not
to risk his life.

"Dear Thyra," cried Jack, "you shall not be taken. I will and must
protect you."

He sprang up the stairway, and was soon on the roof.

It was a sight indeed to appal the stoutest heart.

As far as the eye could reach was an excited crowd, restless, furious,
and thirsting for vengeance.

In the front were a body of troops, in Turkish uniform, led by the
captain of the guard by whose side could be recognised the sinister
countenance of Abdullah.

They caught sight of Jack Harkaway.

He was recognised.

A shout burst from a thousand throats; a deep, angry cry, like the roar
of a tempestuous sea.

Thousands of eyes flashed upon him--the eyeballs gleaming white from
out of the dusky skins.

"The murderer of the pasha--the despoiler of the harem!" they cried.
"Death, death to him, and all the Christians!"

Jack endeavoured to parley with them; but it was useless, until silence
was obtained by the commands of the captain of the guard and Abdullah,
who called out to Jack--

"Resistance is useless; surrender at once, or I will not answer for
your life."

"If you want me, you must come and fetch me," returned dauntless Jack.

"Your blood be upon your own head, then," said Abdullah.

The captain gave the word of command, and the battering, for a while
suspended, was recommenced upon the door below.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

THE SIEGE--THE ESCAPE--A DESPERATE RUSE.

Jack now left his dangerous elevation, and returned to his friends.

"Quite as bad as it can be," he said; "there's nothing for it but to
make a desperate resistance, and to die game."

The yells and shouts of the crowd outside were like the combined roar
of a large herd of wild beasts.

The blows became more furious on the door.

It quivered beneath the repeated shocks; but its own strength, and that
of the fastenings, and particularly the barricade behind it, still
defied the efforts of the besiegers.

Suddenly the hammering ceased, the yells of the crowd subsided.

Then came a volley of musketry.

They were firing at the door.

The volleys came thick and fast; the woodwork, strong as it was, began
to be penetrated by the bullets.

It was clear the place would soon be untenable.

Should the besiegers enter, all hope of escape would be over.

"At least, we'll return their fire," said Jack.

The windows in the wall facing the street were mere loopholes.

At each of these, Jack commanded one of his men to