“Water is the beverage of the Turk. He never touches intoxicants. Unspeakable he may be, but he has that virtue.” “That may be true,” said Dick; “but he doesn’t keep his streets clean.” In truth they had emerged into a labyrinth of dark, narrow, and filthy streets, all the charm of the place having disappeared as soon as they were fairly on land. The mosques and towers had vanished, and their surroundings were decidedly repellent. Everywhere was mud, and garbage, and dogs. Of the latter there seemed to be hundreds upon hundreds of every breed and description. “They are the street cleaners,” explained the professor. “Here no one harms a dog, for if it were not for them the city would become too filthy for human beings to inhabit.” “Well, I certain am not as much stuck on Constantinople as I was,” growled Brad. “I must remind you,” said Zenas, “that there is really no such place as Constantinople. The European quarters of the city is called Pera, while the Moslem quarter is Stamboul.” “Perhaps Brad isn’t stuck on it,” said Dick; “but I am. If this mud gets worse I shall be stuck on it to such an extent that I can’t perambulate. Look here, Mustapha, have we got to foot it all the way to our hotel?” “No, effendi; we tak’ tram car, we tak’ horse—you choose.” Even as he spoke they came to a street corner where several saddled horses were waiting, after the manner of cabs in an American city. “Me to the broncho!” cried Brad. “There is the tram car,” said Dick, with a motion. The car was seen a short distance away, and the professor favored choosing that method of conveyance. Mustapha, however, for all that he had invited them make their choice, argued against it, explaining that half the car was reserved for ladies and that the other half was always crowded to suffocation. Therefore they decided on the horses. Soon they were mounted and on their way up the long hill to Pera. Although much of its beauty had vanished, the strange sights and sounds of the city keenly interested the American lads. They beheld people of many nationalities, yellow-coated Jews, with corkscrew curls, Bohemians, Nubians, Chinamen, Englishmen—all hastening on their various ways. Pera proved to be a city quite modern in appearance, made up mostly of monotonous four-storied houses, new hotels, and shops filled with machine-made Oriental goods. The houses were flat-roofed and nearly all of them had balconies with cast-iron railings. At last they arrived at their hotel, where they settled with Mustapha, who settled in turn with the owner of the horses. “When I come next?” asked Mustapha. “You need interpriter dat spik lanquages well. I tak’ you all ofer efrywheres. You haf much troubles you try go ’thout good dragoman.” By this time the professor had fully recovered, and he made arrangements with the dragoman, who then took his departure.