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It transpired there were seventeen men who had been accustomed to horseback riding since their youth. That would leave nine men for another purpose. I separated sheep from goats, and made over the nine to Ephraim. "You and these nine stay here," I ordered, "and hold this flank until Kagig makes a move." I did not doubt Kagig would fall back on Zeitoon as soon as he could do that with advantage.
He brought us yoghourt in earthenware bowls extremely cool and good it was; and after we had done I saw him carry down a huge mess more of it to the house below us, where many of the stragglers we had brought along were quartered by Kagig's order. "Where's Monty?" Fred demanded as soon as we entered the room. "Presently!" Kagig answered rather irritably I thought.
But 'e is as good as dead already, because Mahmoud the Turk is come to finish 'im so!" She spat conclusively. "So now I make you king instead of 'im! You let that Gloria Vanderman go to this fool, an' I show you 'ow to make all Armenians follow you an' overthrow the Turks, an' conquer, an' you be king!" Will laughed. "Better stick to Kagig! I'm going to take you to him!" "You take me to 'im?"
"Ah-h-h-gh !" growled the Armenians, but she waved them back to silence. "How much food have you? Almost none! How much ammunition?" "Ah-h-h-h!" they chorused in a very different tone of voice. "D'you mean you've got cartridges here?" Fred demanded. "Fifty cases of cartridges for government Mauser rifles!" bragged the man who was nearest to Will. "Gee! Kagig 'ud give his eyes for them!"
They were coming on line after line, although Fred had turned the ammunition loose, and the rifle-fire of our well-hidden men was playing havoc. Monty seemed to me to look more puzzled than afraid. I went on telling him of the message Kagig had sent, and offered him Will's note, but he did not even look at it. "Ah!" he said suddenly. "Now I understand! Yes, it's treachery.
Kagig sent us down bread and yoghourt at nightfall, so that those who had lived thus far did not die of hunger. Women brought the food on their heads in earthen crocks splendid, good-looking women with fearless eyes, who bore the heavy loads as easily as their mountain men-folk carried rifles.
She screamed as they tried to drag her forth, and the scream brought us all to our feet. But this time it was Kagig who was swiftest, and we got our first proof of the man's enormous strength. Fred, Will and I charged together round behind the newcomers' horses, in order to make sure of cutting off retreat as well as rescuing Maga. Monty leveled a pistol at the German's head.
"I was curious to meet you, Mr. Kagig, but that's nothing to the attraction that draws me now. I must meet the other man is it Monty you all call him or never know a moment's peace!" "You mean you will not go to Tarsus?" "Of course I won't!" "Of course!" laughed Fred. "Any young woman " "Of course?" Kagig repeated the extravagant gesture of shrugged shoulders and up-turned palms. "Ah, well.
Why not?" "Oh, Mr. Fred tell me! You may know you perhaps as well as any one, for you are such an ungodly man! What are her relations with Kagig? Does he is he is there wickedness between them?" "Dashed if I know. She's a gipsy. He's a fine half-savage. Why should it concern you?" "Oh, I could not endure it! It would break my heart to believe it!" "Then why think about it?" "How can I help it?
Seeing he was neither hurt nor indignant, she laughed at Fred, spat at him, and whipped her stallion forward in pursuit of Kagig, breaking between him and Monty to pour news in his ear. "A curse on Rustum Khan!" laughed Fred, spitting out red buds. "He didn't do his duty!" He had hardly said that when the Rajput came spurring and thundering along from the rear.
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