Thelieutenantdidtheguiding。Wehadtopresentourpassports，andIanticipatednomoredifficultythaninlandingfromtheboatatBoulogne。ButIwantedtogetitover，formyhungerpinchedmeanditwasfearsomecold。Stillthegunswenton，likehoundsbayingbeforeaquarry。Thecitywasoutofrange，buttherewerestrangelightsontheridgetotheeast。
Atlastwereachedourgoalandmarchedthroughafineoldcarvedarchwayintoacourtyard，andthenceintoadraughtyhall。
’Youmustseethe_Sektionschef，’saidourguide。Ilookedroundtoseeifwewereallthere，andnoticedthatHussinhaddisappeared。Itdidnotmatter，forhewasnotonthepassports。
Wefollowedasweweredirectedthroughanopendoor。Therewasamanstandingwithhisbacktowardsuslookingatawallmap，averybigmanwithaneckthatbulgedoverhiscollar。
Iwouldhaveknownthatneckamongamillion。AtthesightofitImadeahalf—turntoboltback。Itwastoolate，forthedoorhadclosedbehindusandthereweretwoarmedsentriesbesideit。
Themanslewedroundandlookedintomyeyes。IhadadespairinghopethatImightbluffitout，forIwasindifferentclothesandhadshavedmybeard。Butyoucannotspendtenminutesinadeath—
grapplewithoutyouradversarygettingtoknowyou。
Hewentverypale，thenrecollectedhimselfandtwistedhisfeaturesintotheoldgrin。
’So，’hesaid，’thelittleDutchmen！Wemeetaftermanydays。’
Itwasnogoodlyingorsayinganything。Ishutmyteethandwaited。
’Andyou，HerrBlenkiron？Ineverlikedthelookofyou。Youbabbledtoomuch，likeallyourdamnedAmericans。’
’Iguessyourpersonaldislikeshaven’tgotanythingtodowiththematter，’saidBlenkiron，calmly。’Ifyou’rethebosshere，I’llthankyoutocastyoureyeoverthesepassports，forwecan’tstandwaitingforever。’
Thisfairlyangeredhim。’I’llteachyoumanners，’hecried，andtookastepforwardtoreachforBlenkiron’sshoulder—thegamehehadtwiceplayedwithme。
Blenkironnevertookhishandsfromhiscoatpockets。’Keepyourdistance，’hedrawledinanewvoice。’I’vegotyoucovered，andI’llmakeaholeinyourbulletheadifyoulayahandonme。’
WithaneffortStummrecoveredhimself。Herangabellandfelltosmiling。AnorderlyappearedtowhomhespokeinTurkish，andpresentlyafileofsoldiersenteredtheroom。
’I’mgoingtohaveyoudisarmed，gentlemen，’hesaid。’Wecanconductourconversationmorepleasantlywithoutpistols。’
Itwasidletoresist。Wesurrenderedourarms，Peteralmostintearswithvexation。Stummswunghislegsoverachair，restedhischinonthebackandlookedatme。
’Yourgameisup，youknow，’hesaid。’ThesefoolsofTurkishpolicesaidtheDutchmenweredead，butIhadthehappierinspiration。
IbelievedthegoodGodhadsparedthemforme。WhenIgotRasta’stelegramIwascertain，foryourdoingsremindedmeofalittletrickyouonceplayedmeontheSchwandorfroad。ButI
didn’tthinktofindthisplumpoldpartridge，’andhesmiledatBlenkiron。’TwoeminentAmericanengineersandtheirservantboundforMesopotamiaonbusinessofhighGovernmentimportance！
Itwasagoodlie;butifIhadbeeninConstantinopleitwouldhavehadashortlife。Rastaandhisfriendsarenoconcernofmine。
Youcantrickthemasyouplease。Butyouhaveattemptedtowintheconfidenceofacertainlady，andherinterestsaremine。Likewiseyouhaveoffendedme，andIdonotforgive。ByGod，’hecried，hisvoicegrowingshrillwithpassion，’bythetimeIhavedonewithyouyourmothersintheirgraveswillweepthattheyeverboreyou！’
ItwasBlenkironwhospoke。Hisvoicewasaslevelasthechairman’sofaboguscompany，anditfellonthatturbidatmospherelikeacidongrease。
’Idon’ttakenostockinhigh—falutin’。Ifyou’retryingtoscaremebythatdime—noveltalkIguessyou’vehitthewrongman。
