by Talbot Mundy
Chapter Sixteen"What care I for my belly, sahib, if you break my heart?"
"IT WAS VERY GOOD" (Genesis 1:31)
I saw these shambles in my youth, and saidThere is no God! No Pitiful presidesOver such obsequies as these. The endAlike is darkness whether foe or friend,Beast, man or flower the event abides.There is no heaven for the hopeful dead--No better haven than forgetful sodThat smothers limbs and mouth and ears and eyes,And with those, love and permanence and strifeAnd vanity and laughter that they thought was life,Making mere compost of the one who dies.To whose advantage? Nay, there is no God!But He, whose other name is Pitiful, was pleasedBy melting gentleness whose measures brokeThe ramps of ignorance and keeps of lust,Tumbling alike folly and the fool to dust,To teach me womanhood until there spokeStill voices inspiration had released,And I heard truly. All the voices said:Out of departed yesterday is grown to-day;Out of to-day to-morrow surely breaks;Out of corruption the inspired awakes;Out of existence earth-clouds roll awayAnd leave all living, for there are no dead!
After we had made room for Monty before the fire and some one hadhung his wet jacket up to dry, we volleyed questions at him fasterthan he could answer. He sat still and let us finish, with fingerslocked together over his crossed knee and, underneath the inevitablegood humor, a rather puzzled air of wishing above all things tounderstand our point of view. Over and over again I have noticedthat trait, although he always tried to cover it under an air ofpolite indifference and easy tolerance that was as opaque to a carefulobserver as Fred's attempts at cynicism.
In the end he answered the last question first.
"My agreement with Kagig?"
"Yes, tell them!" put in Kagig. "If I should, they would say I lied!"
"It's nothing to speak of," said Monty offhandedly. "It dawned onour friend here that I have had experience in some of the arts ofwar. I proposed to him that if he would take a force and go to findyou, I would help him to the limit without further condition.That's all."
"All, you ass? Didums, I warned you at the time when you let themmake you privy councilor that you couldn't ever feel free again tokick over traces! Dammit, man, you can be impeached by parliament!"
"Quite so, Fred. I propose that parliament shall have to do somethingat last about this state of affairs."
"You'll end up in an English jail, and God help you!--social positiongone--milked of your last pound to foot the lawyers' bills--otherwisethey'll hang you!"
"Let 'em hang me after I'm caught! I've promised. Remember whatByron did for Greece? I don't suppose his actual fighting amountedto very much, but he brought the case of Greece to the attentionof the public. Public opinion did the rest, badly, I admit, butbetter badly and late than never. I'm in this scrimmage, Fred, untilthe last bell rings and they hoist my number."
"Fine!" exclaimed Gloria, jumping to her feet. "So am I in it toa finish!"
Monty smiled at her with understanding and approval.
"Almost my first duty, Miss Vanderman," he said kindly, "will beto arrange that you can not possibly come to harm or be prejudicedby any course the rest of us may decide on."
"Quite so!" Will agreed with a grin, and Fred began chuckling likea schoolboy at a show.
"Nonsense!" she answered hotly. "I've come to harm already--see,I'm wounded--I've been fighting--I'm already prejudiced as you callit! If you're an outlaw, so am I!"
She flourished her bandaged wrist and looked like Joan of Arc aboutto summon men to sacrifice. But the argument ready on her lips waschecked suddenly. The night was without wind, yet the outer doorburst open exactly as if a sudden hurricane had struck it, and Magaentered with a lantern in her hand. She tried to kick the door shutagain, but it closed on Peter Measel who had followed breathlessly,and she turned and banged his head with the bottom of the lanternuntil the glass shattered to pieces.
"That fool!" she shouted. "Oh, that fool!" Then she let him comein and close the door, giving him the broken lantern to hold, whichhe did very meekly, rubbing the crown of his head with the otherhand; and she stood facing the lot of us with hands on her hipsand a fine air of despising every one of us. But I noticed thatshe kept a cautious eye on Kagig, who in return paid very littleattention to her.
"Fight?" she exclaimed, pointing at Gloria. "What does she knowabout fighting? If she can fight,--let her fight me! I stand ready--Iwait for 'er! Give 'er a knife, an' I will fight 'er with mybare 'ands!"
Gloria turned pale and Will laid a hand on her shoulder, whisperingsomething that brought the color back again.
"Maga!"
Kagig said that one word in a level voice, but the effect was greaterthan if he had pointed a pistol. The fire died from her eyes andshe nodded at him simply. Then her eyes blazed again, although shelooked away from Gloria toward a window. The leather blind was tieddown at the corners by strips of twisted hide.
She began to jabber in the gipsy tongue--then changed her mind andspat it out in English for our joint benefit.
"All right. She is nothing to do with me, that woman, and she shallcome to a rotten end, I know, an' that is enough. But there is someone listening! Not a woman--not with spunk enough to be a woman!That dirty horse-pond drinking unshaven black bastard Rustum Khanis outside listening! You think 'e is busy at the fortifying? ThenI tell you, No, 'e is not! 'E is outside listening!"
The surprising answer to that assertion was a heavy saber thrustbetween the window-frame and blind and descending on the thong. Nextfollowed Rustum Khan's long boot. Then came the man himself withdew all over his upbrushed beard, returning the saber to its scabbardwith an accompanying apologetic motion of the head.
"Aye, I was listening!" He spoke as one unashamed. "Umm Kulsum"(that was his fancy name for Maga) "spoke truth for once! I camefrom the fortifying, where all is finished that can be done to-night.I have been the rounds. I have inspected everything. I report allwell. On my way hither I saw Umm Kulsum, with that jackal trottingat her heel--he made a scornful gesture in the direction of PeterMeasel, who winced perceptibly, at which Fred Oakes chuckled andnudged me--"and I followed Umm Kulsum, to observe what harm she mightintend."
"Black pig!" remarked Maga, but Rustum Khan merely turned his splendidback a trifle more toward her. His color, allowing for the black beard,was hardly darker than hers.
"Why should I not listen, since my heart is in the matter? Lordsahib--Colonel sahib bahadur!--take back those words before it istoo late! Undo the promise made to this Armenian! What is he tothee? Set me instead of thee, sahib! What am I? I have no wives,no lands any longer since the money-lenders closed their clutcheson my eldest son, no hope, nor any fellowship with kings to lose!But I can fight, as thou knowest! Give me, sahib, to redeem thypromise, and go thou home to England!"
"Sit down, Rustum Khan!"
"But, sahib--"
"Sit down!" Monty repeated.
"I will not see thee sacrificed for this tribe of ragged people,Colonel sahib!"
Monty rose to his feet slowly. His face was an enigma. The Rajputstood at attention facing him and they met each other's eyes--Eastfacing West--in such fashion that manhood seemed to fill the smokyroom. Every one was silent. Even Maga held her breath. Monty strodetoward Rustum Khan; the Rajput was the first to speak.
"Colonel sahib, I spoke wise words!"
It seemed to me that Monty looked very keenly at him before he answered.
"Have you had supper, Rustum Khan? You look to me feverish fromoverwork and lack of food."
"What care I for my belly, sahib, if you break my heart?" the Rajputanswered. "Shall I live to see Turks fling thy carcass to the birds?I have offered my own body in place of thine. Am I without honor,that my offer is refused?"
Monty answered that in the Rajput tongue, and it sounded like thebass notes of an organ.
"Brother mine, it is not the custom of my race to send substitutesto keep such promises. That thou knowest, and none has reason toknow better. If thy memories and honor
urge thee to come the wayI take, is there no room for two of us?"
"Aye, sahib!" said the Rajput huskily. "I said before, I am thyman. I come. I obey!"
"Obey, do you?" Monty laid both hands on the Rajput's shoulders,struck him knee against knee without warning and pressed him downinto a squatting posture. "Then obey when I order you to sit!"
The Rajput laughed up at him as suddenly sweet-tempered as a child.
"None other could have done that and not fought me for it!" he saidsimply. "None other would have had the strength!" he added.
Monty ignored the pleasantry and turned to Maga, so surprising thatyoung woman--that she gasped.
"Bring him food at once, please!"
"Me? I? I bring him food? I feed that black--"
"Yes!" snapped Kagig suddenly. "You, Maga!"
Maga's and Kagig's eyes met, and again he had his way with her instantly.Peter Measel, standing over by the door, looked wistful andsighed noisily.
"Why should you obey him?" he demanded, but Maga ignored him as shepassed out, and Fred nudged me again.
"A miracle!" he whispered. "Did you hear the martyred biped suggestrebellion to her? He'll be offering to fight Kagig next! Guesswhat is Kagig's hold over the girl--can you?"
But a much greater miracle followed. Rather than disobey Monty again;rather than seem to question his authority, or differ from his judgmentin the least, Rustum Khan forebore presently from sending for hisown stripling servant and actually accepted food from Maga's hands.
