at we are going to
travel through a country where the laws are often a mere name, and
people must take care of themselves."

"Take care of themselves--certainly, ma'am, but not by breaking the
laws. If a pack of vagabonds were to attack me I should hand them over
to the police, or apply at the nearest police-court for a summons. That
would be a just and equitable way of treating the matter."

"Where would you get your police, Burne? and whom would you get to serve
your summons if you could procure one?"

"Nearest town, sir--anywhere."

The lady laughed heartily, and her little husband rubbed his hands and
then patted her on the back.

"This lady is quite right, my dear Burne," said the professor. "I see
that we shall be obliged to go armed."

"Armed, sir!--armed?"

"Yes. We shall for the greater part of our time be in places where the
laws are of no avail, unless a body of troops are sent to enforce them."

"But then your firman will have furnished us with a Turkish soldier for
our protection."

"But suppose the Turkish soldier prefers running away to fighting?"
exclaimed the lady, "what then?"

"What then, ma'am?--what then?" cried the lawyer. "I flatter myself
that I should be able to quell the people by letting them know that I
was an English gentleman. Do you think that at my time of life I am
going to turn butcher and carve folks with a sword, or drill holes
through them with bullets?"

"Yes, sir, if it comes to a case of who is to be carved or drilled.
There!--think it over. Come, Charley! let's have our walk."

Saying which the lady nodded and smiled to the two elders, and was going
off in an assumed masculine way, when she caught sight of Lawrence lying
back in an easy-chair, and her whole manner changed as she crossed to
him and held out her hand with a sweet, tender, womanly look in her
eyes.

"Good-bye for the present!" she said. "You must make haste and grow
strong, so as to help me up the mountains if we meet somewhere farther
in."

CHAPTER SIX.

MR. BURNE TRIES A GUN.

"Now that's just what I hate in women," said the old lawyer, viciously
scattering snuff all over the place. "They put you in an ill temper,
and rouse you up to think all sorts of bitter things, and then just as
you feel ready to say them, they behave like that and disarm you. After
the way in which she spoke to Lawrence there I can't abuse her."

"No, don't, please, Mr Burne," said Lawrence warmly, and wi