Page:Harold Lamb--The House of the Falcon.djvu/92

 "Monsey, effendi, in your carriage I followed the ekka without the gate, through the lanes of this accursed city, and up into the northern road to the first relay of horses. By the winged horse of Afrasiab, they went swiftly. Come, in the name of Allah, we must lose no time. All is ready. Oh, I have not been idle. I and you, also, know whither that fox of an Iskander will run to earth. By riding certain sheep paths, we can overtake them."

"And then"

"The Arab will have but one or two men and the woman will encumber them. O Most Generous and Most Wise, have you forgotten that in the uplands we have a mighty following who will come at our summons? That, and a little gold, of course. When I sent the firman to the effendi, I sent also a little whisper to these, our allies of the uplands, where there is no law save that of strength. Now they await our coming. They know where the fairest women of the Sayak village or the Kirghiz hamlets are to be found, and where they may be sold at the highest price. Aye, with the Americain khanum

"My wife. I tell you, I will marry her, and then sell her back to her father, who will be fool enough to take her."

Abbas nodded readily.

"The wisdom of Iskander was no greater than that of the effendi. Aye, by pretending to seek for the woman on behalf of the British pig—for a little price, to lull his suspicions—we will cause him to wait here idly."

Attentively, Monsey had followed the complacent words of the Alaman. Now he checked Abbas.

"Will you take Alai Bala?"