
on the floor, lifted a slab of stone, and pointed to a coil of worsted
rope as thick as a good walking-stick, and evidently of great length.
It was only a few moments' glance, and then the stone was lowered, the
dust swept over it, and the rug drawn across again.
"You see I am getting ready," said Yussuf.
"But what are we going to do?"
"I have been watching and waiting," whispered the guide, "and I have
found a place where we can descend from the old wall over the great
defile."
"But it is so awful a place, Yussuf."
"Yes, it is awful; but there is a ledge we can reach, and then creep
along and get beyond the sentries. Then all will be easy, for we can
get a long way some dark night before the alarm is given, and in the day
we can hide. Of course we must load ourselves with the food we have
saved up."
"Yes, yes, of course," said Lawrence thoughtfully; "but Mrs Chumley,
she would not go down a rope."
"Why, not?" said Yussuf quietly; "she talks like a man."
"When are you going to try, then?" said Lawrence excitedly.
"In about ten days. I shall be ready then, and the nights will be dark.
But, patience--you must not be excited."
"But you will tell Mr Preston?"
"Yes; to-morrow night, when I have finished my first rope. Go to sleep
now."
"And you, Yussuf?"
"Oh, I am going to work," he said smiling. "See, my material is here."
He drew out a handful of worsted threads which were evidently part of a
rug which he had unravelled, and as soon as Lawrence had lain down, the
Turk walked to the darkest corner of the building, and Lawrence could
just make out that he was busy over something, but he was perfectly
silent.
CHAPTER FORTY.
A GRAND DISCOVERY.