t by foes. Several shots fired from that direction showed this too
plainly; and I saw Basil's eyes dilate with wonder and wrath as he
marked the quick flashes, the smoke, the sharp report of fire-arms in
the tall thicket. The fact was, the enemy had within the last quarter
of an hour stolen on a party of mountaineers set to guard that point,
and surprised them. Our friends were fighting with their usual
desperate bravery, but they seemed likely to be worsted. Basil now
signed to Mr Popham that we must turn back, and effect a landing on the
other side of the headland; and accordingly ten minutes' rowing brought
us back to that point. Meanwhile, Mr Popham drew closer to me, and
said, with a grave solicitude scarcely natural to him, "You see the plan
is that we should scale the hill on this side, which the enemy has not
reached--possibly may not attempt to reach. Once at the top--where
Laurie is, I mean--you are safe enough, for a strong body of the black
highlanders is posted there; and the Turks would have no object that I
could see in attacking them. But, dear Mrs Englefield, there _is_ a
certain amount of risk in the ascent. I ought not to disguise this from
you. If it--the ascent, I mean--should occupy much time (and it is so
steep and tangled that it might prove tedious); and if our friends
should be driven back speedily, the Turks might be upon us before we
reached the crest. Mind, I don't say it is probable, but it is
possible. For a man the risk is a trifle, not worth thinking twice
about; but for a woman!--Good heavens!--that's quite another thing."

He paused, then added, "The sum of all this is, that I want you to turn
back with Spira, and stay at the next hamlet till this alarm is over.
Basil will guide me back to Laurie, and we will cheer him with the hope
of your coming. I am a poor nurse compared with you, but I'll do my
best."

He was so kind, so in earnest, poor fellow! I wrung his hand, and said,
"Thank you again and again. You are a true friend, and Laurie knows it.
But if you won't think me obstinate, I would rather go on; Laurie may
be very ill, very wretched; and the wild people about him may not know
how to treat him. You would hardly know, perhaps, for you can't be used
to sick-room ways, and Laurie's ways in particular. From what you say,
the risk is small, almost nothing; and I was brought up at the foot of
Skiddaw, and can climb like a cat, so I should not delay you; and--"

"E