THE EASTERNERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10484, 22 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS.

CHAPTER XXVlll— Continued

Across the Golden Horn rose a monotonous cliiant tiliiat wound up with a wild, fierce shout; then slowly began again. "The molla.liß are haranguing the Turks in the quarter Zerata, urging them to begin another massacre of Christians," explainedSarkis. "Please God, we will be ready for them this time." Into a dimly lighted cellar they followed the big fellow, where they met some flirty men armed with swords, guns, pistols, and plenty of ammunition. Cloaks and shawls were used, more for purposes of disguise than for warmth. Then Dalmar advanced, throwing aside his long cloak, and the two Westerners were struck with admiring surprise. The Armenian prince was an full national' dress, a garb more resembling that of the Scotch Hihglander -than anything else at all familiar to Douglas or Greer. He wore pistols, a dagger, and a long curved scimitar so keen as to cut feathers thrown in the air. Repeating rifles wer freely distributed to all.

'Are you roa-dy ?' asked the prince, wringing their hands in a grip of iron. "Good! I hear that Rotan has become alarmed." "Lead on., old man,," said Sidney. "I'll follow you to Yildiz, if necessary." if the Burian sisters are there." This from Douglas. "If we turn back now it would be right for those admiraible ladies to throw us down hard." "Just a word." Dal mar tok them apart. "My men are leaving in small groups, by different routes, so as to avoid atracting attention. M. Perrone and M. Stevens are wiatdhirm the trend of -tilings in and around Yildiz, and the officers of the Porte near the old Seraglio. Should anything occur that I should know, they will come or send to me."

Whilie (the prince was talking, small groups of his followers were furtively vanishing dru the darknes without. When Dalmar and Sarkis appeared with the two Westerners, none of the recent company was in sight. Crossing the Achmet brige, the sentry barred the way. This looked bad. for the bridge was ia free one. "Yasak!" chaliened the soldier,, presenting his bayonet, but the cliallen£e"wa.s his last word. While Dalmar faced the man., Sarfcisj who had sidled close, leaped forward. raising his arm. There came ,a lightning flash of steel, atnd a sud.^en?:ga®p as the dagger baft struck <&, gainst the man's thrtwit. i f As the man fell, utering a choking Sarkis threw the body into a 'recess of the bridge, wiped his weapon on the clothing of the corpse, wrapped bis cloak mare closely around him, ]a.nd- followed Ms master. "Was that necesarsy?" whispered Greer, who was staggered by the seem'iiig cruelty of the deed. "It had to.be done," repliedDalmar. :?Had tdie dog given an alarm, or detained us, our trip might lie a failure, cry her will bring ia hundred solI xlrers; but it is only a short cut to Inhere we. wish to go. IVfost of the j others .pass out at the Babi-Hnmavan .Gate." ,

At the water's edge, on this side, itvo' large, long Iwats were filled quickly with armed men who had lurked somewhere near until the prince arrived. They rowed swiftly upstream, disregarding a sentry's cry from tJie city wall near by. To the left and rear many lights denoted Yildiz and its near-by barracks. • At last there came from the banks a call that was- recognised, and one boat Stopped. Stephens. Peronne and Sena Yapoul jumped on lioard. They were breathless from fatigue. ■"Out in the stream!" ordered the Frenchman. "Rotam is in personal charge, and has picketed the woods with •guards. Tliey have heard of uprisings in the Armenian quarter, and Mustafa Bey ha'sl>een sent back to Bukdere with a, squad of cavaJry, so therefore, your lughriess," addressing Raima?; "what ybii do to-night I .would do quickly ,lest your foes become too'strbng for'yoUr present force." •' With muffled oars a,ll speed was made to the stone steps on the Acini. Here they, disembaa-ked without any trouble. Dispatching Peronne and Stephens with a, dozen men to flank the palace at each side and rear, the prince waited with' his two friends and remaining; force in the shrubbery for fifteen minutes.

