for snow, he said, would fall before the week was out,
and then the famished wolves would descend from the mountains and the
plain become dangerous.

The advice was readily taken, for all were quite satisfied that their
travels in Asia Minor would be better ended for the present.

In this spirit they made the best of their way to the port, where they
arrived with the snow falling slightly, though high up in the mountains
there was a heavy storm. They took up their quarters at the best hotel
in the place, and could have gone on at once by the steamer from
Beyrout, but at Lawrence's wish the departure was put off till the
coming of the next boat, a fortnight later.

"You do not feel so well?" said Mr Preston anxiously.

"Eh, what, not so well?" cried Mr Burne, turning to look at Lawrence.
"Look here, don't say that. I thought we had cured him."

"Oh, I'm quite well and strong," cried Lawrence quickly.

"But you seem so dull," said the professor.

Lawrence did not answer, but turned away his head.

"I wish we had gone on," said Mr Preston anxiously. "There would have
been good medical advice on board."

"No, no, I am not ill," said Lawrence; and then in a broken voice, he
cried excitedly, "I wanted to put it off as long as I could."

"What! going home, my dear lad?" said Mr Burne eagerly. "You are
afraid of our climate again. Then let's stay."

"No, no; it was not that," said Lawrence. "I--I--there, I must say it.
Yussuf has--has been such a good fellow, and we shall have to say
good-bye at Smyrna."

The professor was silent for a few minutes.

"Perhaps not for always," he said at last. "Yes: he has been a
thoroughly good fellow, and I, for one, should like to come out and have
another trip with him. What do you say?"

"Yes, yes," cried Lawrence eagerly; and he rushed out of the room, to be
seen the next minute holding on by the grave-looking Turk's arm and
telling him the news.

"Look at that," whispered Mr Burne to the professor, as he eagerly
watched Yussuf's countenance. "Now, if ever anyone tells me in the
future that the Turks always hate the Christians, I can give him an
instance to the contrary."

The time soon glided by for the coming of the next boat, and in due
course they landed at Smyrna, where the parting with Yussuf was more
that of friends and friend, than of the employer and employed.

"If you do come out again, excellencies, and I am living, nothing shall
stay me from being y