"It's all one, Kagig. Why labor the point? I'm going with you.
Rustum Khan prefers to come with me." Kagig looked askance at Rustum
Khan, but made no comment. "One hostage is enough for your purpose.
Let me talk with my friends a minute."

Kagig nodded, and we four drew aside.

"Now," demanded Fred, who knew the signs, "what special quixotry
do you mean springing?"

"Shut up, Fred. There's no need for you fellows to follow Kagig
another yard. He'll be quite satisfied if he has me in keeping.
That will serve all practical purposes. What you three must do is
find Miss Vanderman if you can, and take her back to Tarsus. There
you can help the consul bring pressure to bear on the authorities."

"Rot!" retorted Fred. "Didums, you're drunk. Where did you get
the drink?"

Monty smiled, for he held a card that could out-trump our best one,
and he knew it. In fact he led it straight away.

"D'you mean to say you'd consider it decent to find that young woman
in the mountains and drag her to Zeitoon at Kagig's tail, when Tarsus
is not more than three days' ride away at most? You know the Turks
wouldn't dare touch you on the road to the coast."

"For that matter," said Fred, "the Turks 'ud hardly dare touch Miss
Vanderman herself."