LOVE AND THE CRESCENT
 
 A TALE OF THE NEAR EAST 
 BY 
 
 A. C. INCHBOLD 
 
 Author of 
 
 "Under the Syrian Sun," "The Road of No Return" 
 "Phantasma " "Love in a Thirsty Land," etc. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 
 PUBLISHERS
 
 Copyright, 1919, 1920, by 
 FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 
 
 All rights reserved
 
 LOVE AND THE 
 CRESCENT 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 SOME ONE was uncommonly restless on the terrace of 
 the hotel. He was pacing untiringly to and fro 
 though the night was very warm and very still. His step 
 was light and alert and the supple swing of movement 
 was charged with nervous force. He walked with his 
 head thrust forward meditatively, and he was smoking 
 as if for a wager against time. 
 
 Chatter of voices curiously varied in tone, laughter, 
 and the tinkling of glass and coffee cups drifted through 
 the open French windows, sounds that contrasted oddly 
 with the superb calm and crystal atmosphere of the open. 
 
 For the locality of this summer hotel was on a highland 
 plateau of Syria, some 3,000 feet above sea and plain. 
 The matchless prospect around was of billows of moun- 
 tain ridges, while immediately below the eye a pine 
 strewn slope, scattered with huge bowlders of rock, slid 
 almost perpendicularly into a deep ravine. Daylight 
 would show in its depths a sturdy stream hurtling its 
 way through thickets of rose-laden oleanders. 
 
 A lull in the gayety caught the walker's attention. 
 
 He paused opposite one of the glass doors and stared 
 into the lighted interior. He stood in shadow or surely 
 the look in his eyes would have been more guarded. 
 
 i 
 
 2136-177
 
 2 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 It was a typical French physiognomy, mobile yet strong, 
 showing a play of expression that revealed more than 
 ordinary interest in the scene contemplated. 
 
 A number of lamps shed a mellow glow into every part 
 of the long salle-a-manger which did duty as salon to 
 the hotel guests. The red of the Turkish tarboosh was 
 conspicuous at one long table where a number of men 
 were playing loto. 
 
 Near the table a distinguished looking Oriental, in the 
 uniform of a Turkish general, with feet tucked up and 
 shoes on the floor, occupied the center of a spacious divan. 
 
 He was a strong-limbed, lean man with keen, blue-gray 
 eyes, an aquiline nose, a red-brown mustache, long and 
 drooping, and hair almost black under his fez. 
 
 A second officer, spectacled, and with iron-gray beard, 
 sat near him with only the elbow rest between. Both 
 men were smoking cigarettes. Intermittently they ex- 
 changed remarks in staccato under-tones. 
 
 Ahmed Pasha, the younger man, was on his way to 
 inquire into some serious disturbance between Moslems 
 and Christians in an inland Syrian town. With his 
 second in command, Mahmoud Pasha, the elderly Turk 
 by his side, and various officials now seated at the long 
 table with a few local notables, he was making a half 
 way halt on his journey. 
 
 Flurry, not to say exaggerated agitation, among the 
 hotel personnel had attended the unannounced arrival. 
 With surprising affability His Excellency had at once 
 given orders that the routine of the day should not be 
 interrupted, and that the same menu in preparation 
 for the other guests would also serve for him and his 
 officers. 
 
 Dinner was over but Ahmed Pasha had not retired to
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 3 
 
 the suite of rooms prepared for his use. He remained 
 cross-legged on the divan like an impassive spectator at 
 a play, ostensibly watching the excited loto players 
 and occasionally tossing a remark to one and the other. 
 
 In striking contrast to this desultory interest were the 
 piercing side glances he flashed at intervals towards an 
 alcove big as a room, occupied apparently by Europeans. 
 
 Mahmoud Pasha's attention strayed in the same direc- 
 tion, not intermittently, however, but with sustained and 
 open curiosity. 
 
 One group in the alcove was particularly animated 
 while watching a man and a girl draw near the end of 
 a keenly contested game of draughts. 
 
 "There!" exclaimed the girl, speaking in French as 
 she removed two captured kings from the board. "How 
 is that, mother ? ' ' she added, turning to a fragile looking 
 woman with auburn hair, sitting beside her on the high 
 backed sofa. 
 
 "Bravo!" approved Madame Anna Severin in a low- 
 toned mellow voice, her wistful lips parting with a smile 
 as she regarded the diminished men of the opponent. 
 "You'll have some pains to redeem that loss, Herr 
 Eosen." 
 
 "It is nothing nothing at all, I assure you, Madame. 
 The game is by no means lost, ' ' was the optimistic reply 
 of the second player who sat on the opposite side of a 
 small card table drawn up to the sofa. 
 
 Herr Otto Rosen was a German of typical solid build 
 with an obstinate jaw, and close upright hair of a sandy 
 hue without a parting. While staring at the board he 
 twirled swiftly the points of a thick mustache, which 
 of darker shade than his hair, made a gash across his 
 face, standing out aggressively on either cheek.
 
 4 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 For an instant Madame Severin's deep-set eyes looked 
 at him, then their veiled but probing gaze traveled round 
 the room before returning to the embroidery in her hands. 
 Her brow was troubled. She stole a glance at Veronica, 
 who appeared totally unconscious of the bold looks of 
 admiring curiosity flung at her from the long table as 
 well as the divan. 
 
 Yet in reality Veronica was far from serene. Small 
 signs of mental disturbance were visible to her mother, 
 who pondered over their origin. For the clear pallor 
 of the girl's cheeks was flushed to a rose pink. Her 
 eyes, large and peculiarly blue beneath their fringe of 
 dark lashes were almost black in hue. Their gaze was 
 restless, now intent on the game, now directed suddenly 
 to the door or flung through the open window opposite 
 into the velvety darkness beyond; then back again to 
 study the disposition of the draughts, and later to dart 
 across the table a quizzical yet bewildering glance flick- 
 ered with gay and saucy triumph. 
 
 Once without knowing it she looked direct into the eyes 
 of the watcher on the terrace. He moved a step forward, 
 then with a resolute movement withdrew. 
 
