On the other hand it was quite clear that during my absence Miss Vanderman had not been idle.  Excepting the two men who had admitted me, every one was seated—­she on the floor among the women, with her back to the wall, and the rest in a semicircle facing them.  Two of the women had their arms about her, affectionately, but not without a hint of who controlled the situation.

“What have you been doing?” Fred demanded, and be laughed at Gloria Vanderman with an air of triumph.

“Making preparations,” I said, “to take Miss Vanderman to Tarsus.”

I wish I could set down here a chart of the mixed emotions then expressed on that young lady’s face.  She did not look at Will, knowing perhaps that she already had him captive of her bow and spear.  Neither did Will look at us, but sat tracing figures with a forefinger in the dust between his knees, wondering perhaps how to excuse or explain, and getting no comfort.

If my guess was correct, Gloria Vanderman was about equally distracted between the alternative ignominy of submitting her free will to Armenians or else to us.  Compassion for the women in their predicament weighed one way—­knowledge that our friend Monty was in durance vile contingent on her actions pulled heavily another Fred was frankly enjoying himself, which influenced her strongly toward the Armenian side, she being young and, doubtless the idol of a hundred heart-sick Americans, contemptuous of forty-year-old bachelors.

“Of course we shall not let you go!” one of the Armenians assured her in quite good English, and I began fumbling at the pistol in my inner pocket, for if Arabaiji was to run to Zeitoon, then the sooner the better.  But it needed only that imputation of helplessness to tip the beam of Miss Gloria’s judgment.

“You can attend to the sick ones.  You can play music for us all.  Doubtless these other two have qualifications.”

I was too busy admiring Gloria to know what effect that announcement had on Fred and Will.  She shook herself free from the women, and stood up, splendid in the flickering yellow light.  There was a sort of swift move by every one to be ready against contingencies, and I judged it the right moment to spring my own surprise.

“When I fire this pistol,” I said, producing it, “a man will start at once for Zeitoon to warn Kagig.  He has a note in his pocket written to Kagig.  Judge for yourselves how long it will take Kagig and his men to reach this place!”

The nearest man made a very well-judged spring at me and pinned my elbows from behind.  Another man knocked the pistol from my hand.  The women seized Gloria again.  But Fred was too quick—­drew his own pistol, and fired at the roof.

“Twice, Fred!” I shouted, and he fired again.

“There!” said I.  “Do what you like.  The messenger has gone!”

And then Gloria shook herself free a last time, and took command.