Page:Ballantyne--The Pirate City.djvu/343

Rh "Indeed it will not. You may be sure that the Turks are even now searching for you, and as they know that I am here, and that you belong to my household—"

"By your lave," said Ted suddenly, "it sames to me that it's time for Ted Flaggan to look after his owld bones. I'm grateful to 'ee, sur.—Goodnight."

He pulled his boar-head down without awaiting a reply, and went hastily off in the direction of a small outhouse where Rais Ali was enjoying himself amid a circle of the French consul's domestics.

Dashing forward, he seized his friend by the arm and dragged him out by main force, to the amusement of the domestics, who thought it was a practical jest.

"Arrah! don't stare like that, but come along wid ye," said Ted, hasting to a neighbouring thicket, into the very heart of which he penetrated before halting.

"What be go wrong?" exclaimed Rais.

"They're after me, lad. Don't waste time spaikin. You've got your burnous here, haven't ye?"

"Yis!"

"Go, fetch it, an' sharp's the word."

Flaggan's tone and actions were such as to instil a spirit of prompt unquestioning obedience into his