 Two questions were driving through Veronica's brain 
 while to all appearance the game engrossed her attention. 
 
 Why had Pierre Marson been absent so long ? Where 
 was he ? 
 
 Two hours ago the bells of the mountain mule train 
 ringing the approach of letters and papers had broken up 
 conversation of a very intimate nature between Pierre 
 and herself. Directly the bells became audible the spell 
 had shivered utterly and swiftly as a pricked soap 
 bubble. 
 
 She had known he was waiting impatiently for letters,
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 5 
 
 important ones, but only at the instant of his apology for 
 leaving her abruptly did she realize how slender were 
 the links of intimacy between, and how little each one 
 knew of the other's life. Yet so ready and irresistible 
 had been the sympathy between them even in the first 
 hour of acquaintance only three days earlier by the 
 way that neither a longer space of time nor its bosom 
 friend propinquity could have rendered it more com- 
 plete. 
 
 Pierre Marson's seat had been vacant at table-d 'hote. 
 Veronica had reflected that probably correspondence had 
 obliged a meal in his own room. Surely he would come 
 back before the evening was over. 
 
 But for this hope Veronica would readily have given 
 way to her mother's suggestion of withdrawing to their 
 rooms at the end of dinner. 
 
 Instead she accepted with unusual friendliness Herr 
 Rosen's challenge to a game of draughts. As German 
 consul in the distant town where the Severins had lived 
 for a score of years, he was not only on a familiar foot- 
 ing with the family but had displayed for some time 
 all the stubborn perseverance of his Teuton nature in 
 efforts to win Veronica's affections. 
 
 She was certainly desirable to any man's eyes, a strik- 
 ing and charming figure in her white summer frock as she 
 reclined with languorous grace against the yellow silk 
 background of the sofa. Her hair was very black and 
 soft and abundant while her skin had the creamy texture 
 of a magnolia petal. Just above the wavy line where 
 the hair grew thickly about about her low, broad forehead 
 before spreading out to cling with tiny tendrils round 
 her ears, a band of ribbon was slung in color the same 
 blue as her eyes. The calm lines and dignified modeling
 
 6 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 of the lower part of her face were of a distinctly Roman 
 type. By birth, however, she was Russian on her 
 mother's side, and her dead father, Doctor Nicholas 
 Severin, who had gained his skill in a Paris hospital, had 
 been of Armenian parentage. Such grafting of race is 
 by no means uncommon in the near East, but not always 
 are the human flowers which spring from it of so rare 
 and sweet a quality as Veronica. 
 
 With dismay simmering into hot rage Pierre Marson, 
 still stationary on the terrace, could not fail to notice the 
 magnetism of the girl's beauty for the Oriental guests. 
 Like all men who know their East he could appraise the 
 exact value of their admiration. 
 
 Incensed he regarded Madame Severin. What did 
 she mean by submitting her daughter to such an ordeal ? 
 And pray, where was Veronica's brother, the sober-faced, 
 reticent doctor? Why could not that blind ass of a 
 Rosen have so arranged his chair at the table as to screen 
 his partner from the insult of such glances ? 
 
 For an instant Marson meditated a dash of rescue into 
 the room to carry her off. Where? Anywhere as long 
 as it was out of the radius of that Turkish circle. Then 
 his excitable Gallic blood was suddenly cooled by the 
 mental reminder that, all too soon, he must be bidding 
 her good-by with small prospect, as far as the present 
 house could foretell, of ever seeing her again. 
 
 What right then had he to interfere at all? 
 
 He stood stock still another moment frowning hard to 
 himself. Then he walked quickly to the end of the ter- 
 race and entered the vestibule of the hotel. The manager 
 was busy in his office. 
 
 "How long are your new visitors staying, Dimitri?" 
 asked Monsieur Marson.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 7 
 
 Under the light of the hanging lamp he showed up a 
 distinguished and noticeable figure. He looked very tall 
 and big in his white linen clothes. His eyes were dark 
 and keen, and he had the clear bronzed skin of one living 
 much in the open air. 
 
 "To-morrow they go or perhaps after to-morrow, I 
 cannot tell," replied the Greek with a propitiatory ges- 
 ture. "Monsieur will not be incommoded as he is leav- 
 ing in the early morning." 
 
 "Not at all. I merely asked out of curiosity. Any 
 fresh news through to-night?" 
 
 "Unless the Moslems are playing one of their hidden 
 games they are holding their hands for the moment. 
 They expect the Pasha and know that, being a just 
 man, he will protect the innocent and discover the 
 guilty." 
 
 "It is all in the Christians' favor then?" 
 
 "You have said it, effendi, but" here Dimitri's face 
 lengthened ' ' doubtless the worst is yet to come. ' ' 
 
 "Don't imitate the raven, Dimitri. It is not profit- 
 able. Beisdes peace will last for the present. I am a 
 good prophet." 
 
 ' ' Monsieur has perhaps received the latest telegrams, ' ' 
 began the man eagerly, but Pierre was already swinging 
 along the corridor as though hastening to an urgent 
 engagement. 
 
 Half way along a door opened and the man whose seem- 
 ing neglect of his womankind Pierre had condemned 
 stepped into the passage. 
 
 A little girl with floating fair curls, and a delicate 
 piquant little fece with brilliant dark eyes, was clinging 
 to his arm. She was slightly lame, and it flashed upon 
 Pierre Marson, suddenly confronted with the pair, that
 
 8 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 solicitude for his motherless girl might easily blind Nicho- 
 las Severin to a wider responsibility. 
 
 A foregone conclusion not entirely just. For though 
 Zia possessed the most devoted of fathers, Doctor Sever- 
 in 's output of that intuition and sympathy never lacking 
 in the born healer, was instinctive and even prodigal. 
 Pierre ought to have seen him at home in his hospital, or 
 in the midst of daily dispensary work when the ailing 
 of many races Arabs, Bedouin, Jew, Armenian all 
 gathered at his gate, or squatted in the dust of the road- 
 side waiting their turn to a hearing and treatment that 
 was never denied. 
 
