The Argosy, June 1904 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

060 “or friends of Schryada 1 will do all that is possible. Will you eat?” “No, we had a hearty supper at the eave. We thank vou.” “Take your rifles to your rooms,” he said. “There are Turkish soldiers about. Several Christian villages have been attacked. We are waiting.” “ But the village is dark. I thought everybody was asleep.” “No,” he said, shaking his head. “NO one Is asleep in Orlitz this might. But if there is an attack, I will awaken you. Come, I will show you to your rooms,” Adria was given a small but decent room, and I, immediately across a little hallway, was placed in a chamber that would be about as large as a closet in an ordinary house. But it had a bed, and that was all I wanted. “Are you afraid?” I asked Adria when the landlord had gone. “No,” she replied, * I] am not afraid, but somehow I seem to know that the night will not be spent peacefully.” In the heht of the lantern the man had left us she seemed to be pale. ‘Fear nothing,’ IJ said. “* Go to bed and sleep. I w ill ‘take my bed from imy room and place it across your door. No one can disturb you without first waking nie.” “ That gives me a feeling of security,” she answered. Then she kissed me, and the door was closed. In a short time I was prone upon a portion of my hed before the door of her room. My rifle was grasped in my right hand as I dozed. CHAPTER NVILI. THE DEFENSE OF NUFET’S IXN. Tv would not be truthful to say I slept. But I did fall into a semi-conscious state, in which brigands, Turks, Pashas, and other elements of Turkish life were entangled. Perhaps T rested thus for an hour or two, my bed being a rude straw mattress thrown on the floor of the hall. Whatever the length of time, it did not seem long before [ was startled by a shout that rang through the inn and awoke Adria, who, secure with me as PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE ARGOSY. the guardian at the door, had fallen into a refreshing shimber. I leaped to my feet and grasped my rifle. Hor a moment thereafter all was stent. Then a tremendous hubbub be- I groped through the gloomy hall to where the tumult secined greatest, and found the proprietor of the inn gesticu- lating wildly with his servants. Two lanterns furnished the insuffi- clent light they had, and from appear- ances one could not make out whether the affair was a riot or a gathering of vociferous friends. “What is the trouble?” I asked. ‘Trouble! Oh, this is worse than trouble!” groaned the inn-keeper, whose name was Nufet. “This jis death.” “That is the vortex of trouble for some. Who says it is death?” “Who says? Mashallah! Is that vood word for a Christian?” The man laughed in a manner that proved he was beside himself with fear. “Tsitan attack ¢ v2 ‘An attack! It 1s a massacre.” * Oh, come. ‘T don’t see it.” The man killed by lightning never sees the bolt.” “But where makes it?” ‘Turks! Turks! Turks! Ife wreng his hands, and a more help- Jess indiv idnal claiming the title man J never saw. “But where?” “Yn the village. Jfark! hear rifles ? ” IT went to a near door and listened. I could hear shooting in the distance, b there was nothing to indicate that : battle was being fought in our ynme- diate vicinity. “There is some kind of a fight,” said. “ But it certainly is not near a2 “Near us! It is too near us! I have <cen these raids before this. In twenty minutes a hundred Turks will be shoot- ing us.” “Well, then, what are you going to 5) “To! ing.” “Yon don’t seem to be thinking to any good purpose. If you are sure the oe the attack? Who 1s Do you not ilo: Do! That is what I am think- TOO C@ S — (-) C@ =