As a Mahammadan, he made in theory no caste distinctions. But asa Rajput be had fixed Hindu notions without knowing it, and almosthis chief care was lest his food should be defiled by the touch ofoutcasts, of whom he reckoned gipsies lowest, vilest and leastcleansible. Nevertheless he accepted curds that had been touchedby gipsy fingers, and ate greedily, in confirmation of Monty's diagnosis;and after a few minutes he laid his head on a folded goat-skin inthe corner, and fell asleep.
Then Monty sent a servant to his own quarters for some prized possessionthat he mentioned in a whisper behind his hand. None of us suspectedwhat it might be until the man returned presently with a quart bottleof Scotch whisky. Kagig himself got mugs down from a shelf threeinches wide, and Monty poured libations. Kagig, standing with legsapart, drank his share of the strong stuff without waiting; andthat brought out the chief surprise of the evening.
"Ah-h-h!" he exclaimed, using the back of his hand to wipe mobilelips. "Not since I drank in Tony's have I tasted that stuff! Thetaste makes me homesick for what never was my home, nor ever can be!Tony's--ah!"
"What Tony's?" demanded Will, emerging from whispered interludeswith Gloria like a man coming out of a dream.
"Tony's down near the Battery."
"What--the Battery, New York--?"
"Where else? Tony was a friend of mine. Tony lent me money whenI landed in the States without a coin. It was right that I shouldtake a last drink with Tony before I came away forever."
Fred reached into the corner for a lump of wood and set it downsuggestively before the fire. Kagig accepted and sat down on it,stretching his legs out rather wearily.
"I noticed you've been remembering your English much better thanat first," said Will. "Go on, man, tell us!"
Kagig cleared his throat and warmed himself while his eyes seemedto search the flames for stories from a half-forgotten past.
"Weren't the States good enough for you?" Will suggested, by wayof starting him off.
"Good enough? Ah!" He made all eight fingers crack like castanets."Much too good! How could I live there safe and comfortable--eggsand bacon--clean shirt--good shoes--an apartment with a bath in it--easywork--good pay--books to read--kindness--freedom--how couldI accept all that, remembering my people in Armenia?"
He ran his fingers through his hair, and stared in the fireagain--remembering America perhaps.
"There was a time when I forgot. All young men forget for a whileif you feed them well enough. The sensation of having money in mypocket and the right to spend it made me drunk. I forgot Armenia.I took out what are called first papers. I was very prosperous--verygrateful."
He lapsed into silence again, holding his head bowed between hishands.
"Why didn't you become a citizen?" asked Will.
"Ah! Many a time I thought of it. I am citizen of no land--of noland! I am outlaw here--outlaw in the States! I slew a Turk. Theywould electrocute me in New York--for slaying the man who--have youheard me tell what happened to my mother, before my very eyes?Well--that man came to America, and I slew him!"
"Why did you leave Armenia in the first place?" asked Gloria, forhe seemed to need pricking along to prevent him from getting offthe track into a maze of silent memory.
"Why not? I was lucky to get away! That cursed Abdul Hamid hadbeen rebuked by the powers of Europe for butchering Bulgars, so heturned on us Armenians in order to prove to himself that he coulddo as he pleased in his own house. I tell you, murder and rape inthose days were as common as flies at midsummer! I escaped, andworked my passage in the stoke-hole of a little merchant steamer--theywere little ships in those days. And when I reached Americawithout money or friends they let me land because I had been toldby the other sailors to say I was fleeing from religious persecution.The very first day I found a friend in Tony. I cleaned his windows,and the bar, and the spittoons; and he lent me money to go wherework would be plentiful. Those were the days when I forgot Armenia."
He began to forget our existence again, laying his face on his forearmsand staring down at the floor between his feet.
"What brought it back to memory?" asked Gloria.
"The Turk brought it back--Fiamil--who bought my mother from fourdrunken soldiers, and ill-treated her before my eyes. He came tothe Turkish consulate, not as consul but in some peculiar position;and by that time I was thriving as head-waiter and part-owner ofa New York restaurant. Thither the fat beast came to eat daily.And so I met him, and recognized him. He did not know me.
"Remember, I was young, and prosperous for the first time in allmy life. You must not judge me by too up-right standards. At firstI argued with myself to let him alone. He was nothing to me. Ino longer believed in God. My mother was long dead, and Armeniano more my country. My money was accumulating in a savings bank.I was proud of it, and I remember I saw visions of great restaurantsin every city of America, all owned by me! I did not like to takeany step that should prevent that flow of money into the savings bank.
