“So I took a sportman into my confidence, and told him about my money, and why I wanted it.  He was not the foreman, but the man who took the place of foreman when the real foreman was too drunk—­the hungriest man of all, and so oftenest near the cook-fire.  When I had told him, he took me to a township where a lawyer was, and the lawyer drew up a document, which I signed.

“Then the sportman—­his name was Larry Atkins, I remember—­took that document and went to draw the money on my behalf.  And that was the last I saw of him.  Not that he was not sportman—­all through.  He told me in a letter afterward that the police arrested him, supposing him to be me, but that he easily proved he was not me, and so got away with the money.  Enclosed in the package in which the letter came were his diamond ring and a watch and chain, and he also sent me an order to deliver to me his horse and saddle.

“He explained he had tried to double my money by gambling, but had lost.  Therefore he now sent me all he had left, a fair exchange being no robbery.  Oh, he was certainly sportman!

“So I sold his watch and chain and the horse—­but the diamond ring I kept—­behold it!—­see, on Maga’s hand!—­it was a real diamond that a woman had given him; and with the proceeds I came back to Armenia.  In Armenia I have ever since remained, with the exception of one or two little journeys in time of war, and one or two little temporary hidings, and a trip into Persia, and another into Russia to get ammunition.

“How have I lived?  Mostly by robbery!  I rob Turks and all friends of Turks, and such people as help make it possible for Turks as a nation to continue to exist!  I—­we—­I and my men—­we steal a cartridge sooner than a piaster—­a rifle sooner than a thousand roubles!  Outlaws must live, and weapons are the chief means!  I am the brains and the Eye of Zeitoon, but I have never been chieftain, and am not now.  Observe my house—­is it not empty?  I tell you, if it had not been for my new friend Monty there would have been six or seven rival chieftains in Zeitoon to-night!  As it is, they sulk in their houses, the others, because Monty has rallied all the fighting men to me!  Now that Monty has come I think there will be unity forever in Zeitoon!”

He turned toward Monty with a gesture of really magnificent approval.  Caesar never declined a crown with greater dignity.

“You, my brother, have accomplished in a few days what I have failed to do in years!  That is because you are sportman!  Just as Larry Atkins was sportman!  He sent me all he had, and could not do more.  I understood him.  Why did he do it?  Simply sportman—­that is all!  Why do you do this?  Why do you throw your life into the hot cauldron of Zeitoon?  Because you are sportman!  And my people see, and understand.  They understand, as they have never understood me!  I will tell you why they have never understood me.  This is why: