The Argosy, June 1904 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

FORCED INTO SOLDIERY. the window and fired as she saw any one at whom to aim. The rear was guarded by some of the others, and it seemed to me that the at- tacking band was a small one, and now the onslaught had concentrated round Nufet’s inn. [ hoped to see the men of the village come to our assistance, but none did. “ This is what will be called a terrible battle to-morrow,” I said. “ Why, two dozen men of this village, if they were brave enough, could drive out these ma- rauders. But they are skulking in cel- lars to find safety.” Adria’s answer was to fire. Then for a time there was no one to be seen, and the firing ceased. Nufet was for congratulating ourselves that we had vanquished the enemy. “Don’t be so quick about the con- vratulations,” I told him. “ You are as fast to stop a fight as you are slow to enter one. Those fellows are only plan- ning. We must remain right here and be ready for a worse attack.” “The cowards,” said the Persian, whose teeth were chattering in terror. “ Why do they not come out and fight? ” “That is about the least favor they could do you,” I told him in disgust. I wanted to show him the courage of a woman, but dared not speak of Adria being in disguise. “Hush your noise,’ said the Jew. “Tt will be an attack by fire. See?” From behind a building there came two men with torches. They made a rush, and I fired at the foremost. He fell, but groped away, leaving his torch in the street. The other, missed by the Jew, came on. Ie flung his torch, and it struck the front of the building. “ Whatis this? A wooden building? » 1 asked Nufet. “This is a modern inn,” he answered from the corner. ‘Fireproof, elevators, and all,” I said, and Adria laughed. It was a miserable affair at best. So far from modern was it that I wondered that Nufet even knew the word. The torch fell to the street without doing any harm, and the one who threw it fled to shelter. “Ts this a wooden building ? ” T asked acain. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG COMICOO® 063 7 “NO, it is made of clay.” “Well, they can’t set fire to mud,” f sai © N ow get ready to give a volley to the first one who shows himself. Don't be atraid. They can’t see us, and we can sce them. Here come three with torches. Let go!” Four rifles blazed ont, and one Turk fell. Away went the others, dragging his body with them, and from the band there came a shout that Allah was Allah and Mahomet was the prophet of Allah. No one cared particularly about the truth of this, but kept a close watch on the point from which they had all been appearing. ‘Look! ine.” We could see them slouching from one house to another in the rear. Where the owners of those houses were 1t was impossible to tell. Probably hiding somewhere under the floor. “Shall we fire?” asked the Jew. “ No, not unless they attack. We do not wish to take life unnecessarily. = The ‘Turks slunk away, and for a time all was quiet. We remained at our posts, and Nufet became very brave again. “T knew they could not enter this inn,” he said boastfully. ce Oh, vou knew!” T rejoined. “ Well now, let me tell you what I know. I know that if you didn’t have brave men here to-night to defend your inn, it would by this time be sacked and you probably dead. I also know that if you don’t get us coffee and liquor at onee Ill pound your head.” “Yes,” he said with eagerness. 0.” “Funny,” remarked the Jew. kitehen must be a safe place.” While Adria and I were smiling at this observation, we heard the patter of feet on the street, and put our guns out of the window, ready to shoot. Two people, a man and came rushing up. “Oh, let us in,” erted the man. is the only safe place in Orlitz.” ‘All Orlitz would be safe if you had some men in it,” [I said. “ Where is your rifle?” “TI left it home, fearing I would he killed if the Osmanlis saw me with it.” * I cried. “ They are mov- 29 “That woman, “his ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED CO