"But Fiamil inflamed my memory, and I saw him every day. And atlast it dawned on me what his peculiar business in America must be.He was back at his old games, buying women. He was buying Americanyoung women to be shipped to Turkey, all under the seal of consularactivity. One day, after he had had lunch and I had brought himcigarettes and coffee, he made a proposal. And although I did notcare very deeply for the women of a free land who were willing tobe sold into Turkish harems, nevertheless, as I said, he inflamedmy memory. A love of Armenia returned to me. I remembered my people,I remembered my mother's shame, and my own shame.
"After a little reflection I agreed with Fiamil, and met him thatnight in an up-stairs room at a place he frequented for his purposes.I locked the door, and we had some talk in there, until in the endhe remembered me and all the details of my mother's death. Afterthat I killed him with a corkscrew and my ten fingers, there beingno other weapon. And I threw his body out of the window into thegutter, as my mother's body had been thrown, myself escaping fromthe building by another way.
"Not knowing where to hide, I kept going--kept going; and aftertwo days I fell among sportmen--cow-punchers they called themselves,who had come to New York with a circus, and the circus had gone broke.To them I told some of my story, and they befriended me, taking meWest with them to cook their meals; and for a year I traveled incow camps. In those days I remembered God as well as Armenia, andI used to pray by starlight.
"And Armenia kept calling--calling. Fiamil h
ad wakened in me toomany old memories. But there was the money in the savings bank thatI did not dare to draw for fear the police might learn my address,yet I had not the heart to leave behind.
"So I took a sportman into my confidence, and told him about my money,and why I wanted it. He was not the foreman, but the man who tookthe place of foreman when the real foreman was too drunk--the hungriestman of all, and so oftenest near the cook-fire. When I had told him,he took me to a township where a lawyer was, and the lawyer drewup a document, which I signed.
"Then the sportman--his name was Larry Atkins, I remember--took thatdocument and went to draw the money on my behalf. And that was thelast I saw of him. Not that he was not sportman--all through. Hetold me in a letter afterward that the police arrested him, supposinghim to be me, but that he easily proved he was not me, and so gotaway with the money. Enclosed in the package in which the lettercame were his diamond ring and a watch and chain, and he also sentme an order to deliver to me his horse and saddle.
"He explained he had tried to double my money by gambling, but hadlost. Therefore he now sent me all he had left, a fair exchangebeing no robbery. Oh, he was certainly sportman!
"So I sold his watch and chain and the horse--but the diamond ringI kept--behold it!--see, on Maga's hand!--it was a real diamond thata woman had given him; and with the proceeds I came back to Armenia.In Armenia I have ever since remained, with the exception of oneor two little journeys in time of war, and one or two little temporaryhidings, and a trip into Persia, and another into Russia toget ammunition.
"How have I lived? Mostly by robbery! I rob Turks and all friendsof Turks, and such people as help make it possible for Turks as anation to continue to exist! I--we--I and my men--we steal a cartridgesooner than a piaster--a rifle sooner than a thousand roubles! Outlawsmust live, and weapons are the chief means! I am the brains andthe Eye of Zeitoon, but I have never been chieftain, and am not now.Observe my house--is it not empty? I tell you, if it had not beenfor my new friend Monty there would have been six or seven rivalchieftains in Zeitoon to-night! As it is, they sulk in their houses,the others, because Monty has rallied all the fighting men to me!Now that Monty has come I think there will be unity forever in Zeitoon!"
He turned toward Monty with a gesture of really magnificent approval.Caesar never declined a crown with greater dignity.
"You, my brother, have accomplished in a few days what I have failedto do in years! That is because you are sportman! Just as LarryAtkins was sportman! He sent me all he had, and could not do more.I understood him. Why did he do it? Simply sportman--that is all!Why do you do this? Why do you throw your life into the hot cauldronof Zeitoon? Because you are sportman! And my people see, andunderstand. They understand, as they have never understood me!I will tell you why they have never understood me. This is why:
"I have always kept a little in reserve. At one time money in a bank.At another time money buried. Sometimes a place to run and hide in.Now and then a plan for my own safety in case a defense should fail.Never have I given absolutely quite all, burning all my bridges.Had I been Larry Atkins I would not have gambled with the money ofa man who trusted me; but, having lost the money, I would not havesent my diamond and the watch and chain! Neither, if the horse andsaddle bad been within my reach would I have sent an order to deliverthose! That is why Zeitoon has never altogether trusted me! Some,but never all, until to-night!