You’relikethesweepthatstuckinthechimney，abittoobigforyourjob。Ireckonyou’veatalentforro—mancethat’sjustwastedinsoldiering。Butifyou’regoingtoplayanyuglygamesonmeI’dlikeyoutoknowthatI’manAmericancitizen，andprettywellconsideredinmyowncountryandinyours，andyou’llsweatbloodforitlater。That’safairwarning，ColonelStumm。’
Idon’tknowwhatStumm’splanswere，butthatspeechofBlenkiron’sputintohismindjusttheneededamountofuncertainty。
Yousee，hehadPeterandmerightenough，buthehadn’tproperlyconnectedBlenkironwithus，andwasafraideithertohitoutatallthree，ortoletBlenkirongo。ItwasluckyforusthattheAmericanhadcutsuchadashintheFatherland。
’Thereisnohurry，’hesaidblandly。’Weshallhavelonghappyhourstogether。I’mgoingtotakeyouallhomewithme，forIamahospitablesoul。Youwillbesaferwithmethaninthetowngaol，forit’satrifledraughty。Itletsthingsin，anditmightletthingsout。’
Againhegaveanorder，andweweremarchedout，eachwithasoldierathiselbow。Thethreeofuswerebundledintothebackseatofthecar，whiletwomensatbeforeuswiththeirriflesbetweentheirknees，onegotupbehindonthebaggagerack，andonesatbesideStumm’schauffeur。Packedlikesardineswemovedintothebleakstreets，abovewhichthestarstwinkledinribbonsofsky。
Hussinhaddisappearedfromthefaceoftheearth，andquiterighttoo。Hewasagoodfellow，buthehadnocalltomixhimselfupinourtroubles。
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
SparrowsontheHousetops’I’veoftenregretted，’saidBlenkiron，’thatmiracleshaveleftoffhappening。’
Hegotnoanswer，forIwasfeelingthewallsforsomethinginthenatureofawindow。
’ForIreckon，’hewenton，’thatitwantsagoodold—fashionedcopper—bottomedmiracletogetusoutofthisfix。It’splumbagainstallmyprinciples。I’vespentmylifeusingthetalentsGodgavemetokeepthingsfromgettingtothepointofrudeviolence，andsofarI’vesucceeded。Butnowyoucomealong，Major，andyouhustlearespectablemiddle—agedcitizenintoanaboriginalmix—up。It’smightyindelicate。Ireckonthenextmoveisuptoyou，forI’mnogoodatthehousebreakingstunt。’
’NomoreamI，’Ianswered;’butI’mhangedifI’llchuckupthesponge。Sandy’ssomewhereoutside，andhe’sgotaheftycrowdathisheels。’
Isimplycouldnotfeelthedespairwhichbyeverylawofcommonsensewasduetothecase。Thegunshadintoxicatedme。Icouldstillheartheirdeepvoices，thoughyardsofwoodandstoneseparatedusfromtheupperair。
Whatvexedusmostwasourhunger。Barringafewmouthfulsontheroadwehadeatennothingsincethemorning，andasourdietforthepastdayshadnotbeengenerouswehadsomeleewaytomakeup。Stummhadneverlookednearussincewewereshovedintothecar。Wehadbeenbroughttosomekindofhouseandbundledintoaplacelikeawine—cellar。Itwaspitchdark，andafterfeelingroundthewalls，firstonmyfeetandthenonPeter’sback，Idecidedthattherewerenowindows。Itmusthavebeenlitandventilatedbysomelatticeintheceiling。Therewasnotastickoffurnitureintheplace:nothingbutadampearthfloorandbarestonesides，ThedoorwasarelicoftheIronAge，andIcouldhearthepacesofasentryoutsideit。
Whenthingsgettothepassthatnothingyoucandocanbetterthem，theonlythingistoliveforthemoment。Allthreeofussoughtinsleeparefugefromouremptystomachs。Thefloorwasthepoorestkindofbed，butwerolledupourcoatsforpillowsandmadethebestofit。SoonIknewbyPeter’sregularbreathingthathewasasleep，andIpresentlyfollowedhim……
Iwasawakenedbyapressurebelowmyleftear。IthoughtitwasPeter，foritistheoldhunter’strickofwakingamansothathemakesnonoise。Butanothervoicespoke。Ittoldmethattherewasnotimetoloseandtoriseandfollow，andthevoicewasthevoiceofHussin。