 On the other hand it would never occur to Nicholas 
 Severin when his mother was at hand, to meddle in a 
 matter of propriety touching Veronica. Besides their 
 code of feminine etiquette was entirely European and 
 not Oriental. It was as absolutely correct from his 
 standpoint for his mother and sister to brave the fire of 
 Turkish curiosity as it was for the American mission 
 aries forming another small party in the alcove. His 
 sister's beauty was a factor that a brother would be less 
 likely than another man to take into consideration. 
 
 The Armenian strain in the family was more evident 
 in Doctor Severin than in Veronica. His eyes were un- 
 mistakably Oriental, full, almond-shaped, and deep, soft 
 and dark as a midnight sky. The nose was straight and 
 well formed with sensitive nostrils. The short trimmed 
 beard and hair were black as jet. His figure of medium 
 height was slim and erect, while his step and carriage 
 had the ease and lightness of the born Oriental. 
 
 The slow-gathering smile with which he looked up 
 evoked a curious glow of response from Pierre's eyes. 
 It was so strangely like the smile of Veronica.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 9 
 
 "Hullo, so there you are at last, mignonne," Pierre 
 called out gayly. "Where have you and the good papa 
 been hiding?" 
 
 ' ' Indeed, we have not been hiding, ' ' said Zia earnestly. 
 "Father has been rubbing my leg and stopped the 
 aching. ' ' 
 
 "That's splendid," said Pierre, caressing her curls, 
 ' ' but do you know Meme looks as if she missed you. Go 
 and cheer her up while father comes on the terrace for a 
 little air." 
 
 ' ' You must not be long, papa, ' ' she said, imperatively. 
 
 "Aunt Veronica is playing draughts with Herr 
 Rosen," put in Pierre artfully. 
 
 "Oh!" she exclaimed, drawing in her breath, then 
 letting it escape slowly in thrilling anticipation. ' ' Then 
 he will have to play with me. Father, you will make 
 him?" 
 
 "By holding the medicine bottle in one hand and a 
 lancet in the other," suggested Pierre. 
 
 Zia stared at him open-eyed, then with an access of 
 understanding mirth laughed loud and shrilly. 
 
 "You funny man!" she cried. "I shall tell him 
 just what you said." 
 
 "Come along then," said her father, "quick, quick! 
 I shall join you on the terrace in a few minutes, Mon- 
 sieur Marson." 
 
 "Good luck, Zia!" called Pierre Marson, looking 
 after them. 
 
 He went outside again and began to walk to and fro, 
 but leisurely, and in a less preoccupied mood. A glance 
 into the salle-a-manger again held him. His look and 
 bearing were those of a man curbing a strong inclination. 
 
 "To what good?" he muttered. "The ennui of
 
 10 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 regret, undoubtedly. Divided interests are out of the 
 question . . . but who knows . . . later ..." and he 
 continued to look steadily into the room with an expres- 
 sion in his eyes into which it was just as well those inside 
 could not read their own interpretation. 
 
 ' ' I fear you are remaining on the terrace solely on my 
 account," said a voice at his side. 
 
 "Not in the least," said Marson, turning sharply 
 round. "Thank you," he added, taking a cigar from 
 the case held out by Dr. Severin. "The Pasha and his 
 following interest me. That is all. Yet as I am leaving 
 to-morrow I wish to spare myself the ennui of a visit of 
 ceremony. ' ' 
 
 "You would find it less wearisome than you imagine. 
 He is quite an interesting character and bears an excel- 
 lent reputation. People have great faith in his opin- 
 ion." 
 
 "So Dimitri told me. A Turk, I suppose?" 
 
 "No, a Kurd, strange to say, and once nothing less 
 than a brigand of might and note like so many of his 
 race. ' ' 
 
 ' ' A brigand ! ' ' echoed Pierre, turning shortly to scan 
 with kindling gaze the keen-featured man on the divan. 
 
 "Yes, and he seems to have been influential in that 
 career as in this his latest, the judicial. He gave so 
 much trouble and had such a big following of rebels that 
 the late Sultan took a bold step. ' ' 
 
 "Abdul Hamid certainly had a few original ideas," 
 interposed Pierre as they began to pace the terrace, Dr. 
 Severin speaking in a subdued voice with an occasional 
 swift glance around as if to see they were still alone. 
 
 "Very good in this particular," he said dryly. "He 
 made overtures of peace to Ahmed Agha, declaring that
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 11 
 
 if he would renounce the life of brigandage he should be 
 received into the Turkish army with the rank of major. 
 Ahmed Pasha accepted the offer and soon became one 
 of the finest and most valuable officers in the service. He 
 is universally respected and feared to a like degree. ' ' 
 
 "I suppose he was drafted into the famous Has- 
 madieh cavalry?" 
 
 "To start with." 
 
 "Had you met him before to-day?" 
 
 "Once 'he paid a visit to my hospital when passing 
 through Opella. An ancient member of his band of free- 
 booters lay dying there of an incurable malady, and hear- 
 ing that his old agha was in the town begged to see him. 
 I made the request personally and privately and Ahmed 
 Pasha yielded to the wish of the dying. ' ' 
 
 "No false pride then, or shame shall I say, to cause 
 him to wish to hide all evidence of his earlier career of 
 pillage and probably murder?" asked Marson shortly, 
 for some occult reason feeling keen on detecting a flaw 
 in the panache of this regenerated bandit. 
 
 "No grounds existed for shame from his standpoint 
 or that of other people. On the contrary, the remem- 
 brance has invested him with a halo of amazing wisdom 
 and military skill in the eyes of the people, especially 
 the hill folk." 
 
 ' ' I hope the errand on which he is bound relates only 
 to a local disturbance." 
 
