THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10491, 30 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PR OXY

STOLLUM PERRY DBOWJJj

CHAPTER XXXlV—Continued

"Who goes there?" demanded tho sentry. "Sons of Islam," was the reply. "Advance, one of you, and give the countersign.' ' "Death to Armenia!" repeated tho giant, as if the words choked him. "Why are you so many ?" This suspiciously by the sergeant in command, advancing. "Secret business, comrade. Will you open tho gate?" The sergeant drew out an immense key and opened the gate, grumbling: "If it were not for these Bvmchanchagiists we would not bo so bothered when all men wish to sleep."

."It is because the palace was taken that these gates are locked, so I hear. A tiresome custom."

"Truly, brother," returned tho sergeant, "and the whole guard must Kit up on account of these Christian dogs—may their heads be lopped off!" The disguised Armenians were filing through, when, Greer's strongly marked face and figure drew notice. "Who is he?" demanded the sergeant. "Surely not one of our police captains? He looks like a Frank." Before Sarkis -could devise an appropriate He to fit tihis, there'sounded a~sudden discharge of firearms in the direction of the Ottoman. Bank. Then .rose wild cries, shoutings, and the din of distant conflict. :,

"Dalmar is being interrupted," muttered Greer. "We will have to fighf." "Close the gates," ordered the sergeant. "Let no more pass through. Down with the infidels!"

"What sayest thou?" broke from Sarins, with a swift sure blow; then, to his followers: "Let none of these escape." The supposed Turks instantly assailed, thermal* control with, such vigor th&t the real islamites thpire were at once eiiher. slain or taken prisoners. v -;< "Bix>ther,"' said "S'aT;kis to GreeiS ; "take toyo well-armed inen and go with them to the end of the \ dock. See~ .ajll is clear there. If any oppose, strike"first and explain, after, if .need: be. You kmow the signal: Give it as you go, and the God of our fathers go with you!" "I'll give'the isignal, all right. Three pistols, rapidly, then two at slower intervals. Hojd you the gate, Sarkis. If- you have trouble before Dalmar arrival I will .return." Greer, in leaving, already heard the I noise of the approaching body of men behind them; but the darkness was . such that he could see nothing. Then thought harried him as they 1 reached a half-ruined stone pier. '

Suppose the Mist isihould be delayed, or the boats on which so much now depended. The rendezvous and time was ' fully agreed on when Douglas left the T&tt'y to meet has own yacht. "That fight is growing behind us," ;i lie thought, as the three hurried down j'the slope toward the dock. "Well, ■ it's touch and go all round, anyhow." if Drawing his revolver he carefully ■ft made the agreed on signal, while the !; other two watched and listened. At 'rtlie gate the fury of battle was increasing. Sarins was evidently having '; troubles of his own. •,%

1} ' 'Why are not those boats here ?'' ho i fumed, then repeated the signai, rapjidly reloading afterwards. "Too dark '.to see anything. AW I Was our sigjiial repeated out there?" * "Yes, brother," answered one of jtlie others. "From the water it came." \[ "Do I hear oarlocks rattle?" Greer 5 was outwardly cool, but it was the acijine of internal excitement. "By the Irlord ,yes." Then in a louder key: i| "Boat ahoy. This way."

CHAPTER XXXV

THE LAST FIGHT OF SARKIS

The approaching sound of oars was deadened by the increasing noise of fighting at the Kumphassa Gate, that appeared to be Hearing the waterside. Turkish yells were overtopping the Armenian shouts that had hitherto prevailed. Suddenly a glare of light darted along the mined dock, and Sidney saw the mouth of a cannon pointing through the portal of the gate. They were training it upon some stubbornly fighting men who -were being pushed backward by overwhelming masses of troops and police. "That must be one of the troops from the Yildiz garrison I heard," thought Sidney Greer. "They have forced Sarkis and his men through the gate. Where in the world is the prince with his party?"

Then the roar of the cannon and the Shriek of the grapeshot overliead drowned all other sounds for the moment. After that he heard the close rattle of oars, and a bumping of boats against the dock. The searchlight all at once vanished as if extinguished by'some means, and Greer, turning, met the rays of boats' lanterns, showing armed and stern-looking, several sailors, and — good heavens! —could that be Alma's face, pale but resolute, malting reckless way toward the dock from the stern.

