The Turkish troops had now become a long, dark quadrangle, sliding slowly down the giant S. The sun dropped behind the mountain, the white letter became black, and the quadrangle disappeared. The fleeing man and woman were in the world's amethyst shadow. "Shall we turn now, Panayota?" asked Curtis. "I care not where, so we go together." For answer she turned and held up her hand. He listened, but heard nothing. "Voices," said the girl, "and footsteps. But I hear no more. They are moving stealthily." "Is it more Turks, coming from in front?" "God knows, but I think not." She led the mule some distance to the side of the road into a clump of green oleander. Curtis slid to the ground and looked carefully to his rifle. "Panayota," he whispered, hurriedly, "they shall not take us while I live. I love you. We may have but a few moments together. Let me take one kiss, the first, perhaps the last." He put his arm about her, but she placed her hand against his breast and pushed him from her, with a cautious "hist!" The footsteps of many men could be heard plainly, not far up the road now. "If they would only speak," she muttered. The words were hardly out of her mouth ere some one uttered a sharp and hurried command in a suppressed tone. "They are Greeks!" exclaimed the girl. "Now Christ and the Virgin--" But Curtis put his hand gently over her mouth, whispering: "Hush! Perhaps it is a ruse." The moon had not yet arisen, and the darkness was like ink. Some one stumbled, and a musket fell "ching!" among the rocks. "Take care!" said an imperious voice in Greek. "That's Kyrios Lindbohm," whispered Panayota. "I know his voice." "Lindbohm don't know any Greek," replied her companion. "He could not be in Crete one day without learning the word for 'take care!' I tell you it's Lindbohm. Who that has ever heard that voice could forget it? I should know it," murmured the girl, "if I heard it in my grave." Curtis was too excited to take note of the singular remark. The men were now passing them quite close and several of them were conversing in low tones. The girl leaned forward, listening. Then suddenly she called in a loud voice: "_Patriotai_, where are you?" Utter silence for several moments, broken at last by an inquiring "Eh?" and the clicking of rifle locks. "Lindbohm!" "Curtis, by damn! It's all right; come out!" The American sprang eagerly forward, but stepped on a stone. Then he leaped on to the back of the mule and Panayota led the animal out into the highway and into the midst of a goodly company of armed insurgents, who forgot all discipline, and broke forth into a volley of questions. The American and the Lieutenant were shaking each other by the hand through it all. "I saved her!" cried Curtis. "I killed two Turks and did up another. Then we ran away on this mule. I cracked one of 'em on the head and shot another. I smashed one with my fist and took his gun away from him. Then I--"