Adventure, December 1914 — page 195: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Sinews of War and Adrianople have been taken,” I would retort. ‘‘Then you will see 500,000 Slavs - and Greeks swarming over your Tchataldja Lines, and you will be wiped out.” But in my heart I knew that this was a long way off. Already the Greeks and Ser- vians were beginning to tire of the war, for most of their objectives had been accom- plished. At the first excuse they would be eager to sign a truce. | After our friendly arguments Kemil and I would play a game of chess or have a turn at the foils in the big marble hall of the women’s wing, where my quarters were lo- cated. This was the most retired part of the Palace, next to and overhanging the water; and three or four lines of sentries surrounded me on every side except toward the Straits where the high walls were judged . sufficient protection against my escape. As a matter of fact a fly could not have es- caped from Hilmi Bagtchi without help. Kemil was a product of the German school, and thoroughness was his hobby. The guards he placed around me were all members of savage tribes and races from the uttermost confines of Asia Minor and Ara- bia. Few of them could understand me when I spoke to them, and all had orders not to speak to me. But my jailer was a very likable chap, and considerate into the bargain. He came in almost every after- noon to chat and give me a little exercise. Some six weeks after my incarceration, when the deadlock had become pronounced, he informed me that Héléne von Anhalt had gone to Vienna, which meant that some new deviltry was being cooked up. It made me fairly writhe, but I did not dare to let even Kemil see my true feelings. fc. 2a A PERIOD of extreme mental de- | @ &#4 pression ensued that lasted for more ~~ than two weeks. The manner of its lifting was most peculiar. I was sitting down to my dinner one evening, just after bidding Kemil good-by, utterly forlorn and downhearted, when the sergeant who al- ways supervised the service was called from the room. The trooper who assisted him, a dark-browed, Gipsy-looking fellow, whom I did not remember to have seen before, stooped quickly toward me as if to offer a dish he carried, and muttered: “Your friends are working for you.”’ That was all. He did not speak another word; and half a minute later, when the 13 193 sergeant returned, he was going about his - business as impassively as ever. But that evening I ate very little for dinner. My brain was inaturmoil. For I realized that more than half the battle was won if my friends had been able to follow my closed trail to the place in which I was hidden. But many days passed before I received another sign of encouragement. Some- times I spied the Gipsy-looking trooper in the distance, but he was not detailed to any duty that brought him near me, and evi- dently he did not dare to do anything that might arouse suspicion. Indeed, despite my impatience, I appreciated the need for excessive caution. SoI had to wait until the end of January for the next word of cheer. I made the opportunity for this myself. Being out on the terrace in the afternoon, I discovered at one and the same time that my messenger was on duty as bodyguard and that my overcoat was necessary. When I told him to fetch my coat he nodded, and whistled for another sentry near by to re- lieve him. Presently he returned with the overcoat, and held it for me to slip on. ‘“We are having trouble with a plan,” he breathed in my ear as I slowly slipped on the coat. ‘‘M. is coming.” After that I did not know whether to be glad or sorry. I had the utmost confidence in Masoya where others might fail; but I dreaded the idea of her being thrust into the danger that I knew awaited her in Con- stantinople. This dread was intensified when Kemil Bey came with news of the assassination of Nazim Pasha, the com- mander in chief and Minister of War, by members of the Young Turk party who had accused him of favoring peace at any terms. In censequence of this Constanti- nople had been placed under even stricter martial law than had prevailed before. But fortunately for my peace of mind Masoya’s agent seemed to have gained the good graces of his superiors, for two days later I found him detailed as bodyguard again. At the earliest opportunity I led him into a Summer-house on the sea-wall that was out of sight of the Palace windows. ‘‘What do you hear from M.?” I demand- ed. “Is she coming?” ‘“‘No. She has decided to wait until things quiet down in the city,” he replied. ‘Are the plans making progress?” He shook his head. “It’s slow work, guspodine,’ he said MICLOOOK C©