in their first panic. Every one else had returned to the sleeping
platforms, except the Turkish owner, who looked awake at last, and
was hovering here and there in ecstasies of nervousness.

I repeated what the German had said, rather expecting that Kagig
at any rate would counsel defiance. It was he, however, who beckoned
the Turk and bade him open the door.

"But, effendi--"

"Chabuk! Quickly, I said!"

"Che arz kunam?" the Turk answered meekly, meaning "What petition
shall I make?" the inference being that all was in the hands of Allah.

"Of ten men nine are women!" sneered Kagig irritably, and led the
way to our place beside the fire. The Turk fumbled interminably
with the door fastenings, and we were comfortably settled in our
places before the new arrivals rode in, bringing a blast of cold
air with them that set the smoke billowing about the room and made
every man draw up his blankets.

"Shut that door behind them!" thundered Kagig. "If they come too
slowly, shut the laggards out!"

"Who is this who is arrogant?" the German demanded in English.

He was a fine-looking man, dressed in civilian clothes cut as nearly
to the military pattern as the tailor could contrive without transgressing
law, but with a too small fez perched on his capable-looking head