 "I hardly know. There are so many incentives in 
 Asiatic Turkey to stir up friction. News is disquieting 
 rather than otherwise," said Nicholas Severin uneasily. 
 "Since Abdul Hamid's iron grip has left the helm, cer- 
 tainty in this country is more than ever an unknown 
 quantity. Christians of Syria and Asia Minor generally
 
 12 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 are acutely alive to the fact that unrest in Constantinople 
 is usually the prelude to local massacres under the faint- 
 est pretext . . . especially since these last cursed wars. ' ' 
 
 "It seems to me that once the young Turk party is 
 rid of military stress there are signs that they will then 
 set to work on the development of national resources," 
 said Pierre, confidently. "Industry and agriculture 
 once in full swing the antagonistic factions will cease to 
 agitate. There will be no time to invent and circulate 
 those eternal suspicions which create the disasters." 
 
 ''God knows!" said the doctor with an accent of 
 melancholy fatalism. ' ' I have heard many promises but 
 lived to see precious few fulfillments. What can we do 
 without railroads for instance? Projects for making 
 them are always in the air, but how many are there that 
 come to anything?" 
 
 "The Germans seem pretty active over the Bagdad 
 railway scheme anyhow, worse luck," said Pierre, " but 
 one or two others are going straight ahead that have 
 nothing to do with them. I can vouch for that." 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Nicholas Severin, his eyes turning 
 to Pierre's face with a flash darting from their dark 
 depths. Had he spoken out what was in his mind it 
 would have been of plans of the kind approved by the 
 Turkish government, past and present, constantly com- 
 ing to naught ; of extensive surveys and long reports, and 
 yet nothing accomplished ; of schemes marching to appar- 
 ent execution and then the working of them proving 
 barren through broken or neglected promises. For did 
 not hurry make of man a slave when all the future, free 
 and limitless, lay ahead? 
 
 ' ' For that very reason, now this seeming lull has set in, 
 I can delay my journey no longer," continued Marson,
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 13 
 
 earnestly. "The papers for which I was waiting, my 
 various passports and permits are now all secured. I 
 start early to-morrow." 
 
 ' ' You expect to be away a year I think you said. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Just about ! For my mission and its practical devel- 
 opment cannot be hurried. There is only one thing that 
 could check me. That is war, which is always more or 
 less in the air these days. Also local difficulties may 
 arise. Arabs in the interior may not all be friendly. ' ' 
 
 "Backsheesh is the price of their good- will and the 
 ready solvent to obstacles they push in the way." 
 
 "Unless others have been first in the field. Those 
 Germans crop up everywhere. But what have we here ? ' ' 
 said Pierre, stopping suddenly as they passed one of the 
 open windows. 
 
 ' ' Not only a just ex-brigand but a strict devotee to the 
 Moslem faith," and he threw up his head, laughing 
 noiselessly.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 ONE minute earlier a Turkish orderly had entered the 
 salle-a-manger carrying a small rolled carpet. Near 
 the divan of the pashas he unfolded it on the floor, 
 salaamed, and then stepped noiselessly to one side, where 
 he remained still as a statue. 
 
 Ahmed Pasha's impassive face became suddenly dis- 
 turbed by an uneasy quiver as his neighbor on the divan 
 got up with folded hands. 
 
 A few hurried words in an undertone passed between 
 the two, then Ahmed Pasha also rose to his feet with a 
 slow movement of dignity. Towards the alcove he cast 
 a narrow glance sideways, walked a few steps across 
 the room as if considering his mode of action, then turned 
 resolutely to his companion who was standing gravely on 
 the carpet. 
 
 Side by side they knelt in evening prayer to Allah. 
 Certain members of the party at the big table regarded 
 one another with subdued faces. A shrug here, a quick 
 gesture there, a vivid flashing of dark eyes right and left, 
 and a few others got up and followed the lead given them 
 by their superior officers. 
 
 A strange silence fell upon the rest of the room while 
 the kneelers began to go through the full gamut of 
 Moslem genuflexions, prostrations and muttered for- 
 mulas. The low monotonous murmur of their voices was 
 curiously impressive. 
 
 Pierre Marson looked eagerly towards the alcove where 
 
 14
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 15 
 
 Zia, seated between her grandmother and aunt, was far 
 too buried in her game to take notice of anything hap- 
 pening outside the limits of the small table in front of 
 her. 
 
 Herr Rosen had cast a swift glance around to ascertain 
 the nature of the movements, then his lips had curled 
 superciliously. He made no comment, only worked the 
 ends of his mustache more industriously than before. 
 He was willing enough to be amiable to Zia and even to 
 allow her to carry off the honors of victory after a pur- 
 posely protracted game, provided that Veronica remained 
 in the corner of the sofa, her eyes fixed with seeming 
 interest on the board. But his air of conscious virtue 
 refused to be hidden. 
 
 Veronica had ceased to expect Pierre. Her restless- 
 ness had ebbed to a calm, the pink flush had vanished 
 from her cheeks. Her gaze, hidden under lowered eye- 
 lids, was miles away. She looked like some beautiful 
 statue, still and meditative, as she leaned slightly for- 
 ward, her hands clasped upon her knees. She was pre- 
 occupied and even sad. 
 
 For while she sat quietly there her thoughts dwelt per- 
 sistently on the morrow. She would be sitting there as 
 now, but Pierre Marson, her new friend, would be far 
 away, passed out of her life. Their short intercourse 
 would have come to an end. Yet what did it matter? 
 And what was it that gave her that mental reluctance 
 to face the plain fact that he was going away? 
 
 As this question, often repeated, again thrust its barb 
 into her mind she became acutely conscious in every 
 nerve that light, firm steps were advancing on the tes- 
 sellated tiles from the direction of the window. The 
 gravity of her lips relaxed into an involuntary smile of
 
 16 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 glad surprise. For an instant her eyelids quivered, then 
 lifted slowly as she looked up and beyond the card-table 
 to the spot where the footsteps had come to a standstill 
 behind Herr Rosen. 
 
 Pierre Marson was looking straight into her eyes with 
 something dominating in his gaze to which she responded 
 instinctively as to a call. His silence was made intelli- 
 gible by one gesture indicating the kneelers at prayer, 
 while another directed to the open window behind was 
 plainly significant. 
 