I "We must give the others time to reach their respective stations," he j whispered calmly enough to Douglas | and Greer, Whose nerves were by this time set well enough on edge. Then Dalmat - drew liis scimitar. ''Follow me, brothers," said the prince. "Slay every, one ,that will not submit, but spare the wtanen, the children and the helpless!" CHAPTER XXIX. A VISIT FROM THE PRINCESS AYDOUL. - » The day following passed quietly in, the harem of Bukdero Palace, nt least 1 as far las the two sisters were concerned. Roten Oiimself came in to 1: d them be of good cheer; stating that ho would have to l>e away, but hoped to

OUR SERIAL.

OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

BY WTT,T,TAM PERRY DROWN,

soon return. "My slaves are at your service, and whatever you want they have my orders to bring " "We want our liberty," said Alma boldly. "You shall have it, and more, all in good time. lam your protector, and my servant Mustafa Bey will see that your needs are supplied." "That villain," sried Alma, furious at his name. "Let me never look on his face again, unless " "Sister,'' 6aid Thelma, fearful of the consequences of such show of feeling. "Remember." Rotan went off laughing ;'so assured did he feel in his mastery over these •helpless girls that he did not deem it worth disputing anything they might say.

After iinstructdng the head eunuch to be doubly vigilant, he sent to Yilj diz for Mustafa, gave (him a few oav- | airy and told him to shoot anything at sight that approached the palace a.t night. The weary day had nearly passed, and the sun was setting, when the sisters became aware of an unusual oom- ' motion outside their apartments. • They sent an old womajn out to Bee the cause. She returned much frightened, 'and in am awed voice said: "Stramge news, madam, that I fear means ill to us at Bukdere. Her Highness the Prioess Aydoul' has arrived with two caiques filled with her people. It is said that she ordered MustafiaJßey to remain outside the palace, and is filled with anger. So say those that have seen iher face." , "If she keeps that scoundrel Mustafa out, she can oome and welcome," commented Alma decisively. "If She has heard of us," said the more timid Thelma, "it may be thai' she is angered at our being here." As night drew on the sounds of unusual commotion continued. At last the head eunuch sent in a female slave j from the lamteroom with the announce- ; ment that he wished to speak with the Prankish ladies. Almost immediately following this declaration he poked his ugly face through the portieres. |

"I aon commanded to make known to you that Her Imperial Highness Princess Aydoul, daughter of the sun, chief star in His Majesty's crowm of family jewels, wife of His Highness Rotan Pasha, will deign tb interview you. Be ye therefore ready, and let not your eyes be dazzled by the light of royalty, whose ismile is happiness and frown is death." He thereupon salaamed and vanished. "Goodness!" exclaimed Alma, "it sounds like a chapter from the Arabian nights. Hold up your ■ head, sister. Don't give these Turks >a chance to say that we are cowards." "I—l wish she would let lis alone. I envy you your courage, Alma. It comes from America; but my poor life has been passed in our tortured native land, where a Turk's scowl is as the is as a lash to the .slave." ■*' My poor Thelma!" Alma embraced her sister, kissing her fondly. "Now cheer up. I will do the talking, be the woman who or what she may. Per-

haps, as Rotan's wife, she will holp us to get away. Ah! here she comes." ! The curtains parted amd the princess entered, two of her attendants following. She was generously built, even to corpulency, and wore a veil so thick that only her eyes and lower forehead were visible. She came in with an air of one addressing inferiors, her bulging outdoor gaub having been changed for the indoor da-ess of a lady of rank. Evidently she regarded herself as much ait homo hero as at her palace in Scutari. She sank on the divan while the waiting girls dropped to their knees near the entrance, and so remained as if unworthy., even to stand in the presence of royalty. "Stand before me!" she commanded in rather bad French, and motioning to the sisters. Thelma would have obeyed, but Alma held her sister back. "Stand before me!" commanded the princess sharply. "Know you who it is that deigns to speak with you?" "I know that your manners, like your French could both be improved, declared Alma doggedly. For a moment the royal lady looked stupefied, then she stamped her foot —not a small foot either. To be Continued.)