It was, indeed, time to leave that pestilence-stricken town. During the day the fever had broken out with redoubled virulence among all those who had quartered themselves in the lower parts of the town, and the angel of death followed the victorious battalions into Arcadia, Argos, and Laconia, striking them right and left, and strewing the road with dying men. The judgment of God for those three ruthless days had come quickly. Mitsos' father, who had escaped unhurt, doing his quiet duty in the ranks of the Argives from the first, saw Petrobey before he left. "Tell Mitsos to come quickly," he said. "And did you know Father Andréa has not been seen since the first morning?" Meantime, in the north, it was found that the rumor of the Turkish landing was groundless, and Prince Demetrius was hurrying back to Tripoli. Germanos had joined him; but two days' march off the town, news of its capture was brought to them, on which Mitsos obtained permission to go on ahead to report the prince's coming, and announce that no landing of Turks had taken place. He travelled night and day, for his heart gave him wings, and late on the night of the 8th he reached Tripoli. The unutterable stench in the streets struck him like death, and turned consciousness to a horrible dread. Shutting his eyes to the ghastly wreckage that strewed the ways, more horrible under the dim, filtering light from the clear-swept sky than even in daylight, he went quickly up to the citadel, where he supposed the troops would be. He was challenged by the sentry at the gate, who, seeing who he was, admitted him at once. He was taken straight to Petrobey's quarters, in the room just below where Nicholas lay. The boy's voice was raised in eager question, but Petrobey hushed him. "My poor lad," he said, "you must be brave, for we know you can be brave. We have not found her, and in the room above Nicholas lies dying. He has been asking for you; go to him at once, little Mitsos. I will send your food there." Mitsos gave one gasping sigh. "She may yet be here," he said; "where are the women and the prisoners?" "There are no women and there are no prisoners," said Petrobey. Mitsos stood silent a moment, looking at the other with bright, dry eyes, and swaying a little as he stood. "And Uncle Nicholas is dying and has asked for me," he said. "Let me go to him." CHAPTER XIII NICHOLAS GOES HOME The room was lighted by an oil-lamp, turned low and shaded from the sick man. Yanni, who had been watching all night, was lying on the floor, dozing from sheer weariness; but he woke at the sound of Mitsos' entering, and got up. "Oh, Mitsos, you have come," he whispered, "he has asked for you so often." "Leave me alone here," said Mitsos, and the two were left together. Nicholas was lying with eyes only half closed, and Mitsos knelt by the bed. "Uncle, dear uncle," he said, "I have come."