 The girl bent sideways behind Zia and whispered to 
 Mme. Severin, who nodded indulgently, and while glanc- 
 ing with a smile at Pierre took up a soft white shawl 
 beside her. 
 
 Veronica took the wrap, rose noiselessly and went for- 
 ward, while still the monotone of voices continued to 
 mutter through the room. 
 
 Of a sudden Herr Otto Rosen awoke to a change in 
 the situation. With an abrupt movement he twisted his 
 chair half round just in time to see Pierre and Veronica 
 pass through the window and vanish in the dusk with- 
 out. 
 
 His eyes hardened and narrowed. The chair creaked 
 loudly as he turned back and stared across at Mme. 
 Severin with a certain cynical challenge in his glance. 
 But she appeared to be negotiating a difficult passage in 
 her embroidery and either did not or would not see the 
 unspoken question. 
 
 "Go on! I am waiting," said Zia, imperiously, her 
 cheeks ablaze with the fire of her interest in the game. 
 
 A deep line suddenly showed between Herr Rosen's 
 brows. His lips tightened. For a moment he looked 
 fixedly into space, then with a quick, almost ferocious,
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 17 
 
 gesture he put out his hand and swept the whole of the 
 draughts into a huddled heap. 
 
 "Enough! It is time for children to be in bed," he 
 said in a harsh voice. 
 
 Zia's sharp scream of dismay at the amazing act 
 changed promptly into an outcry of passion and heated 
 retort which Mme. Severin tried in vain to curb. 
 
 Veronica stopped short outside the window and then 
 made a vacillating movement towards the room. 
 
 "No! It is all right. Your brother is going in. He 
 has already entered," said Pierre, stepping in her way. 
 "He can manage her best. Come this way!" 
 
 With the force of the stronger will he led her to the 
 spot where the mule bells had broken into their talk. It 
 was a little bay in the terrace parapet. Hurriedly he 
 dragged forward the same wicker chairs which had been 
 thrust back when he and Veronica had come away. 
 
 "Sit down," he said gently, and then when she was 
 in the chair he stood beside her for a moment without 
 speaking. 
 
 Before them the jet black silhouettes of tree tops 
 emerged from the shadows. The fragrance of pines and 
 aromatic shrubs rose like the breath of incense from the 
 darkness of the gorge. A rippling light as of the dawn 
 vaguely silvered the furthest ridge of the mountain 
 chain. It spread over the sky above, and then the stars 
 paled on their purple background. The full moon began 
 to climb slowly into view above the hills. 
 
 To Veronica the silence felt like a sudden shadow 
 between them. Under pressure of a growing nervous- 
 ness she began to speak rapidly in a low voice. 
 
 "The little Zia is not really naughty. Certainly she 
 is spoiled a little, but then she is very delicate and
 
 i8 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 suffers cruelly at times. If her mother had lived it 
 would have been different." 
 
 Pierre turned at once and sat down on the parapet 
 facing her. 
 
 "Yes," he said absently, "yes," his brown eyes fixed 
 upon her with an absorbing look. 
 
 "The pasha will understand. No doubt he has 
 children of his own. It would be strange, indeed, if 
 they are not very willful. They always are in this 
 country. Zia is an angel compared with many. ' ' 
 
 "Who was her mother?" he asked. 
 
 "She was the sister of an Englishman who lives out- 
 side Opella. He has a silk factory and employs a great 
 number of native work people. He and my brother 
 used to be great friends, but he has become strange and 
 a little eccentric in his way of living, and since Zia's 
 mother died we see less and less of him." She paused, 
 then added hurriedly, ' ' Especially since his marriage to 
 the daughter of Sheikh Mabruk of one of the Weldeh 
 camps. ' ' 
 
 Pierre Marson's eyes widened. He was amazed and 
 not altogether pleased at this climax, which let loose a 
 whole flock of unwelcome side issues. 
 
 "An original, evidently," he said lightly, "but 
 exactly the kind of thing one expects of an expatriated 
 Englishman. One extreme or the other, and preferably 
 the most startling. The whole hog as his countrypeople 
 soulfully put it." 
 
 "Zorah is beautiful," said Veronica, refusing to treat 
 the subject humorously, "and sweet-tempered, and very 
 brave. ' ' 
 
 "A whole rosary of charms," Pierre replied, his eyes
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 19 
 
 sparkling wickedly, "but why brave? Is the English- 
 man as difficult as all that ? ' ' 
 
 "Oh no, she adores her husband. It is because many 
 of her tribe are angry at her marriage with a Roumi. 
 It puts her outside the camp, makes her a kind of out- 
 cast. Her father was willing, so she takes no notice of 
 the others and visits him just the same. ' ' 
 
 "Do you visit the Englishman and his Arab wife?" 
 
 "Not often. They come to us, for you see Mr. Culver 
 is Zia's uncle. He was devoted to his sister, who was a 
 very sweet and clever woman. Next to her father Zia 
 thinks nobody is equal to her Uncle John. ' ' 
 
 Veronica's spasm of nervousness had vanished. Her 
 absence of pose and self-consciousness had a distinct 
 charm apart from the imaginative glamor shed over her 
 whole fascinating personality by the growing radiance of 
 the moon. His dark eyes dwelt upon her with a look of 
 illumined tenderness. Was it possible he had never even 
 known of her existence three short no, very long 
 days ago? 
 
 "I am going to-morrow. It is quite settled. My 
 marching orders came with the mail, ' ' he said, changing 
 the subject abruptly. 
 
 "As soon as that?" she said. "Then you are glad 
 to realize your wishes." 
 
 "I ought to be, but I am not quite sure," he said, 
 slowly. "I want to go because it is the highest thing to 
 me in life to be a pioneer for my country. I want to 
 bear the colors of France into the unknown, to be one of 
 those who help to change the surface of the desert into 
 a garden. Yet I want to stay here " he paused, 
 and turned his hand on the parapet to gaze on the magic
 
 20 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 panorama of moon-bathed rocks and hill tops. Reflec- 
 tion was urging him to a prudent reserve in spite of 
 emotion's insistent demand for expression. "I am leav- 
 ing to-morrow," he repeated, again facing her. "Will 
 you think of me at times?" 
 