"My brother--"
He stood up, with the motions of a man who is stiff with weariness.
"I salute you! You have taught me my needed lesson!"
"I wonder!" whispered Fred to me. "Remember Peter at the fireside?Methinks friend Kagig doth too much protest! We'll see. Nemesiscomes swiftly as a rule."
I shoved Fred off his balance, rolled him over, and sat on him, becausecynicism and iconoclasm are twin deities I neither worship nor respect.But at times Fred Oakes is gifted with uncanny vision. While hestruggled explosively to throw me off, the door began resoundingto steady thumps, and at a sign from Kagig, Maga opened it.
There strode in nine Armenians, followed closely by one of the gipsiesof Gregor Jhaere's party, who whispered to Maga through lips thathardly moved, and made signals to Kagig with a secretive hand likea snake's head. I got off Fred's stomach then, and when he had hadhis revenge by emptying hot pipe ashes down my neck he sat closebeside me and translated what followed word for word. It was allin Armenian, spoken in deadly earnest by hairy men on edge with anxietyand yet compelled to grudging patience by the presence of strangersand knowledge of the hour's necessity.
When the gipsy had finished making signals to Kagig be sat down andseemed to take no further interest. But a little later I caughtsight of him by the dancing fire-light creeping along the wall, andpresently he lay down with his head very close to Rustum Khan's.Nothing points more clearly to the clarifying tension of that nightthan the fact that Rustum Khan with his notions about gipsies couldcompel himself to lie still with a gipsy's head within three inchesof his own, and sham sleep while the gipsy whispered to him. I wasnot the only one who observed that marvel, although I did not knowthat at the time.
The nine Armenians who had entered were evidently influential men.Elders was the word that occurred as best describing them. Theywere smelly with rain and smoke and the close-kept sweat beneaththeir leather coats--all of them bearded--nearly all big men--andthey strode and stood with the air of being usually heard when theychose to voice opinion. Kagig stood up to meet them, with his backtoward the fire--legs astraddle, and hands clasped behind him.
"Ephraim says," began the tallest of the nine, who had entered firstand stood now nearest to Kagig and the firelight, "that you willyourself be king of Armenia!"
"Ephraim lies!" said Kagig grimly. "He always does lie. That mancan not tell truth!"
Two of the others grunted, and nudged the first man, who made anexclamation of impatience and renewed the attack.
"But there is the Turk--the colonel whom your Indian friend tookprisoner--he says--"
"Pah! What Turk tells the truth?"
"He says that the Indian--what is his name? Rustum Khan--was purposingto use him as prisoner-of-war, whereas in accordance with a privateagreement made beforehand you were determined to make matters easyfor him. He demands of us better treatment in fulfilment of promise.He says that the army is coming to take Zeitoon, and to make yougovernor in the Sultan's name. He offered us that argument thinkingwe are your dupes. He thought to--"
"Dupes?" snarled Kagig. "How long have ye dealt with Turks, andhow long with me, that ye take a Turk's word against mine?"
"But the Turk thought we are your friends," put in a harsh-voicedman from the rear of the delegation. "Otherwise, how should he havetold us such a thing?"
"If he had thought you were my friends," Kagig answered, "he wouldnever have dared. If you had been my friends, you would have takenhim and thrown him into Jihun River from the bridge!"
"Yet he has said this thing," said a man who had not spoken yet.
"And none has heard you deny it, Kagig!" added the man nearest the door.
"Then hear me now!" Kagig shouted, on tiptoe with anger. Then hecalmed himself and glanced about the room for a glimpse of eyesfriendly to himself. "Hear me now. Those Turks--truly come to seta governor over Zeitoon. I forgot that the prisoner might understandEnglish. I talked with this friend of mine--he made a gesture towardMonty. "Perhaps that Turk overheard, he is cleverer than he looks.I had a plan, and I told it to my friend. The Turk was near, Iremember, eating the half of my dinner I gave him."
"Have you then a plan you never told to us?" the first man askedsuspiciously.
"One plan? A thousand! Am I wind that I should babble into heedlessears each thought that comes to me for testing? First it was myplan to arouse all Armenia, and to overthrow the Turk. Armenia failedme. Then it was my plan to arouse Zeitoon, and to make a stand hereto such good purpose that all Armenia would rally to us. Bear mewi
tness whether Zeitoon trusted me or not? How much backing haveI had? Some, yes; but yours?
