“It’s a fifteen-mile fight ahead of him,” Monty answered, “with riflemen posted at every vantage-point all the way—­”

“Who is in charge of the riflemen?”

Kagig leaned back until he looked in danger of falling, and tapped his breast significantly three times.

“I—­I have picked the men who will command those riflemen and women!”

“Well,” Fred grumbled, “what are your plans for us?”

“For the last time, Fred, I want you, old man, to help me to persuade these others to escape into the hills while there’s still a chance, and I want you to go with them.”

“I also!” exclaimed Kagig.  “I also desire that!”

“Now you’ve got that off your chest, Didums, suppose you talk sense,” suggested Fred.  “What are your plans?”

Monty recognized the unalterable, and set his face.

“You first, Miss Vanderman.  There’s one way in which we can always use a gentlewoman’s services.”

“Mayn’t I fight?” she begged, and we all laughed.

“’Fraid not.  No.  The women have cleared out several houses for a hospital.  Please go and superintend.”

“Damn!” exclaimed Gloria, Boston fashion, not in the least under her breath.

“I am sending word,” said Kagig, “that they shall obey you or learn from me!”

“The rest of us,” Monty went on, “will know better what to do when we know what the Turk intends, but I expect to send all of you from time to time to wherever the fighting is thickest.  Kagig, of course, will please himself, and my orders are subject to his approval.”

“I’ll go, then,” said Gloria.  “Good-by!” And she kissed Will on the mouth in full view of all of us, he blushing furiously, and Kagig cracking all his finger-joints.

“Go with her, Will!” urged Monty, as she disappeared down the steps.  “Go and save yourself.  You’re young.  I’ve notions of my own that I’ve inherited, and the world calls me a back number.  You go with Miss Vanderman!”

I seconded that motion.

“Go with her, Will!  I’ve warned you she’s unsafe alone!  Go and protect her!”

Will grinned, wholly without malice.

“Thanks!” he said.  “She’s a back number, too.  So’m I!  If I left Monty in this pinch she’d never look at me, and I’d not ask her to!  Inherited notions about merit and all that kind of thing, don’t you know, by gosh!  No, sir!  She and I both sat into this game.  She and I both stay!  Wish Esau would open the ball, though.  I’m tired of talking.”

Chapter Nineteen “Such drilling as they have had—­such little drilling!”

ICH DIEN