 Her heart began to beat quickly as she listened. 
 Though she forced a smile the reply, "Why, of course!" 
 falling from her lips was almost a whisper. 
 
 "Would you give me a welcome if you saw me again 
 one day, say at your home in Opella?" he said with 
 sudden recklessness. 
 
 "A good welcome," she said frankly, meeting his 
 ardent look without wavering. ' ' I should be very happy 
 to see you there, so would Mother and Nicholas. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you! That is what I wanted to be sure of," 
 he said, speaking with so eager and tender an accent that 
 she became confused and turned her head to look far 
 over the gorge. 
 
 A nervous impulse again drove her to words. 
 
 "We should miss you enormously if our visit here 
 were only beginning," she said. 
 
 "When do you leave then?" 
 
 ' ' The day after to-morrow. ' ' 
 
 "So much the better. I am glad to hear it," he said 
 shortly. 
 
 "But why?" she asked, looking round again, her 
 embarrassment conquered by surprise. 
 
 "There are too many natives here, impudent beg- 
 gars!" 
 
 She laughed merrily, womanlike catching readily at 
 this chance to postpone a crisis of which a secret trem- 
 bling of soul warned the approach. 
 
 "Do not laugh, I beg of you! I am quite serious," he
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 21 
 
 said with something of distress and even of mortification 
 within him that gayety could at this moment lie so near 
 the surface of Veronica's mood. 
 
 "I am sorry," she said, "but I could not help pictur- 
 ing the faces those distinguished notables of Stamboul 
 and Damascus would draw if they overheard your re- 
 mark. It was so droll to dump them all into one basket. 
 You will learn to make distinctions in your travels. ' ' 
 
 "Never! My opinions are quite formed. But why 
 are we wasting our time on these matters ? Let us speak 
 of ourselves. I want you to write to me sometimes, Ver- 
 onica. ' ' 
 
 He spoke with a throb in his voice. The name had 
 escaped so naturally that save for the splendid sudden 
 glow at her heart she took its utterance as a matter of 
 course. 
 
 He had taken her hand and held it in a warm firm 
 clasp. The moon rays lit her face. She was gazing 
 directly at him, with a grave shining of the eyes. 
 
 "You would really like it? Then you must write to 
 me first," she said in a low voice, "or I shall not know 
 where you are." 
 
 He pressed her hand more closely, then bent his head 
 and kissed it softly. 
 
 "Of course I shall write, for you give me permission, 
 and who knows but that next year some time " he 
 paused, making a final effort to conquer that something 
 irrepressible within. His voice shook as he went on, ' ' I 
 dare not say now what I would wish. I have a duty, a 
 mission ' ' 
 
 "You must come in, Veronica," said Dr. Severin's 
 voice, coming from a little distance away. "Little 
 mother is tired."
 
 22 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 In a moment the girl was on her feet. With a slight 
 shiver she drew her mother's big shawl closely round her 
 shoulders. Though a strange tremulous joy had invaded 
 her heart it was shadowed by a vague aching that would 
 later become enlarged to a substantial pain for all that 
 had been left unsaid, and all that might never be said. 
 
 Anger crowned Pierre's first rush of feeling at the 
 interruption. This was as quickly followed by a sense of 
 narrow escape from a perilously strong and sweet tempta- 
 tion which had sprung up with speed of magic to bar the 
 road of his pledged word and duty to France. 
 
 First in order must come his mission, he told himself 
 doggedly. Later later was the word with which he 
 sought to still the hunger at his heart as they walked 
 slowly towards Nicholas Severin. 
 
 During those few steps taken side by side under the 
 spell of a pregnant silence Veronica knew that she loved 
 Pierre. And Pierre was going away. How could she 
 bear it ? She felt stunned, and yet filled with the burn- 
 ing instinct of concealment. He must not know, not yet ! 
 Her face suffused first with the fear and then with the 
 certainty that already she must have betrayed her secret. 
 
 She made a brave rally as she stretched out her hand 
 before entering the room. 
 
 "Then this must be good-by," she said in her normal 
 voice. "I wish you all success in every way, and bon 
 voyage ! ' ' 
 
 "No!" returned Pierre emphatically. "Au revoir! 
 At Opella next year." 
 
 "Au revoir, then," returned Veronica, gayly, though 
 now she could not raise her eyes. 
 
 Then she drew her hand away and went immediately 
 into the hotel.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 23 
 
 "Ah!" ejaculated Mme. Severin softly, watching 
 Veronica, as pale and very grave but still with the shin- 
 ing in her eyes she came up to the sofa. The pasha and 
 his party had all gone from the room. 
 
 "Where is Zia?" asked the girl, her voice vibrating 
 slightly gave the only sign of emotion. 
 
 "In bed asleep. She was worn out. And Monsieur 
 Marson, where is he?" 
 
 ' ' Outside with Nicholas. I expect he would like to see 
 you, as he leaves early to-morrow. ' ' 
 
 "Then, my little one, it is not forbidden for him to 
 enter and make his adieux to me here." 
 
 Veronica cast a look of unconscious appeal at her 
 mother as she turned to the window. 
 
 "It is not necessary," said Mme. Severin, getting up 
 quickly. "Nicholas will make my excuses. He knows 
 I am tired. Give me your arm, Veronica. It is very 
 late already."
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 BETWEEN Veronica and her mother existed an abso- 
 lute confidence, so that when inside their bedroom 
 Mme. Severin drew her by the arm, face to face, and 
 looked into her eyes the girl's still pallor melted under 
 the questioning gaze. 
 
 "He loves me," she whispered, radiant and trembling. 
 
 "And then?" asked the mother. 
 
 "He is coming next year." 
 
 "Next year," repeated Mme. Severin, blankly, her 
 forehead contracting. "Where to?" 
 
