To get word to Rustum Khan was simple enough, for he himself came riding down to get news.  The minute he learned what Monty wanted of him he turned his horse back up-hill at a steady lope, and I began on the next item in the program.

Nor was that difficult.  The reading aloud of Will’s letter, translated to them by Anna, convinced the women that their beloved bridge was in no immediate danger, and no less than three hundred of them marched off to reenforce Kagig’s men behind Beirut Dagh.  I reckoned that by the time they reached the scene of action we would have a few more than three thousand men and women in the field under arms —­against Mahmoud Bey’s thirty thousand Turks!

There remained to scrape together as many as possible to man the castle walls; and what with wounded, and middle-aged women, and men whose weapons did not fit the plundered Turkish ammunition, I had more than a hundred volunteers in no time.  The only disturbing feature about this new command of mine was that it contained more than a sprinkling of the type of malcontents who had bearded Kagig in his den the night before.  Those looked like thoroughly excellent fighting men, if only they could have been persuaded to agree to trust a common leader.

Not one of them but knew a thousand times more of Zeitoon, and their people, and the various needs of defense than, for instance, I did.  Yet they clustered about me for lack of confidence in one another, and shouted after the women who marched away advice to watch lest Kagig betray them all.  Not for nothing had the unspeakable Turk inculcated theories of misrule all down the centuries!

I led them up to the castle, they carrying with them food enough for several days.  We passed Rustum Khan coming down with the horsemen, and I fell behind to have word with him.

“Which of these men shall I pick to command the rest?” I asked him.  “You’ve more experience of them.”

“Any that you choose will be pounced on by the rest as wolves devour a sheep!” the Rajput answered.

“Should I have them vote on it?”

“They would elect you,” he answered.

“I’ve got to be free to look for Miss Gloria.  She’s kidnapped —­disappeared utterly!”

Rustum Khan swore under his breath, using a language that I knew no word of.

“A woman again, and more trouble!” he said at last grimly.  “Let like cure like then!  Choose a woman herdsman!” he grinned.  “It may be she will surprise them into obedience!”

“I’ll take your advice,” said I, although I resented his insinuation that they were a herd—­so swiftly does command make partisans.

“The last thing you may take from me, sahib!” he answered.

“How so?”

“So few against so many!  I see death and I am not sorry.  Only may I die leading those good mountain-men of mine!”

It was part and parcel of him to praise those he had drilled and scorn the others.  I shook hands and said nothing.  It did not seem my place to contradict him.