“But could they stop it, once started?” I asked.

“They could try.  That ’ud be more than they ever did yet.”

“You mean,” said Monty, “that you’d like us to engage Kagig and make the trip, and to remain out in case of—­ah—­vukuart until we’re rescued?”

“Can’t say I like it, but that’s what I mean.  And as for rescue, the longer the process takes the better, I imagine!”

“Hide, and have them hunt for us, eh?”

“Would it help,” I suggested, “if we were to be taken prisoner by outlaws and held for ransom?”

“It might,” said the consul darkly.  “I’d take to the hills myself and send back a wail for help, only my plain duty is here at the mission.  What I have suggested to you is mad quixotism at the best, and at the worst—­well, do you recall what happened to poor Vyner, who was held for ransom by Greek brigands?  They sent a rescue party instead of money, and—­”

“Charles Vyner was a friend of mine,” said Monty quietly.

Fred began to look extremely cheerful and Will nudged me and nodded.

“Remember,” said the consul, “in the present state of European politics there’s no knowing what can or can’t be done, but if you four men are absent in the hills I believe I can give the Turkish government so much to think about that there’ll be no massacres in that one district.”

“Whistle up Kagig!” Monty answered, and that was the end of the argument as far as yea or nay had anything to do with it.  Prospect of danger was the last thing likely to divide the party.

“How about permits to travel?” asked Will.  “The United States consul told me none is to be had at present.”

The consul rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.

“It may cost a little more, that’s all,” he said.  “You might go without, but you’d better submit to extortion.”

He called the kavass, the uniformed consular attendant, and sent him in search of Kagig.  Within two minutes the Eye of Zeitoon was grinning at us through a small square window in the wall at one end of the veranda.  Then he came round and once more vaulted the veranda rail, for he seemed to hold ordinary means of entry in contempt.  His eye looked very possessive for that of one seeking employment as a guide, but he stood at respectful attention until spoken to.

“These gentlemen have decided to employ you,” the consul announced.

“Mashallah!” (God be praised!) For a Christian he used unusual expletives.

“They want to find a castle in the mountains, to hunt bear and boar, and to see Zeitoon.”

“I shall lead them to ten castles never seen before by Eenglismen!  They shall kill all the bears and pigs!  Never was such sport as they shall see!”

He exploded the word pigs as if he had the Osmanli prejudice against that animal.  Yet he wore a pig-skin cartridge belt about his middle.

“They will need enormous lots of ammunition!” he announced.