hat, and ruin ourselves?"

"Better that than lose your life, effendi," replied the guide. "These
people are fierce, and half savage. They believe that you have money,
and they will keep their word if it is not sent."

"What, and kill us, Yussuf?" said Lawrence, with a horrified look.

"Not if I can save you, Lawrence effendi," said Yussuf eagerly. "But
the letters must be sent. It will make the villains think that we are
content to wait, and put them off their guard. Preston effendi, it is a
terrible increase of the risk, but you will take the lady?"

"Take the lady?"

"Hush! When we escape. Do not say more now; we may be overheard.
Write your letters."

"Then you mean to try and escape."

"Try and escape, effendi?" said Yussuf with a curious laugh; "why, of
course."

"What will you do?"

"Wait, excellency, and see. There are walls here, and I think places
where we might get down past the guards with ropes."

"And the ropes?"

Yussuf laughed softly, and stared at the rugs as he said quietly:

"I can see the place full of ropes, your excellency; only be patient,
and we'll try what can be done in the darkness. Write your letters
now."

Mr Preston had to appeal to the sentries, through Yussuf, for the
necessary writing materials, and after a good deal of trouble his own
writing-case, which had been in the plundered baggage, was brought to
him. He wrote to the vice-consul, Mr Thompson, at Smyrna, telling of
their state, and asking advice and assistance, telling him, too, how to
obtain the money required if diplomacy failed, and the ransom could not
be reduced.

This done, and a similar letter being written by Mr Burne, the sentry
was again communicated with, and the despatches sent to the chief.

An hour later there was a little bustle in the open space before their
prison, and a couple of well-armed men mounted their horses, the chief
standing talking to them for a few minutes, as if giving them final
instructions.

He then summoned his prisoners, and spoke to Yussuf, bidding him ask Mr
Burne, whose wonderful head-dress won for him the distinction of being
considered the most important personage present, whether he would like
to make any addition to his despatch; for, said he:

"I have told the people that any attempt at rescue means your instant
death. I will wait any reasonable time for your ransoms, and you shall
be well treated; but I warn you that attempts to escape will be death to
y