Page:Harold Lamb--The House of the Falcon.djvu/229

 "Sayaks of the council!" He drew a long breath, with a silent prayer for success. "I have said the khanum was taken by force from the valley. This thing I know because the rider who came hither is a stealer of women."

He walked to Mahmoud and raised his hand.

"Likewise, O hakim, the rider knew the paths into Yakka Arik because he had been here before."

Swinging about, Donovan held Iskander's eyes with his own.

"Scion of Tahir, you, like myself, have felt the evil of the slave dealer. Once a Vulture entered the valley, sinking his talons into the hearts of Sayak fathers and brothers"

"Aye," cried a Sayak. "He was a wilayti, base beyond words, such as Don"

"Peace!" barked Iskander. "Who should know the Vulture better than I—a father and a husband? Fools! Will you not heed the wisdom of Dono-van Khan who has shared our salt?"

The murmurs subsided and the warriors settled back passively, only their dark eyes following every motion of the white man.

At a single throw Donovan cast the weight of his influence against the uncertainty and suspicion of the Sayaks.

"Three years ago during the Great War I came to you when the mullahs of the Turks and the Tartars urged the Sayaks to join the standard of war against the Sirdar (the English government). I asked you to keep the peace."

"Aye," nodded Mahmoud, "the hadji of the temple added his voice to yours. Thus, the Sayaks kept the peace, and because of the fear of Yakka Arik, the