"Sidney," said the girl, not only fearless, but oblivious of others in that supremo moment, "I could not stay back, knowing that you were on shore with the others." She sprang on. th« dock. "Do you forgive me for all T have done —to you —to all?" "Yes— 1 ! adore you. But you must return. They are firing cannon " As he gathered her in liis arms a. deafening crash succeeded. He threw

OUS SERIAL.

•her down, protecting her with his own person, but the grapesliot swept harmlessly over them. Then he kissed ncr, gave her to a sailor to carry back again, but she stretched out her arms.

"Sidney, vou love me! All is well. I will go back—l will, I mil!" Meantime the first of the fugitives arrived, and were hurried aboard till the boat was full. Douglas, cool as ever, gave an order sharply.

"To the stern all men. First cutter will return at once."

So saying, he sprang into the next boat, pushed back to the dock and so reached Greer.

"She would come after 'all," he said. "Only force would have kept; lier back, and I hadn't the heart to use force. Bland will receive these people. Wo have two boats here besides."

"I ahvays knew that girl to he true mettle," said Greer. "Watch out, for they are firing again." Then reverting to Alma again "I reckon that's the reason I always loved her so!"

Two more discharges followed, but did no damage. Then, amid a brief flash they saw someone —could it be Dalmar? —wrench off a breech cap,and that cannon was silenced. But other pieces were coming up. The flash had vanished. It was only from a simultaneous discharge of musketry from behind the portal as more troops arrived.

And now they heard renewed again the Armenian. battle cry. Hard fighting was going on at the base of the dock. Someone had fired a row of thatched wooden isheds, amd through the rising blaze Dalmar and has men could be seen fighting desperately as they were pressed down toward the dock. In their centre, surrounded by armed men, were two or three noncombatants, among whom Greer thought he detected a woman. '.'"What a place for a female," he thought, as his mind reverted to the recent exposure of A'lma. ' 'Sarkis and I the prince keej),close to them. Heavens! They ten ,4p

..one.". ' From tlie streets on each ,side other troops' were pouring, hemming in the gallant band ontihree sides, and striving to cut them off from the dock. Two tall figures loomed dm the van immediately before the small group the party were trying to defend. Both Greer and Douglas could see that the dwindling defenders had but a remote chance. Sarins, having held the gate until Dalmar's. arrival with a small, picked guard conveying the primate Madam Yalid and the unwilling Dakoff, helped 'his prince to silence the first cannon, as we have seen. But other machine | guns were t being brought forward, and those on the dock could see Dalmar, 1 with his gigantic henchman, braced against the flood of foes that poured out upon them. "I can't stand this," said the Westerner, with a loaded revolver in each hand. "Come on, Douglas!',' he shouted, as he leaped forward. "Guard the end of the dock,'men," ordered the commander of the Mist a bit cutrtly; "Let no one into the boats but fugitives." And he followed after Greer."''' ' ' " ~

When the contest was fiercest the woman' turned to Dalmar, who was ever jin. front of her.

"Save yourselves, Dalmar," she said iir his ear.' "Uncle and I are only two worn-out captives, long in the hands of the tyrant." "Listen, Irma.'' Dalmar ceased not his efforts while speaking. "I have sworn to save the head of our church, or die witli him. You —are even — dearer—for old times' sake." Here he darted forward, to.cut down a, Turk who had darted forward, .seizing Dakoff. So many of .the fugitives were.in Turkish garb as to make distinction difficult. The Turk fell, but with a cry: of fear or rage, the sullen captive dart-' ed through the gap created by the fallen one, and rushed' into the midst, of the assaulting cohimn, crying: '. "Make way! Islam forever! I ami Muradßey!" ' And lie melted from their vision amid the closing ranks of the incoming troops. Dalmar .shot a keen look at Irana, fearing the shock might overcome her; but she was smiling, hardly noting anything but to support her feeble -uncle, whom the terrific confusion was weakening, though his courage flagged not. "Was he her own son?" the prince asked himself. ' 'God forbid.''

At this juncture Greer and Douglas reached the sliore end of the dock and where the fighting had reached . They noticed that a way was being cleared up the slope toward the gate to give play for the second cannon. , '"'Watch out prince," cried the Westerner. "The Rumphassa Gate!" 'To be Continued.)