ater streamed and dripped from the basket as they bore it over the
sands, and plumped it down, scowling fiercely, where they were told to
stop. Then turning, they were going off, but the professor bade them
stay.

They did not understand his words, but their tone was sufficient
command; besides there was Yussufs pistol, which acted like a magician's
wand in ensuring obedience.

"Tell the scoundrels that we will behave better to them than they have
to us, Yussuf," said the professor; and he took out from the dripping
basket a great sausage, a bottle of wine, and one of the tins of biscuit
that were within.

"Am I to give them this food, effendi?" said Yussuf calmly. "You will
get no gratitude, and the dogs will murder us if they get a chance."

"Yes; give it to them," replied the professor. "Coals of fire upon
their head, O follower of Mahomet. There, bid them eat. We may want to
make them work for us."

Yussuf bowed, and handed the food and wine to the two Greeks, who took
what was given them without a word, and went to join their companion.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

HOW TO BALE A BOAT.

"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Burne, after they had made a hearty meal, seated
upon the warm sands. "I don't know that I like my biscuit sopped, and
there was more salt than I cared for, but really I don't feel as if I
had done so very badly. Another taste of that wine, Preston. Hah!
well, we might have been worse off."

This was the general opinion, for matters looked better now, and a
discussion arose as to what they were to do next; whether they were to
travel along the coast till they came to some village, or, as Yussuf
suggested, try to get the boat baled out and righted, and once more make
for Ansina.

Yussuf declared that they were undoubtedly on the western coast of
Cyprus, but he could not tell them how far they might have to journey,
and it would be terrible work for Lawrence, who was too weak to walk
far, so the Muslim's suggestion was received; and its wisdom was
endorsed by the action of the Greeks, who had carried their skipper down
to the boat and seated him upon the sands.

"We are three strong men against two now," Yussuf had said, "for we will
not count the wounded master, or the young effendi here. The men shall
empty the boat of water, and they shall take us across to the coast."

"But suppose another storm should come?" said Mr Burne.

"If another storm should come we should meet it like men, effendi,"