"Fifty cases of cartridges for government Mauser rifles!" bragged
the man who was nearest to Will.

"Gee! Kagig 'ud give his eyes for them!" (Will devoted his eyes
to the more poetic purpose of exchanging flashed encouragement
with Gloria.)

"Men, women and children--how many of you are there?"

"Who knows? Who has counted? They keep coming."

"No, they don't. You've set a guard to keep any more away for fear
the food won't last--I know you have! Well--what does it matter
how many you are? I say let us all go to Zeitoon and help Kagig!"

"Oh, bravo!" shouted Fred, but it was Will's praise that proved
acceptable and made her smile.

"Second the motion!"

I added a word or two by way of make-weight, that did more as a matter
of fact than her young ardor to convince those very skeptical men
and women. No doubt she broke up their determination to sit still,
but it was my words that set them on a course.

"Kagig will be angry when he comes. He's a ruthless man," said I,
and the Armenians, men as well as women, sought one another's eyes
and nodded.