Yussuf the Guide; Or, the Mountain Bandits. George Manville Fenn
guard you from extortion, and be ready to fight, if needs be, or force the people he comes among to give you or sell you what you need.”
“Oh! but are they such savages as this—so near to the more civilised places of the East?”
“Quite, sir,” replied the landlord.
“And where is this pearl among men to be found?” said the professor with a slight sneer. “Do you know such a one?”
“Yes, sir; he only returned from a journey yesterday. I happened to see him this morning, and thought directly of you.”
“Would he go with us?” said the old lawyer quickly.
“I cannot say for certain,” was the reply; “but if you will give me leave I will see him and sound him upon the subject.”
“Humph!” from the old lawyer.
“He has just been paid, and would no doubt like to stay and rest here a little while, but I daresay I could prevail upon him to go with you if he saw you first.”
“Then he is to be the master, not we?”
“Well, gentlemen, I don’t say that,” said the landlord smiling; “but people out here are very different to what they are at home. I have learned by bitter experience how independent they can be, and how strong their natural dislike is to Christians.”
“This man is not a Christian, then?”
“Oh, no, sir! a Muslim, a thorough-going Turk.”
“He will not carry his religious feelings to the pitch of pushing us over some precipice in the mountains, eh? and then come home thinking he has done a good work, eh, Mr. Landlord?” said the old lawyer.
“Oh, no! I’ll answer for his integrity, sir. If he engages to go with you, have no hesitation in trusting him with your baggage, your arms, your purses if you like. If he undertakes to be your guide, he will lose his life sooner than see you robbed of a single piastre.”
“And what will he require?” said Mr. Burne shortly; “what pay?”
“Very moderate, gentlemen, and I promise you this, that if I can persuade him to go with you, the cost of paying him will be saved out of your expenses. I mean that you will spend less with him than you would without.”
“And he knows something of the country?”
“A great deal, gentlemen. Shall I see if I can get him to go?”
“By all means,” cried the two elders in a breath.
“If he consents I will bring him to you. I beg pardon, I am wrong. I must bring him to see you first before he will consent.”
“Then, as I said before, he is to be the master, not we,” said the professor.
“No, no, sir, you must not take it like that. The man is independent, and need not undertake this journey without he likes. Is it surprising, then, that if he should come and see you, and not liking your appearance, or the prospect of being comfortable in your service, he should decline to go?”
“You are quite right,” said Mr. Burne. “I would not.”
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