 ' ' To us at home, ' ' and suddenly with the words Ver- 
 onica felt a sharp presentiment of the pains of uncer- 
 tainty and of absence. She drew in her lower lip tightly 
 to check its untimely quiver. For though, deep within, 
 her heart already ached, the wonder and joy of the past 
 hour were still uppermost. 
 
 Anna Severin folded the girl in her arms and kissed her 
 tenderly. With wise intuition she oeased to press for 
 details. Dilation upon an indefinitely deferred wooing 
 bearing on the surface so vague a prospect of fruition 
 was better suppressed. She was conscious through the 
 night that Veronica was very wakeful. 
 
 "My poor little girl," she sighed under her breath, 
 opening her eyes in the early morning to see a slim 
 young figure in white noiselessly unlatch the shutters and 
 then remain upright by the window in a listening 
 attitude. 
 
 Close at hand from the court below rose the stir of 
 
 24
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 25 
 
 horses to the accompaniment of Arabic exclamations and 
 shrill chatter. Then a tempered pause as a clear but sub- 
 dued voice gave a sudden order which was followed by a 
 noise of cantering. 
 
 Pierre Marson had passed an agitated night broken 
 by dreams in which he had lost Veronica, and in the 
 urgent drive of seeking her had faced perils of a remark- 
 able and terrible nature. Was it premonition or over- 
 anxiety, he questioned, as he opened his eyes. Sunlight 
 restored a normal outlook, and in the bustle and concen- 
 trated purpose of departure he forgot the perturbed 
 travail of his sleep. 
 
 A spasm of emotion that memory was to bring back at 
 intervals during the day, and in days still to come, caught 
 his breath, as turning in the gateway for a last look at 
 the hotel and not anticipating a glimpse of Veronica he 
 saw her face, fresh as a rose, albeit a white rose, appear 
 between the slightly opened sun-shutters of her room. 
 
 He checked his horse as he bared his head with the 
 sweeping gesture of a Frenchman. She waved her hand. 
 For a moment their eyes were locked, a trembling smile 
 parting Veronica's lips. Then quickly the shutters 
 closed, and he rode slowly down the hill with an unsup- 
 portable sense of exile. Sorely was he tempted to turn 
 back to investigate the secrets of life by the wide and 
 fair highway of love rather than pursue the untrodden 
 tracks he was setting out to trace and forge in response 
 to the call of his manhood's role and duty. 
 
 Engaged by his government through the medium of a 
 famous engineering company for a secret survey in little 
 known regions of Turkey in Asia his going was as inevi- 
 table as it was imperative. His task though charged with 
 zest and profound interest would be hazardous and
 
 26 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 arduous. The isolation of unpeopled wastes lay ahead. 
 Perils and privations would beset him, but being made 
 of the virile yet tough stuff of which failure is rarely 
 made he was bound in the end to win through the pur- 
 pose in hand. And for the matter of that any other pur- 
 pose on which his will should be bent with the same 
 dynamic force. 
 
 Circumstances being equal his expedition was to be 
 made as unobtrusive as possible. His few expert assist- 
 ants as well as the necessary camp servants were to be 
 his chief if not sole companions for many months to 
 come. To attack his work in the right spirit and with 
 the w.ide vitality and forcefulness of his character he 
 must be unfettered by responsibilities of an intimate per- 
 sonal nature, or the sweet human ties which have a way 
 of dispersing energy. Freedom in mind and will was 
 an essential to success, for it was no puny task he had 
 shouldered. 
 
 Besides it was fairer all round to Veronica. That she 
 responded to the love he held fiercely chained in his heart 
 he knew without any spoken assurance. Words were 
 useless. There was that between them, now each had 
 found the other, that could not remain hidden, and that 
 would be deathless. But from his man 's point of view it 
 was only by silence and present rigid suppression that 
 he was able to play the game squarely, fairly, and in all 
 honor. And with splendid assurance he anticipated the 
 future, an assurance which is the prime factor of success- 
 ful achievement. 
 
 As he rode away with the haste of a man eager to out- 
 strip remembrance, Veronica, slipping out of her white 
 peignoir, crept back to bed blinded by a rush of sudden 
 tears.
 
 She lay for a while with tightly closed eyelids, her face 
 to the wall, aching and desolate for the lost treasures 
 of the might-have-been. Then youth's balm of hope stole 
 gently over her heart with healing touch. For though 
 Pierre was almost a stranger, she fiercely told herself, 
 and she had as yet no real right in his life, he had said 
 he would return. 
 
 Had he really meant it ? Hope urged her to belief and 
 confidence in spite of adverse signs. For it is always 
 the impossible that may happen, argues the young heart, 
 and when all seems contrary it still holds firm through 
 thick and thin to the fighting chance in love. 
 
 Yet already with the mystic insight of the initiated 
 she foresaw that love and sorrow must often be boon com- 
 panions. That either could exist without the other 
 experience alone could prove. Through the whole of 
 this last day in the hills, meditation like a soft veil before 
 her eyes held her in a little world apart, where the eyes 
 of her soul looking out from their watch tower followed 
 with intense longing the image of the man whose absence, 
 more than anything else, showed how unspeakably dear 
 he had become. 
 
 She was relieved to be going home. Life up here had 
 suddenly lost all savor. The wonder which magnifies 
 the smallest memory of love was upon her so that it was 
 a torment to move among scenes provoking at every turn 
 a rush of recollection, augmenting her sense of loss and 
 the growing space between Pierre and herself. 
 
 This state of mental detachment stayed with her dur- 
 ing the homeward journey. But she was not the type of 
 girl that sits down and mopes because the man she loves 
 is miles away and his return to her indefinite. 
 
 On the contrary, remembrance linked with hope drove
 
 28 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 her to take up her life with a finer zest than ever before 
 in the one-storied, green-shuttered house that was her 
 home. It was situated behind high walls in a garden 
 thick with foliage adjoining the hospital where Dr. 
 Severin was chief. 
 
