e away from them."

"He is quite right," said the professor calmly. "I was aware that we
should sometimes have to encounter these troubles."

"Humph! 'Pon my word!" grumbled Mr Burne. "Look here, Lawrence, let's
go back."

"What for?" cried the lad flushing. "Oh, no! we must go on."

The professor glanced at him quickly, and smiled in his calm grave way
before turning to the landlord.

"You have not given us your advice," he said.

"It is very simple, gentlemen, and it is this: Take with you a man who
knows the country well, who can act as guide, and from his frequent
travels there can speak two or three languages--a faithful trusty fellow
who will watch over you, guard you from extortion, and be ready to
fight, if needs be, or force the people he comes among to give you or
sell you what you need."

"Oh! but are they such savages as this--so near to the more civilised
places of the East?"

"Quite, sir," replied the landlord.

"And where is this pearl among men to be found?" said the professor with
a slight sneer. "Do you know such a one?"

"Yes, sir; he only returned from a journey yesterday. I happened to see
him this morning, and thought directly of you."

"Would he go with us?" said the old lawyer quickly.

"I cannot say for certain," was the reply; "but if you will give me
leave I will see him and sound him upon the subject."

"Humph!" from the old lawyer.

"He has just been paid, and would no doubt like to stay and rest here a
little while, but I daresay I could prevail upon him to go with you if
he saw you first."

"Then he is to be the master, not we?"

"Well, gentlemen, I don't say that," said the landlord smiling; "but
people out here are very different to what they are at home. I have
learned by bitter experience how independent they can be, and how strong
their natural dislike is to Christians."

"This man is not a Christian, then?"

"Oh, no, sir! a Muslim, a thorough-going Turk."

"He will not carry his religious feelings to the pitch of pushing us
over some precipice in the mountains, eh? and then come home thinking he
has done a good work, eh, Mr Landlord?" said the old lawyer.

"Oh, no! I'll answer for his integrity, sir. If he engages to go with
you, have no hesitation in trusting him with your baggage, your arms,
your purses if you like. If he undertakes to be your guide, he will
lose his life sooner than see you robbed of a single piastre."

"And what will he requir