"So it was plain that if the Turks sent a great army, Zeitoon couldonly hold out for a little while, because unanimity is lacking.And my spies report to me that a greater army is on the way thanever yet came to the rape of Armenia. These handful of hamidiehthat ye think are all there is to be faced are but the outflungskirmishers. It was plain to me that Zeitoon can not last. So Imade a new plan, and kept it secret."
"Ah-h-h! So that was the way you took us into confidence? Alwayssecrets behind secrets, Kagig! That is our complaint!"
"Listen, ye who would rather suspect than give credit!" He usedone word in the Armenian. "It was my plan--my new plan, that seeingthe Turks insist on giving us a governor, and are able to overwhelmus if we refuse, then I would be that governor!"
"Ah-h-h! What did we say! Unable to be king, you will be governor!"
"I talked that over with my new friend, and he did not agree withme, but I prevailed. Now hear my last word on this matter: I willnot be governor of Zeitoon! I will lead against this army that iscoming. If you men prevent me, or disobey me, or speak against me,I will hang you--every one! I will accept no reward, no office,no emolument, no title--nothing! Either I die here, fighting forZeitoon, or I leave Zeitoon when the fighting is over, and leaveit as I came to it--penniless! I give now all that I have to give.I burn my bridges! I take inviolable oath that I will not profit!And by the God who fed me in the wilderness, I name my price forthat and take my payment in advance! I will be obeyed! Out withyou! Get out of here before I slay you all! Go and tell Zeitoonwho is master here until the fight is lost or won!"
He seized a great firebrand and charged at them, beating right andleft, and they backed away in front of him, protesting from underforearms raised to protect their faces. He refused to hear a wordfrom them, and drove, them back against the door.
Strange to say, it was Rustum Khan who gave up all further pretenseat sleeping and ran round to fling the door open--Rustum Khan whotook part with Kagig, and helped drive them out into the dark, andRustum Khan who stood astraddle in the doorway, growling after themin Persian--the only language he knew thoroughly that they likelyunderstood:
"Bismillah! Ye have heard a man talk! Now show yourselves men,and obey him, or by the beard of God's prophet there shall be warwithin Zeitoon fiercer than that without! Take counsel of yourwomen-folk! Ye--" (he used no drawing-room word to intimate theirsex)--"are too full of thoughts to think!"
Then he turned on Kagig, and held out a lean brown hand. Kagigclasped it, and they met each other's eyes a moment.
"Am I sportman?" Kagig asked ingenuously.
"Brother," said Rustum Khan, "next after my colonel sahib I acceptthee as a man fit to fight beside!"
We were all standing. A free-for-all fight had seemed too likely,and we had not known whether there were others outside waiting toreinforce the delegation. Rustum Khan sought Monty's eyes.
"You have the news, sahib?"
Kagig laughed sharply, and dismissed the past hour from his mindwith a short sweep of the hand.
"No. Tell me," said Monty.
"The gipsy brought it. A whole division of the Turkish regular armyis on the march. Their rear-guard camps to-night a day's march thisside of Tarsus. Dawn will find the main body within sight of us.Half a brigade has hurried forward to reenforce the men we have justbeaten. Are there any orders?"
Fred's face fell, and my heart dropped into my boots. A divisionis a horde of men to stand against.
"No," said Monty. "No orders yet."
"Then I will sleep again," said Rustum Khan, and suited action tothe word, laying his head on the same folded goat-skin he had usedbefore and breathing deeply within the minute.
Nobody spoke. Rustum Khan's first deep snore had not yet announcedhis comment on the situation, and we all stood waiting for Kagigto say something. But it was Peter Measel who spoke first.
"I will pray," he announced. "I saw that gipsy whispering to theIndian, and I know there is treachery intended! O Lord--O righteousLord--forgive these people for their bloody and impudent plans!Forgive them for plotting to shed blood! Forgive them for arrogance,for ambition, for taking Thy name in vain, for drinking strong drink,for swearing, for vanity, and for all their other sins. Forgiveabove all the young woman of the party, who is not satisfied witha wound already but looks forward with unwomanly zest to furtherfighting! Forgive them for boasting and--"
"Throw that fool out!" barked Kagig suddenly.
"O Lord forgive--"
Fred was nearest the door, and opened it. Maga laughed aloud. Iwas nearest to Peter Measel, so it was I who took him by the neckand thrust him into outer darkness. Kagig kicked the door shutafter him; but even so we heard him for several minutes grindingout condemnatory prayers.
"Now sleep, sportmen all!" said Kagig, blessing us with both hands."Sleep against the sport to-morrow!"