hinder me from burning you alive this minute?"

There were five good hindrances, for I think that Rustum Khan would
have objected to that cruelty, even had he been alone. Kagig caught
Monty's eye and laughed.

"Korkakma!" he jeered. "Do not be afraid!" Then be glanced swiftly
at the Turks, and at Peter Measel, who was staring all-eyes at Maga
on the far side of the room.

"Order your pigs of zaptieh to throw their arms down!"

Instead, the German shouted to them to fire volleys at us. He was
not without a certain stormy courage, whatever Kagig's knowledge
of his treachery.

But the Turks did not fire, and it was perfectly plain that we four
were the reason of it. They had been promised an easy prey--captured
women--loot--and the remunerative task of escorting us to safety.
Doubtless Von Quedlinburg had promised them our consul would be lavish
with rewards on our account. Therefore there was added reason why
they should not fire on Englishmen and an American. We had not made
a move since the first scuffle when we rescued Maga, but the Turkish
lieutenant had taken our measure. Perhaps he had whispered to his
men. Perhaps they reached their own conclusions. The effect was
the same in either case.

"Order them to throw their weapons down!" commanded Kagig, kicking
the German in the ribs. And his coat had been so scorched in the
fierce heat that the whole of one side of it broke off, like a