ook them.

The tiller had been lashed so as to set the Greek skipper at liberty,
and the travellers were alone, while, wearied by his extra exertion,
Lawrence lay back, apparently fast asleep, when Yussuf approached the
professor and his companion, with his water-pipe which he was filling
with tobacco, and about which and with a light, he busied himself in the
most matter-of-fact manner.

But Yussuf was thinking of something else beside smoke, for he startled
the professor and made Mr Burne jump and drop his cigar, as he said in
a low voice:

"Your excellencies are well-armed, of course?"

"Armed?" exclaimed the professor.

Yussuf did not speak, but stooped to pick up the fallen cigar, which he
handed to its owner.

"Be calm, excellency," he said smiling, "and tell me."

The professor looked at him suspiciously; but there was that in the
man's countenance that disarmed him, and he said quietly: "We certainly
have plenty of arms."

"That is good," said Yussuf, with a flash of the eye.

"But our weapons are packed up with our luggage, and went on by the
steamer."

"That is bad," said Yussuf quietly.

"We never thought they would be necessary till we got ashore."

"Look here, my man," said Mr Burne; "speak out. Are you suspicious of
these people?"

"My life has taught me to be suspicious, effendi," said Yussuf, lighting
his pipe, "particularly of the low-class Greeks. They are not honest."

"But surely," began the professor.

"Be perfectly calm, effendi," said Yussuf, pointing shoreward, and
waving his hand as if telling the name of some place. "I have nothing
certain against this Greek and his men; but we are out at sea and at
their mercy."

"But something has happened to make you speak like this," said Mr Burne
with a searching look.

"A trifle, effendi," replied the Muslim; "but a little cloud like that
yonder,"--pointing seaward now beyond the Greek sailors, so that the
travellers could see that they were watched by the skipper--"is
sometimes the sign of a coming storm."

"Then what have you seen?" said Mr Burne suspiciously.

"A trifle--almost nothing, effendi, only that the man there was out of
temper when he found that all your baggage had gone."

"Humph!" ejaculated Mr Burne. "Then you think there is danger?" said
the professor.

"I do not say that," said Yussuf, pointing shoreward again, "but your
excellencies may as well learn your lessons at once. We are commencing
our journey,