e Turk rode slowly forward to
the men, who blocked their way, and who still held their guns menacingly
before them as if about to fire.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

GOOD OUT OF EVIL.

"We've brought our pigs to a pretty market," grumbled Mr Burne, as they
sat watching Yussuf ride up to the brigands. "It means ruin, sir,
ruin."

"There's no help for it, Burne," said the professor calmly; "it is of no
use to complain."

"I am an Englishman, sir, and I shall grumble as much and as long as I
please," cried the old gentleman snappishly; "and you, Lawrence, if you
laugh at me, sir, I'll knock you off your horse. Here, what was the use
of our buying weapons of war, if we are not going to use them?"

"Their conversation has been short," said the professor. "I suppose it
is settled. So vexatious too, when we were quite near the ancient
stronghold."

"Bah! you've seen old stones and ruins enough, man. I wish to goodness
we were back in London. Well, Yussuf, what do they say?"

"That if your excellencies will surrender peaceably, you shall not be
hurt. There is nothing else for us to do but give up."

"And you advise it, Yussuf?" said the professor.

"Yes, your excellency, we must give up; and perhaps if you are patient I
may find a means for us to escape."

"Hah! that's better," cried Mr Burne; "now you are speaking like a man.
Come along, then, and let's get it over. Can the brutes speak
English?"

"No, excellency, I think not. Shall I lead?"

"No," said Mr Burne. "I shall go first, just to show the miserable
ruffians that we are not afraid of them if we do give up. Come along,
Preston. Confound them! how I do hate thieves."

He took a pinch of snuff, and then rode slowly on with an angry
contemptuous look, closely followed by his companions, to where the
brigands were awaiting them with guns presented ready to fire if there
was any resistance.

As they advanced, the party behind closed up quickly, all being in the
same state of readiness with their weapons till the travellers found
themselves completely hemmed in by as evil-looking a body of scoundrels
as could be conceived. Every man had his belt stuck full of knives and
pistols, and carried a dangerous-looking gun--that is to say, a piece
that was risky to both enemy and friend.

One man, who seemed to hold pre-eminence from the fact that he was half
a head taller than his companions, said a few words in a sharp fierce
manner, and Yussuf spoke.