o cut
your throat. Greenmantle will avenge the murder of his ministers, and
make that bedlamite woman sorry she was born. We're going to get clear
away, and inside of a week we'll be having tea with the Grand Duke
Nicholas.'

I wasn't bluffing. Puzzled as I was about ways and means I had still
the blind belief that we should win out. And as I spoke two legs
dangled through the trap and a dusty and blinking Peter descended in
our midst.

I took the maps from him and spread them on the table.

'First, you must know that we've had an almighty piece of luck. Last
night Hussin took us for a walk over the roofs of Erzerum, and by the
blessing of Providence I got into Stumm's room, and bagged his staff
map ... Look there ... d'you see his notes? That's the danger-point
of the whole defence. Once the Russians get that fort, Kara Gubek,
they've turned the main position. And it can be got; Stumm knows it
can; for these two adjacent hills are not held ... It looks a mad
enterprise on paper, but Stumm knows that it is possible enough. The
question is: Will the Russians guess that? I say no, not unless
someone tells them. Therefore, by hook or by crook, we've got to get
that information through to them.'

Sandy's interest in ordinary things was beginning to flicker up again.
He studied the map and began to measure distances.

'Peter's going to have a try for it. He thinks there's a sporting
chance of his getting through the lines. If he does--if he gets this
map to the Grand Duke's staff--then Stumm's goose is cooked. In three
days the Cossacks will be in the streets of Erzerum.'

'What are the chances?' Sandy asked.

I glanced at Peter. 'We're hard-bitten fellows and can face the truth.
I think the chances against success are about five to one.'

'Two to one,' said Peter modestly. 'Not worse than that. I don't
think you're fair to me, Dick, my old friend.'

I looked at that lean, tight figure and the gentle, resolute face, and
I changed my mind. 'I'm hanged if I think there are any odds,' I said.
'With anybody else it would want a miracle, but with Peter I believe
the chances are level.'

'Two to one,' Peter persisted. 'If it was evens I wouldn't be
interested.'

'Let me go,' Sandy cried. 'I talk the lingo, and can pass as a Turk,
and I'm a million times likelier to get through. For God's sake, Dick,
let me go.'

'Not you. You're wanted here. If you disappear the whole show's
busted too soo