Yussuf the Guide Part 8

"Yes, ma'am--the laws of his country, or the laws of the country where he is; and the proper arms of a lady, madam, are her eyes."

"And her tongue," said the professor to himself, but not in so low a voice that it was not heard by Lawrence, who gave him a sharp look full of amus.e.m.e.nt.

Mrs Chumley smiled and bowed.

"Very pretty, sir!" she said; "but you forget that we are going to travel through a country where the laws are often a mere name, and people must take care of themselves."

"Take care of themselves--certainly, ma'am, but not by breaking the laws. If a pack of vagabonds were to attack me I should hand them over to the police, or apply at the nearest police-court for a summons. That would be a just and equitable way of treating the matter."

"Where would you get your police, Burne? and whom would you get to serve your summons if you could procure one?"

"Nearest town, sir--anywhere."

The lady laughed heartily, and her little husband rubbed his hands and then patted her on the back.

"This lady is quite right, my dear Burne," said the professor. "I see that we shall be obliged to go armed."

"Armed, sir!--armed?"

"Yes. We shall for the greater part of our time be in places where the laws are of no avail, unless a body of troops are sent to enforce them."

"But then your firman will have furnished us with a Turkish soldier for our protection."

"But suppose the Turkish soldier prefers running away to fighting?"

exclaimed the lady, "what then?"

"What then, ma'am?--what then?" cried the lawyer. "I flatter myself that I should be able to quell the people by letting them know that I was an English gentleman. Do you think that at my time of life I am going to turn butcher and carve folks with a sword, or drill holes through them with bullets?"

"Yes, sir, if it comes to a case of who is to be carved or drilled.

There!--think it over. Come, Charley! let's have our walk."

Saying which the lady nodded and smiled to the two elders, and was going off in an a.s.sumed masculine way, when she caught sight of Lawrence lying back in an easy-chair, and her whole manner changed as she crossed to him and held out her hand with a sweet, tender, womanly look in her eyes.

"Good-bye for the present!" she said. "You must make haste and grow strong, so as to help me up the mountains if we meet somewhere farther in."

CHAPTER SIX.

MR. BURNE TRIES A GUN.

"Now that's just what I hate in women," said the old lawyer, viciously scattering snuff all over the place. "They put you in an ill temper, and rouse you up to think all sorts of bitter things, and then just as you feel ready to say them, they behave like that and disarm you. After the way in which she spoke to Lawrence there I can't abuse her."

"No, don't, please, Mr Burne," said Lawrence warmly, and with his cheeks flus.h.i.+ng, "I am sure she is very nice when you come to know her."

"Can't be," cried the lawyer. "A woman who advocates fire and sword.

Bah!"

"But as a protection against fire and sword," said the professor laughing.

"Tchah, sir! stuff!" cried the other. "Look here; I can be pretty fierce when I like, and with you so big and strong, and with such a way with you as you have--Bah! nonsense, sir, we shall want no arms."

"Well, I propose that we now consult the landlord."

"Oh, just as you like, sir; but if he advocates such a proceeding, I'm not going to stalk through Turkey carrying fire-irons in my belt and over my shoulder, like a sham footpad in a country show."

The landlord was summoned--a frank-looking Englishman, who listened to all the professor said in silence and then replied:

"Mr Thompson the consul is quite right, sir. We are not in England here, and though this is the nineteenth century the state of the country is terribly lawless. You know the old saying about when at Rome."

"Do as the Romans do, eh?"

"Exactly, sir. Every second man you meet here even in the town goes armed, even if his weapons are not seen, while in the country--quite in the interior, it is the custom to wear weapons."

"Then I shall not go," said Mr Burne decisively. "If you ask my advice, gentlemen, I should say, carry each of you a good revolver, a knife or dagger, a sword, and a double-barrelled gun."

"Sword, dagger, and gun!" cried the professor. "Surely a revolver would be sufficient."

"Why not push a nice large bra.s.s cannon before us in a wheel-barrow?"

said Mr Burne sarcastically, and then leaning back in his chair to chuckle, as if he had said something very comical, and which he emphasised by winking and nodding at Lawrence, who was too much interested in the discussion upon weapons to heed him.

"A revolver is not sufficient, for more than one reason, gentlemen,"

said the landlord. "It is a deadly weapon in skilful hands; but you will meet scores of people who do not understand its qualities, but who would comprehend a sword or a gun. You do not want to have to use these weapons."

"Use them, sir? Of course not," roared the lawyer. "Of course not, sir," said the landlord. "If you go armed merely with revolvers you may have to use them; but if you wear, in addition, a showy-looking sword and knife, and carry each of you a gun, you will be so formidable in appearance that the people in the different mountain villages will treat you with the greatest of respect, and you may make your journey in safety."

"This is very reasonable," said the professor.

"I a.s.sure you, sir, that in a country such as this is now such precautions are as necessary as taking a bottle of quinine. And beside, you may require your guns for game."

"The country is very fine, of course?"

"Magnificent, sir," replied the landlord; "but it is in ruins. The neglect and apathy of the government are such that the people are like the land--full of weeds. Why, you will hardly find a road fit to traverse, and through the neglect of the authorities, what used to be smiling plains are turned to fever-haunted marshes spreading pestilence around."

"You will have to give way, Mr Burne," said the professor smiling, "and dress like a bandit chief."

"Never, sir," cried the lawyer. "You two may, but I am going through Asia Minor with a snuff-box and a walking-stick. Those will be enough for me."

"Where can we get arms?" said the professor smiling.

"At Politanie's, sir, about fifty yards from here. You will find him a very straightforward tradesman. Of course his prices are higher than you would pay in London; but he will not supply you with anything that is untrustworthy. Perhaps you may as well say that you are friends of our consul, and that I advised you."

"It is absurd!" exclaimed Mr Burne, as soon as they were alone. "What do you say, Lawrence, my boy? You don't believe in weapons of war, I'm sure."

"No," replied Lawrence quietly.

"There, professor."