The Argosy, June 1904 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

064 “ Brave man! Do comein. Nufet, let the hero enter. For it is such as he that will defend Orlitz to-night.” Nufet had just appeared with some liquor. The frightened woman who en- tered gulped some down, and fell shud- dering in a faint on the floor. The man stood waiting for his. “ Get a gun and make ready to fight! ” I said. “ But—but we came for shelter.” “Tl give you shelter!” I told him angrily. “ [never saw so cowardly a lot of fools as there seems to be in Orlitz. Now get a gun, and if you don’t stand up and fight when the time comes [71 shoot you myself.” Shudderingly he took a rifle. “ Are you one of the Christian popu- lation? ” I asked. “ No, I am Islam.” “ Well, I am giad,’ I said. “I would dislike to know that all the cowards were Christians.” “You must not be too harsh,” put in Adria. “ They have been persecuted so long.” The opinion of the neweomers that the inn was the safest place in Orlitz proved to be shared by many. Others came running, some with rifles and others with spears and swords, and soon the tavern was crowded with defenders. “You could have driven the Turks out of Orlitz,” I said to one. “Yes, but we had no leader. We will fight now,” he answered. We heard a shout that seemed to promise an attack, and I ordered Nufet to lock the door. “ Oh, wait!” said Adria. “See these people!” A man and woman came rushing to the door. They were quite aged, yet the man was firm and bore a rifle. Upon entering, in the feeble light of the lantern Nufet carried I saw that he was white-haired, as was the woman with him. He was a handsome man, and she had once been a handsome woman. “May we join your forees?” asked the man. “I heard there was a brave little band making a stand at Nufct’s inn, and we rushed with the rest to join you. Where are the Turks?” “They slunk away, but I think we shall have another attack soon.” PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG CO THE ARGOSY. “Let them come,” he said grimly. “TI have taught Christ to these people, my wife and I have suffered much in Europe and Asia, and great surrow has been ours. But the Lord docs not eall for martyrs at the hands of these devils, and I shall fight to defend my wife.” “Glory halleluiah!” I shouted. “Give me your hand! I wanted another real man. Now then, you cowards, get together and stand ready! If anybody hides Pll shoot him. Here they come! ” And come they did, with “ Allah Il Allah, Mahomet KRessoul Allah” screamed from every throat. “Tire!” 1 commanded. The Turks, seomingly amazed at the increased amount of firing, halted. “Again!” I shouted. “ We’ve got them now! ” Once more the Jew, the white-haired man, and Adria and I let fly our charges, and some of the others fol- lowed us. The Turks, now cowed by our display of force, turned away and ran down the street. Suddenly there was a tremendous out- ery. Torches flashed. Cries of rage and pain could be heard. A terrible rifle firing was kept up continuously, but not at us. “Down with the Osmanlis!” came a ery, and [ knew the voice for Alexan- dro’s. “Down with the _ tax-gatherers! ” came another shout, and I knew our friend Michael was in the field. It was soon over. The bandits, over- coming by superior numbers and cour- age their opponents, soon had them either wounded or captured, and prob- ablv both. he attack on Orlitz was over, and I thought of the hermit Schryada. CHAPTER XIX. THE MISSIONARY’S PRAYER. Nuret managed to get some coffee going round by the time the firing had ceased. “ T tell you,” he said boastfully, as he handed a cup to the Jew who had fought so bravely, “I knew they could not sack this house. I have kept them off before.” CloOOOkKS C@ ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED