coming near the boy, and in a surprisingly
short time the Turkish forces were entirely conquered, all having been
reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away and
hidden in the cellars or garrets of the houses.

The Tatars entered the city with shouts of triumph, and the chief was
so delighted that he threw his arms around Rob's neck and embraced him
warmly.

Then began the sack of Yarkand, the fierce Tatars plundering the
bazaars and houses, stripping them of everything of value they could
find.

Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks for
the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He was
more successful later, for in running through the streets he came upon
a band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Rob
quickly recognized as one of the thieves he was hunting for. The
Tatars willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of his
pockets Rob found the Record of Events.

He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine,
the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape
from this barbarous country.

He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead
body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of the city.
But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the first time
the boy began to give way to despair.

In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife,
warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engaging
the Tatars with great fierceness. The latter had scattered throughout
the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only were
they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing
their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usual
courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction, only
to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars.

Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of the
square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly surrounded
him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the Turks feared
to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance away and fired
volleys at him from their rifles and pistols.

Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him the
Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew
thicker every moment.

Women now came creeping fro