Peterwasawake，andwestirredBlenkironoutofheavyslumber。
Wewerebiddentakeoffourbootsandhangthembytheirlacesroundournecksascountryboysdowhentheywanttogobarefoot。
Thenwetiptoedtothedoor，whichwasajar。
Outsidewasapassagewithaflightofstepsatoneendwhichledtotheopenair。Onthesestepslayafaintshineofstarlight，andbyitshelpIsawamanhuddledupatthefootofthem。Itwasoursentry，neatlyandscientificallygaggedandtiedup。
Thestepsbroughtustoalittlecourtyardaboutwhichthewallsofthehousesroselikecliffs。WehaltedwhileHussinlistenedintently。Apparentlythecoastwasclearandourguideledustooneside，whichwasclothedbyastoutwoodentrellis。Onceitmayhavesupportedfig—trees，butnowtheplantsweredeadandonlywitheredtendrilsandrottenstumpsremained。
Itwaschild’splayforPeterandmetogoupthattrellis，butitwasthedeuceandallforBlenkiron。Hewasinpoorconditionandpuffedlikeagrampus，andheseemedtohavenosortofheadforheights。Buthewasasgameasabuffalo，andstartedingallantlytillhisarmsgaveoutandhefairlystuck。SoPeterandIwentuponeachsideofhim，takinganarmapiece，asIhadonceseendonetoamanwithvertigointheKloofChimneyonTableMountain。IwasmightythankfulwhenIgothimpantingonthetopandHussinhadshinnedupbesideus。
Wecrawledalongabroadishwall，withaninchortwoofpowderysnowonit，andthenupaslopingbuttressontotheflatroofofthehouse。ItwasamiserablebusinessforBlenkiron，whowouldcertainlyhavefallenifhecouldhaveseenwhatwasbelowhim，andPeterandIhadtostandtoattentionallthetime。Thenbeganamoredifficultjob。Hussinpointedoutaledgewhichtookuspastastackofchimneystoanotherbuildingslightlylower，thisbeingtheroutehefancied。AtthatIsatdownresolutelyandputonmyboots，andtheothersfollowed。Frost—bittenfeetwouldbeapoorassetinthiskindoftravelling。
ItwasabadstepforBlenkiron，andweonlygothimpastitbyPeterandIspread—eaglingourselvesagainstthewallandpassinghiminfrontofuswithhisfacetowardsus。Wehadnogrip，andifhehadstumbledweshouldallthreehavebeeninthecourtyard。
Butwegotitover，anddroppedassoftlyaspossibleontotheroofofthenexthouse。Hussinhadhisfingeronhislips，andIsoonsawwhy。Fortherewasalightedwindowinthewallwehaddescended。
Someimppromptedmetowaitbehindandexplore。TheothersfollowedHussinandweresoonatthefarendoftheroof，whereakindofwoodenpavilionbroketheline，whileItriedtogetalookinside。Thewindowwascurtained，andhadtwofoldingsasheswhichclaspedinthemiddle。ThroughagapinthecurtainIsawalittlelamp—litroomandabigmansittingatatablelitteredwithpapers。
Iwatchedhim，fascinated，asheturnedtoconsultsomedocumentandmadeamarkingonthemapbeforehim。Thenhesuddenlyrose，stretchedhimself，castaglanceatthewindow，andwentoutoftheroom，makingagreatclatterindescendingthewoodenstaircase。Heleftthedoorajarandthelampburning。
Iguessedhehadgonetohavealookathisprisoners，inwhichcasetheshowwasup。Butwhatfilledmymindwasaninsanedesiretogetasightofhismap。Itwasoneofthosemadimpulseswhichutterlycloudrightreason，athingindependentofanyplan，acrazyleapinthedark。ButitwassostrongthatIwouldhavepulledthatwindowoutbyitsframe，ifneedbe，togettothattable。
Therewasnoneed，fortheflimsyclaspgaveatthefirstpull，andthesashesswungopen。Iscrambledin，afterlisteningforstepsonthestairs。Icrumpledupthemapandstuckitinmypocket，aswellasthepaperfromwhichIhadseenhimcopying。VerycarefullyI
removedallmarksofmyentry，brushedawaythesnowfromtheboards，pulledbackthecurtain，gotoutandrefastenedthewindow。
