n, and the three of us left behind will be strung up
before morning ... No, my son. You're going to escape, but it will be
in company with Blenkiron and me. We've got to blow the whole
Greenmantle business so high that the bits of it will never come to
earth again ... First, tell me how many of your fellows will stick by
you? I mean the Companions.'

'The whole half-dozen. They are very worried already about what has
happened. She made me sound them in her presence, and they were quite
ready to accept me as Greenmantle's successor. But they have their
suspicions about what happened at the villa, and they've no love for
the woman ... They'd follow me through hell if I bade them, but they
would rather it was my own show.'

'That's all right,' I cried. 'It is the one thing I've been doubtful
about. Now observe this map. Erzerum isn't invested by a long chalk.
The Russians are round it in a broad half-moon. That means that all
the west, south-west, and north-west is open and undefended by trench
lines. There are flanks far away to the north and south in the hills
which can be turned, and once we get round a flank there's nothing
between us and our friends ... I've figured out our road,' and I
traced it on the map. 'If we can make that big circuit to the west and
get over that pass unobserved we're bound to strike a Russian column
the next day. It'll be a rough road, but I fancy we've all ridden as
bad in our time. But one thing we must have, and that's horses. Can
we and your six ruffians slip off in the darkness on the best beasts in
this township? If you can manage that, we'll do the trick.'

Sandy sat down and pondered. Thank heaven, he was thinking now of
action and not of his own conscience.

'It must be done,' he said at last, 'but it won't be easy. Hussin's a
great fellow, but as you know well, Dick, horses right up at the
battle-front are not easy to come by. Tomorrow I've got some kind of
infernal fast to observe, and the next day that woman will be coaching
me for my part. We'll have to give Hussin time ... I wish to heaven
it could be tonight.' He was silent again for a bit, and then he said:
'I believe the best time would be the third night, the eve of the
Revelation. She's bound to leave me alone that night.'

'Right-o,' I said. 'It won't be much fun sitting waiting in this cold
sepulchre; but we must keep our heads and risk nothing by being in a
hurry. Besides, if Peter wins t