The Argosy, June 1904 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

FORCED INTO SOLDIERY. dog bare hole what shelter could vou give a woman? We have been as far as Orlitz, and they have not been there.” “Ts Orlitz still safe? ” asked the her- mit. “From us. One can never tell when the Osmanlis will sack it. Anything is good now for an excuse to kill.” “T trust this trouble will soon be over,” said the hermit. “Over! This trouble over! Not while Turkey is Turkey. Well, we must go AS We must find those two. Ve heard the clank of swords and the ramp of feet, and soon the hermit re- turned to us. * That was Michael, the fellow who set vou free,” he said. ~ Yes, we recognized his voice.” * I fancy from his manner he was not anxious to find you. But if Alexandro knew the truth, poor Michael’s head would roll on the ground. I think you had better remain till night.” We slept some during the day, the old hermit keeping a close watch for intru- ders. At night we had a substantial meal. [low the old fellow managed to live so well I could not imagine. I had al- ways associated with such hermits the idea of continual fasting and want of comforts. But Schryada was not one of that kind. We had roast fowl and _ vege- tables, rice and coffee. “How do you manage to obtain food?” IT asked. “J gather it. J have firearms, and shoot-what meat I need. In my trips to Orlitz and other places I buy what I wish.” 7 Then vou have money even in this place.’ [le smiled and shook his Head and save no explanation. As darkness came on JI felt a reluc- tance to leave the hermit, but I felt that we must be on our way. He brought trom one of his secret storehouses two vifles, with the ammunition for both. “You are going out into the world with vour lives to be defended,” he said. “Take these. May the Almighty htess vou and guide you safely to your destination. T shall watch over you. (f vou are in trouble I shall know it.” “Do your eyes penetrate the dark- ness and see all that happens in Turkey?” I asked. He answered merely with his inseru- table smile. At dark we left him, and, following his advice, took the road to Orlitz. “ Orlitz,” he explained, “is a Chris- tian Vv: ‘Mage. There you will find Syrians, (reeks, and afew others, all Christians, with a number of Jews. You will be re- ecived with favor. Tell not who you are or what your mission is. Say that you are missionaries. That is the hest ree- ommendation you could have in Orlitz. There are missionaries there.” Leaving the cave, we took the little winding road and pushed on as rapidly as possible. When we reached the foot of the mountain we saw the campfire of some soldiers. Not knowing what to expect from them, we made a détour through the woods, and thus escaped notice. It was midnight when we reached a small village on “the highway. It seemed to be asleep, as all such villages are. We entered by way of a little turn in the road, past an inn that showed no hospitality, and took our way toward a heht we saw in the distance. We reached the light and found it to be a lantern hung outside a small inn kept by another Nvrian, as we judged him from his name. The light seemed to bid us welcome, and I knocked at the door. There was no answer, and I repeated the summons. Iinally a window was cautiously opened and a head thrust out. “Who are you at this time of night?” was the demand. “We are missionaries, and have lost our way,” I answered. “ We met the good hermit Schryada, and he told us of your inn.” “He did!” The head was withdrawn, and in a few moments the owner of it opened the door. “Are you friends of Schryada?” he asked. “Weare. The hermit has entertained us in his cave. But we were in haste to proceed. Can you give us two rooms for the night? ” “Tndeed, that I can do,” he said. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG Conniclooaoe ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ©