"I used to walk at night, avoiding the highways for fear of some misadventure; at daybreak I would lie down at the foot of a pine tree, in the shadow of a rock, no matter where, provided the place was deserted. A fortnight passed in this way; I had accomplished more than half of my journey, and everything led me to hope that I should reach the end without hindrance. Alas! it must needs be otherwise. My provisions were now gone; the country was barren, there was no fruit, not even wild strawberries or whortleberries. One day, toward nightfall, I ventured to knock at the door of a solitary house. I was well received, and my host, an old Kurd, gave me a bountiful supper, to which I did full justice. I speak Turkish fluently, so it was easy to pass myself off for a Mussulman merchant on my way to Tabriz, and I said that I had been attacked by thieves who had made off with my horse and my baggage. "'May the will of Allah be done!' said my host. 'He will repay you fourfold for what he has taken from you. But a curse on these brigands who rob the servants of the Prophet, instead of contenting themselves with Christian dogs!' "While he was talking, one of his grandchildren, a little boy of four, had climbed on my knee and was playing with my watch; suddenly he took hold of my beard and pulled it with all his might, and the string that held the false hair broke, leaving the beard in his hands, to his great terror. I saw my host's eyes grow big with fright. "'Ah!' said he, 'so you are not the old merchant Abdallah, as you pretended.' He rose, and by a quick movement pulled off my turban and white wig. "'You are doubtless a spy, one of those fédai that infest our country. A curse on you!' and he spat on the ground, as a sign of scorn. "Seeking safety in flight, I rushed to the door; it was locked. I tried to force it open, but my host had already thundered out his orders: "'Hola, Jousif, Raschid, Hamid! Seize this dog!' "In an instant I was thrown to the ground, and bound fast; then my tormentors took me to an underground room and double-locked the door. I was convinced that my last hour had struck, and resigned myself to my fate, but as the days slipped by I began to wonder, from curiosity, rather than fear, what they were going to do with me. Every evening the door of my prison was opened, and a hand passed me a jug of water and some bread. The continued suspense began to weigh upon me. Five days had now passed since the catastrophe. I was lying in a troubled sleep, when a slight sound made me wake up with a start. "'Who is there?' I cried. "'Don't stir,' replied a voice, 'it is a friend.' "'A friend? Then I have not been forgotten?' "'No; I am an Armenian like yourself, and all the sons of Haik are brothers. Everything is ready for our flight; there is not a moment to lose. Come.'