The Eye of Zeitoon by Talbot Mundy
page 66 of 392 (16%)
page 66 of 392 (16%)
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suggested Fred.
"But our friends of Tarsus warn us the worst fury of all will be in the cities!" "Take to the hills, then!" Monty advised him. "But how can we, sir? How can we? We have homes--property--children! We are watched. The first attempt by a number of us to escape to the hills would bring destruction down on all!" "Then escape to the hills by twos and threes. You ask my advice --I give it." It looked like very good advice. The slopes of the foot-hills seemed covered by a carpet of myrtle scrub, in which whole armies could have lain in ambush. And above that the cliffs of the Kara Dagh rose rocky and wild, suggesting small comfort but sure hiding-places. "You'll never make me believe you Armenians haven't hidden supplies," said Monty. "Take to the hills until the fury is over!" But the old man shook his head, and his people seemed at one with him. These were not like our Zeitoonli, but wore the settled gloom of resignation that is poor half-brother to Moslem fanaticism, caught by subjection and infection from the bullying Turk. There was nothing we could do at that late hour to overcome the inertia produced by centuries, and we rode on, ourselves infected to the verge of misery. Only our Zeitoonli, striding along like men on holiday, retained their good spirits, and they tried to keep up ours by singing their |
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