Stilltherewasnosoundofhisreturn。ThenIstartedofftocatchuptheothers。
Ifoundthemshiveringintheroofpavilion。’We’vegottomoveprettyfast，’Isaid，’forI’vejustbeenburglingoldStumm’sprivatecabinet。Hussin，mylad，d’youhearthat？Theymaybeafterusanymoment，soIprayHeavenwesoonstrikebettergoing。’
Hussinunderstood。Heledusatasmartpacefromonerooftoanother，forheretheywereallofthesameheight，andonlylowparapetsandscreensdividedthem。Weneversawasoul，forawinter’snightisnotthetimeyouchoosetosaunteronyourhousetop。Ikeptmyearsopenfortroublebehindus，andinaboutfiveminutesIheardit。Ariotofvoicesbrokeout，withonelouderthantherest，and，lookingback，Isawlanternswaving。Stummhadrealizedhislossandfoundthetracksofthethief。
Hussingaveoneglancebehindandthenhurriedusonatbreak—
neckpace，witholdBlenkirongaspingandstumbling。Theshoutsbehindusgrewlouder，asifsomeeyequickerthantheresthadcaughtourmovementinthestarlitdarkness。itwasveryevidentthatiftheykeptupthechaseweshouldbecaught，forBlenkironwasaboutasusefulonaroofasahippo。
Presentlywecametoabigdrop，withakindofladderdownit，andatthefootashallowledgerunningtotheleftintoapitofdarkness。Hussingrippedmyarmandpointeddownit。’Followit，’
hewhispered，’andyouwillreacharoofwhichspansastreet。Crossit，andontheothersideisamosque。Turntotherightthereandyouwillfindeasygoingforfiftymetres，wellscreenedfromthehigherroofs。ForAllah’ssakekeepintheshelterofthescreen。
SomewherethereIwilljoinyou。’
Hehurriedusalongtheledgeforabitandthenwentback，andwithsnowfromthecornerscoveredupourtracks。Afterthathewentstraightonhimself，takingstrangeshortstepslikeabird。I
sawhisgame。Hewantedtoleadourpursuersafterhim，andhehadtomultiplythetracksandtrusttoStumm’sfellowsnotspottingthattheyallweremadebyoneman。
ButIhadquiteenoughtothinkofingettingBlenkironalongthatledge。Hewasprettynearlyfoundered，hewasinasweatofterror，andasamatteroffacthewastakingoneofthebiggestrisksofhislife，forwehadnoropeandhisneckdependedonhimself。I
couldhearhiminvokingsomeunknowndeitycalledHolyMike。
Butheventuredgallantly，andwegottotheroofwhichranacrossthestreet。Thatwaseasier，thoughticklishenough，butitwasnojokeskirtingthecupolaofthatinfernalmosque。Atlastwefoundtheparapetandbreathedmorefreely，forwewerenowundershelterfromthedirectionofdanger。Isparedamomenttolookround，andthirtyyardsoff，acrossthestreet，Isawaweirdspectacle。
Thehuntwasproceedingalongtheroofsparalleltotheonewewerelodgedon。Isawtheflickerofthelanterns，wavedupanddownasthebearersslippedinthesnow，andIheardtheircrieslikehoundsonatrail。Stummwasnotamongthem:hehadnottheshapeforthatsortofbusiness。Theypassedusandcontinuedtoourleft，nowhidbyajuttingchimney，nowcleartoviewagainsttheskyline。Theroofstheywereonwereperhapssixfeethigherthanours，soevenfromourshelterwecouldmarktheircourse。IfHussinweregoingtobehuntedacrossErzerumitwasabadlook—outforus，forIhadn’tthefoggiestnotionwherewewereorwhereweweregoingto。
Butaswewatchedwesawsomethingmore。Thewaveringlanternswerenowthreeorfourhundredyardsaway，butontheroofsjustoppositeusacrossthestreetthereappearedaman’sfigure。I
thoughtitwasoneofthehunters，andweallcrouchedlower，andthenIrecognizedtheleanagilityofHussin。Hemusthavedoubledback，keepinginthedusktotheleftofthepursuit，andtakingbigrisksintheopenplaces。Buttherehewasnow，exactlyinfrontofus，andseparatedonlybythewidthofthenarrowstreet。
Hetookastepbackward，gatheredhimselfforaspring，andleapedcleanoverthegap。Likeacathelightedontheparapetaboveus，andstumbledforwardwiththeimpetusrightonourheads。
’Wearesafeforthemoment，’hewhispered，’butwhentheymissmetheywillreturn。Wemustmakegoodhaste。’
Thenexthalf—hourwasamazeoftwistsandturns，slippingdownicyroofsandclimbingicierchimney—stacks。Thestirofthecityhadgone，andfromtheblackstreetsbelowcamescarcelyasound。Butalwaysthegreattattooofgunsbeatintheeast。Graduallywedescendedtoalowerlevel，tillweemergedonthetopofashedinacourtyard。Hussingaveanoddsortofcry，likeadementedowl，andsomethingbegantostirbelowus。
Itwasabigcoveredwagon，fullofbundlesofforage，anddrawnbyfourmules。Aswedescendedfromtheshedintothefrozenlitteroftheyard，amancameoutoftheshadeandspokelowtoHussin。
PeterandIliftedBlenkironintothecart，andscrambledinbesidehim，andIneverfeltanythingmoreblessedthanthewarmthandsoftnessofthatplaceafterthefrostyroofs。Ihadforgottenallaboutmyhunger，andonlyyearnedforsleep。Presentlythewagonmovedoutofthecourtyardintothedarkstreets。
ThenBlenkironbegantolaugh，adeepinternalrumblewhichshookhimviolentlyandbroughtdownaheapofforageonhishead。Ithoughtitwashysterics，therelieffromthetensionofthepasthour。Butitwasn’t。Hisbodymightbeoutoftraining，buttherewasneveranythingthematterwithhisnerves。Hewasconsumedwithhonestmerriment。
’Say，Major，’hegasped，’Idon’tusuallycherishdislikesformyfellowmen，butsomehowIdidn’tcottontoColonelStumm。ButnowIalmostlovehim。YouhithisjawverybadinGermany，andnowyou’veannexedhisprivatefile，andIguessit’simportantorhewouldn’thavebeensomightysetonsteeple—chasingoverthoseroofs。Ihaven’tdonesuchathingsinceIbrokeintoneighbourBrown’swoodshedtostealhistame’possum，andthat’sfortyyearsback。It’sthefirstpieceofgenooineamusementI’vestruckinthisgame，andIhaven’tlaughedsomuchsinceoldJimHookertoldthetaleof\"CousinSallyDillard\"whenwewerehuntingducksinMichiganandhiswife’sbrotherhadanapoplexyinthenightanddiedofit。’
TotheaccompanimentofBlenkiron’schucklesIdidwhatPeterhaddoneinthefirstminute，andfellasleep。
WhenIwokeitwasstilldark。Thewagonhadstoppedinacourtyardwhichseemedtobeshadedbygreattrees。Thesnowlaydeeperhere，andbythefeeloftheairwehadleftthecityandclimbedtohigherground。Therewerebigbuildingsononeside，andontheotherwhatlookedliketheliftofahill。Nolightswereshown，theplacewasinprofoundgloom，butIfeltthepresencenearmeofothersbesidesHussinandthedriver。
Wewerehurried，Blenkirononlyhalfawake，intoanoutbuilding，andthendownsomestepstoaroomycellar。ThereHussinlitalantern，whichshowedwhathadoncebeenastorehouseforfruit。
Oldhusksstillstrewedthefloorandtheplacesmeltofapples。
Strawhadbeenpiledincornersforbeds，andtherewasarudetableandadivanofboardscoveredwithsheepskins。
’Wherearewe？’IaskedHussin。
’InthehouseoftheMaster，’hesaid。’Youwillbesafehere，butyoumustkeepstilltilltheMastercomes。’
’IstheFrankishladyhere？’Iasked。
Hussinnodded，andfromawalletbroughtoutsomefood—
raisinsandcoldmeatandaloafofbread。Wefellonitlikevultures，andasweateHussindisappeared。Inoticedthathelockedthedoorbehindhim。
Assoonasthemealwasendedtheothersreturnedtotheirinterruptedsleep。ButIwaswakefulnowandmymindwassharp—
setonmanythings。IgotBlenkiron’selectrictorchandlaydownonthedivantostudyStumm’smap。
ThefirstglanceshowedmethatIhadlitonatreasure。ItwasthestaffmapoftheErzerumdefences，showingthefortsandthefieldtrenches，withlittlenotesscribbledinStumm’sneatsmallhandwriting。
IgotoutthebigmapwhichIhadtakenfromBlenkiron，andmadeoutthegenerallieoftheland。IsawthehorseshoeofDeveBoyuntotheeastwhichtheRussiangunswerebattering。Stumm’swasjustlikethekindofsquaredartillerymapweusedinFrance，1in10，000，withspideryredlinesshowingthetrenches，butwiththedifferencethatitwastheTurkishtrenchesthatwereshownindetailandtheRussianonlyroughlyindicated。ThethingwasreallyaconfidentialplanofthewholeErzerum_enceinte，andwouldbeworthuntoldgoldtotheenemy。NowonderStummhadbeeninawaxatitsloss。
TheDeveBoyunlinesseemedtomemonstrouslystrong，andI
rememberedthemeritsoftheTurkasafighterbehindstrongdefences。ItlookedasifRussiawereupagainstasecondPlevnaoranewGallipoli。
ThenItooktostudyingtheflanks。SouthlaythePalantukenrangeofmountains，withfortsdefendingthepasses，whererantheroadstoMushandLakeVan。Thatside，too，lookedprettystrong。
NorthinthevalleyoftheEuphratesImadeouttwobigforts，TaftaandKaraGubek，defendingtheroadfromOlti。OnthispartofthemapStumm’snoteswereplentiful，andIgavethemallmyattention。IrememberedBlenkiron’snewsabouttheRussiansadvancingonabroadfront，foritwasclearthatStummwastakingpainsabouttheflankofthefortress。
KaraGubekwasthepointofinterest。Itstoodonariboflandbetweentwopeaks，whichfromthecontourlinesroseverysteep。
SolongasitwashelditwasclearthatnoinvadercouldmovedowntheEuphratesglen。Stummhadappendedanotetothepeaks—’_not_fortified’;andabouttwomilestothenorth—easttherewasaredcrossandthename’_Prjevalsky’。IassumedthattobethefarthestpointyetreachedbytherightwingoftheRussianattack。
ThenIturnedtothepaperfromwhichStummhadcopiedthejottingsontohismap。Itwastypewritten，andconsistedofnotesondifferentpoints。Onewasheaded’_Kara_Gubek’andread:’__Notimetofortifyadjacentpeaks。Difficultforenemytogetbatteriesthere，butnotimpossible。Thistherealpointofdanger，forifPrjevalskywinsthePeaksKaraGubekandTaftamustfall，andenemywillbeonleftrearofDeveBoyunmain_position。’
Iwassoldierenoughtoseethetremendousimportanceofthisnote。OnKaraGubekdependedthedefenceofErzerum，anditwasabrokenreedifoneknewwheretheweaknesslay。Yet，searchingthemapagain，Icouldnotbelievethatanymortalcommanderwouldseeanychanceintheadjacentpeaks，evenifhethoughtthemunfortified。ThatwasinformationconfinedtotheTurkishandGermanstaff。ButifitcouldbeconveyedtotheGrandDukehewouldhaveErzeruminhispowerinaday。OtherwisehewouldgoonbatteringattheDeveBoyunridgeforweeks，andlongerehewonittheGallipolidivisionswouldarrive，hewouldbeout—
numberedbytwotoone，andhischancewouldhavevanished。
Mydiscoverysetmepacingupanddownthatcellarinaperfectfeverofexcitement。Ilongedforwireless，acarrierpigeon，anaeroplane—anythingtobridgeoverthatspaceofhalfadozenmilesbetweenmeandtheRussianlines。Itwasmaddeningtohavestumbledonvitalnewsandtobewhollyunabletouseit。Howcouldthreefugitivesinacellar，withthewholehornet’snestofTurkeyandGermanystirredupagainstthem，hopetosendthismessageoflifeanddeath？
IwentbacktothemapandexaminedthenearestRussianpositions。
Theywerecarefullymarked。Prjevalskyinthenorth，themainforcebeyondDeveBoyun，andthesoutherncolumnsuptothepassesofthePalantukenbutnotyetacrossthem。IcouldnotknowwhichwasnearesttoustillIdiscoveredwherewewere。AndasIthoughtofthisIbegantoseetherudimentsofadesperateplan。ItdependedonPeter，nowslumberinglikeatireddogonacouchofstraw。
