"No; but take care. Keep under cover of the hill." Jack ran to a turn that gave him a view of the road from Charmelik. As far as he could see along the track no creature was visible. But high up on the hill he saw dark forms, descending, doubtless by some goat-track known to themselves alone. They could reach Shushan almost as soon as he could. He tore back to her, possessed with the thought that he would set her on horseback, and make a race for it. But when he came near, he saw their horses had moved away, and were both out of sight. The shouts sounded nearer and nearer; he saw the flash of a gun, and heard the report. "Shack!" said Shushan. She was still sitting on the ground, having sprained her ankle in the fall. "Shack!" He bent down to her. He had been looking to his revolver, and held it in his hand. "If the worst comes," she said, "you will kill me with that--promise." Jack set his teeth for an instant: then he said firmly, "So help me God." Another pistol shot--not near enough to harm them. But the Kourds were upon them now. Jack saw the face of the man who had given them his hut--an evil face. He took aim, fired, and the Kourd fell in a heap, and rolled down the sloping ground to his very feet. But there were twenty following him, and most of them had guns, while Jack had no other shot--_for them_. He stood at bay between his wife and the robbers, keeping his hand on the revolver as if just about to fire. The Kourds desire close quarters with a dead shot as little as other men. They wavered,--hesitated. Presently one fellow, braver than the rest, discharged his gun, the shot passing close to Jack's head, then sprang down the slope and flung himself upon him. They closed in mortal conflict, hand to hand, foot to foot, eye to eye. At last Jack turned suddenly, dragged his foe to the edge of the abyss, tore himself loose with one tremendous effort, and with another, flung him over. Down--down--down, still down, he rolled and fell, fell and rolled, till he lay a mangled heap amongst the boulders at the bottom of the gorge. Jack would assuredly have followed him, had he not fallen, or rather thrown himself, backwards at full length on the path. As he lay there two or three bullets whizzed over him. They were the last salute of the departing foe. The Kourds by this time had had enough of it, and beat a retreat more rapid than their advance. When they found out their guests were not what they appeared to be, brethren from a distant tribe, they had supposed they might be Armenians carrying communications from the revolted Zeitounlis[3] to Urfa, and that therefore they would be worth intercepting. But now they came to the conclusion they were too well armed to be molested any further. It was long before Jack and Shushan dared to breathe again. "Park Derocha!" said Shushan at last. "Thank God!" Jack responded. He had risen to his feet, and was looking anxiously around to see that all was safe.