holy fly," ejaculated the Irishman. "there's a row in the
house, and our frisky black boys'll lose their lives if they don't
watch it."

"What's the matter?" demanded young Jack.

"The deputy-pasha is back," whispered the Irishman, in evident anxiety.
"He has discovered the presence of strangers in the house. He's coming
along here with his guards, and there'll be the very devil to pay."

"What, about Tinker and Bogey?"

"They're dead as door-nails. There is an unwritten law which sentences
any man to death who violates the sanctity of a Turkish harem."

"Why don't they run out?" inquired Harry, anxiously.

"What for? To be cutdown by the armed eunuchs. No; better take their
chance where they are."

"I'm not going to leave them to die," said Jack; "I'll have a shy, for
it, if----"

"Hold your tongue," interrupted the Irishman, anxiously; "but look,
what the dooce are the girls up to with your black boys?"

Tinker and Bogey laboured under a very great disadvantage.

They could neither understand nor make themselves understood by the
fair creatures by whom they were surrounded.

However, they managed to glean that they were in danger, and that a
temporary haven of safety was to be found in an inner room beyond the
curtain facing the chief entrance, which was guarded by the two
eunuchs.

They were bustled into that apartment by the ladies of the harem to a
chorus of excited whisperings.

"Whatever are they going to do?" whispered Jack.

"Silence, not a word. Look there!" said the Irish Turk.

The heavy drapery before the chief entrance was drawn aside, and in
marched the fierce-looking Turk, that had tried to rob the orphan and
his cash-box, closely followed by the two eunuchs, who stood sentry at
the doorway.

"Now, there'll be the devil to pay," whispered the Irishman.

Osmond, the ruling bashaw for the time, had heard that strangers were
within the palace, and he hurried there with all speed.

When first he was apprised of this, his greed excited him, for some of
the chief sweets of his office were the presents.

The deputy-pasha was ready to accept as many as he could send.

"Strangers are present," he exclaimed, addressing one of the favourite
ladies; "now, by the beard of the Prophet, the intruders shall suffer!"

"What intruders?" said the lady.

The deputy-governor made towards the curtain.

But before he could enter, the lady with whom he had been talking
placed herself in his way.