One of the Armenians, whom Rustum Khan had finished questioning,
went and stood in Kagig's way, intercepting his everlasting sentry-go.

"What is it, Eflaton?"

"My wife, Kagig!"

"Ah! I remember your wife. She fed me often."

"You must come with me and find her, Kagig--my wife and two daughters,
who fed you often!"

"The daughters were pretty," said Kagig. "So was the wife. A young
woman yet. A brave, good woman. Always she agreed with me, I remember.
Often I heard her urge you men to follow me to Zeitoon and help to
fortify the place!"

"Will you leave a good woman in the hands of Turks, Kagig? Come--come
to the rescue!"

"It is too bad," said Kagig simply. "Such women suffer more terribly
than the hags who merely die by the sword. Ten times by the count
--during ten succeeding massacres I have seen the Turks sell Armenian
wives and daughters at auction. I am sorry, Eflaton."

"My God!" groaned Will. "How long are we four loafers going to sit
here and leave a white woman in danger on the road ahead?" He got
up and began folding his blankets.