HussinhadlockedthedoorandImustwaitforinformationtillhecameback。ButsuddenlyInoticedatrapintheroof，whichhadevidentlybeenusedforraisingandloweringthecellar’sstores。Itlookedill—fittingandmightbeunbarred，soIpulledthetablebelowit，andfoundthatwithalittleeffortIcouldraisetheflap。IknewI
wastakingimmenserisks，butIwassokeenonmyplanthatI
disregardedthem。AftersometroubleIgotthethingprisedopen，andcatchingtheedgesoftheholewithmyfingersraisedmybodyandgotmykneesontheedge。
Itwastheoutbuildingofwhichourrefugewasthecellar，anditwashalffilledwithlight。Notasoulwasthere，andIhuntedabouttillIfoundwhatIwanted。Thiswasaladderleadingtoasortofloft，whichinturngaveaccesstotheroof。HereIhadtobeverycareful，forImightbeoverlookedfromthehighbuildings。Butbygoodlucktherewasatrellisforgrapevinesacrosstheplace，whichgaveakindofshelter。LyingflatonmyfaceIstaredoveragreatexpanseofcountry。
LookingnorthIsawthecityinahazeofmorningsmoke，and，beyond，theplainoftheEuphratesandtheopeningoftheglenwheretheriverleftthehills。Upthere，amongthesnowyheights，wereTaftaandKaraGubek。TotheeastwastheridgeofDeveBoyun，wherethemistwasbreakingbeforethewinter’ssun。OntheroadsuptoitIsawtransportmoving，Isawthecircleoftheinnerforts，butforamomentthegunsweresilent。Southroseagreatwallofwhitemountain，whichItooktobethePalantuken。I
couldseetheroadsrunningtothepasses，andthesmokeofcampsandhorse—linesrightunderthecliffs。
IhadlearnedwhatIneeded。Wewereintheoutbuildingsofabigcountryhousetwoorthreemilessouthofthecity。ThenearestpointoftheRussianfrontwassomewhereinthefoothillsofthePalantuken。
AsIdescendedIheard，thinandfaintandbeautiful，likethecryofawildbird，themuezzinfromtheminaretsofErzerum。
WhenIdroppedthroughthetraptheotherswereawake。Hussinwassettingfoodonthetable，andviewingmydescentwithanxiousdisapproval。
’It’sallright，’Isaid;’Iwon’tdoitagain，forI’vefoundoutallI
wanted。Peter，oldman，thebiggestjobofyourlifeisbeforeyou！’
CHAPTERNINETEEN
GreenmantlePeterscarcelylookedupfromhisbreakfast。
’I’mwilling，Dick，’hesaid。’Butyoumustn’taskmetobefriendswithStumm。Hemakesmystomachcold，thatone。’
Forthefirsttimehehadstoppedcallingme’Cornelis’。Thedayofmake—believewasoverforallofus。
’Nottobefriendswithhim，’Isaid，’buttobusthimandallhiskind。’
’ThenI’mready，’saidPetercheerfully。’Whatisit？’
Ispreadoutthemapsonthedivan。TherewasnolightintheplacebutBlenkiron’selectrictorch，forHussinhadputoutthelantern。Petergothisnoseintothethingsatonce，forhisintelligenceworkintheBoerWarhadmadehimhandywithmaps。Itdidn’twantmuchtellingfrommetoexplaintohimtheimportanceoftheoneIhadlooted。
’Thatnewsisworthmanyamillionpounds，’saidhe，wrinklinghisbrows，andscratchingdelicatelythetipofhisleftear。Itwasawayhehadwhenhewasstartled。
’Howcanwegetittoourfriends？’
Petercogitated。’Thereisbutoneway。Amanmusttakeit。
Once，Iremember，whenwefoughttheMatabeleitwasnecessarytofindoutwhetherthechiefMakapanwasliving。Somesaidhehaddied，othersthathe’dgoneoverthePortugueseborder，butI
believedhelived。Nonativecouldtellus，andsincehiskraalwaswelldefendednorunnercouldgetthrough。Soitwasnecessarytosendaman。’
Peterlifteduphisheadandlaughed。’ThemanfoundthechiefMakapan。Hewasverymuchalive，andmadegoodshootingwithashot—gun。ButthemanbroughtthechiefMakapanoutofhiskraalandhandedhimovertotheMountedPolice。YourememberCaptainArcoll，Dick—JimArcoll？Well，Jimlaughedsomuchthathebrokeopenawoundinhishead，andhadtohaveadoctor。’
’Youwerethatman，Peter，’Isaid。