 Both house and hospital stood in the Christian suburb 
 of Opella, connected by a leafy boulevard with the maze 
 of Oriental streets, the khans of the mosques with their 
 courts, the bazaars with their spreading expanse of flat 
 roofs which all together made up the town, broken by 
 cupola and minaret and cypress trees, the whole domi- 
 nated by the low hill in the center crowned with its 
 ancient castle. 
 
 Apparently a period of waiting loomed ahead for Ver- 
 onica, though by no means one of inaction, for in addi- 
 tion to the daily routine there were many things to do 
 in her world. 
 
 Zia's desultory lessons had to be started afresh and 
 new ways devised to render them attractive and as little 
 irksome as possible. Then Mme. Severin though nomi- 
 nally holding the household reigns was far from robust 
 and left much of the practical management to her daugh- 
 ter. Not always an easy task with native servants to 
 spur into activity, and the doctor's frequent demands on 
 the kitchen for special cases in the hospital. 
 
 In a year's time! This was the magic formula which 
 lent vitality to Veronica's days, and color to her busy 
 life. Out of the constant dwelling upon a promise in 
 which love gave her firm faith there sprang into existence 
 that unquenchable feeling of romantic expectation intui- 
 tive to every maiden heart. 
 
 This expectation became of tangible stuff when a letter
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 29 
 
 from Pierre actually came to her. Its arrival marked 
 time like a real event. 
 
 It was certainly no love letter, Mme. Severin assured 
 herself emphatically, and all the better for that, as per- 
 sonally she had no faith that Pierre Marson would ever 
 show his face in Opella. It would be another case of 
 lightly come, lightly go, she calculated, in a life of rapid 
 changes which, picking up fresh interests continually, 
 was compelled to drop passing fancies by the way, and 
 be apt to forget their very existence. Towards Veronica 
 she was discreetly silent, not inciting to hope, nor yet 
 committing the fatal mistake of crushing what she con- 
 sidered a gossamer fabric. 
 
 "Little mother thinks I am blind. She fears that I 
 may be disappointed," smiled the girl conning over the 
 letter in which she daily discovered new and delightful 
 meanings for every word inscribed, "but she will know 
 the truth one day. I know it already. I am sure of it. ' ' 
 
 During the siesta hour while the mother was lying 
 down and Zia sleeping on her bed Veronica liked to sit 
 with closed eyes on the shaded veranda, dreaming 
 silently of the man she loved. At the back of many 
 romantic pictures of the future and tingling memories 
 there remained ever a dread of danger coming to meet 
 him on the far-off and lonely tracks, of sickness smiting 
 him under the hot sun of a waterless land, of men lying 
 in wait by the wayside to rob and to kill. While musing 
 over sorrows yet unborn her eyes would often become 
 drenched with sudden tears, and the year of absence 
 become magnified in anticipation to an eternity. 
 
 Suddenly and almost without warning real cause for 
 anxiety sprang up in the rumors of war bursting upon
 
 30 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the city. People of every caste and creed were sick of the 
 very name of war, that dragon more deadly than any 
 mythical beast, which had torn men in hundreds from 
 their families and later flung the survivors back as use- 
 less flotsam, ragged, starved, unpaid, their wounds badly 
 tended and unhealed. The bitterness left in the wake 
 of the Balkan war still rankled and was not likely to 
 diminish under the increasingly heavy yoke of compul- 
 sory military service. 
 
 The Utopia predicted by the exuberant promises of the 
 New Constitution had long gone up in smoke. The old 
 tyranny lifted for a brief moment had dropped again 
 with deadly grip, and become even more despotic. 
 
 Misrule and injustice showered not only over Arme- 
 nians and other Christians but upon Moslems as well. 
 Those who have lived under Turkish government know 
 the case is fairly hopeless once Moslem himself sets out 
 to eat Moslem. 
 
 Still in a town like Opella, removed from the coast, the 
 full meaning of the relation of the great "War to the 
 Turkish Empire hung fire for a time. Exciting events 
 followed one upon the other with a haste that left imag- 
 ination apprehensive of worse to come. Forebodings 
 grew apace.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 HERR OTTO ROSEN was coining to the end of a 
 long and serious talk with Madame Severin. Her 
 usually pale face was flushed, and there was a fitful 
 glimmer in her pensive eyes as of the awakening of 
 sleeping fires. 
 
 "Danger? Not of that kind, my good Otto! You 
 cannot be serious. Turkey is bound to keep out of the 
 war. She has bled too freely to run further risks. I 
 will not deny my dread when the terrible outburst took 
 us unawares, but now even Nicholas is not of your opin- 
 ion. He tells me " 
 
 "Naturally a son shows the best face of affairs to his 
 mother," interrupted Rosen, "but I assure you under 
 four eyes that Turkey is on the verge of entering the 
 war on the side of Germany. Yes, on our side, ' ' he said 
 emphatically as a skeptical exclamation escaped from 
 Mme. Severin. "And tell me what else can she do? 
 There is no help for her from the Powers who for years 
 have tried to strangle her very existence. England and 
 her Allies are thoroughly beaten by land and sea. India 
 is in revolt, refusing any longer to be kept in servitude. 
 Millions of Moslems there, and in Egypt, and all over 
 the Orient, are only waiting the signal to rise and expel 
 these outrageous tyrants. There is really only one 
 European Power to which Oriental hearts go out in 
 sympathy, and that Power is Germany. ' ' 
 
 "My God! What a misfortune!" groaned Mme. 
 Severin. 
 
 31
 
 32 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Why do you say that?" he snapped, stiffening. 
 
 "Don't tell me you are ignorant of what a widespread 
 uprising of the Moslems will mean?" she asked, severely, 
 in her turn. "Do you suppose for one instant they will 
 discriminate even between Germans and English if kill- 
 ing Christians becomes their one and holy duty from the 
 Mohammedan point of view? " 
 
 "Oh, won't they!" he said, quickly. "No fear at 
 all of their laying hands on a person of German blood. 
 The risk would be well known in advance. You don't 
 seem to realize that we are in command at Constanti- 
 nople ? I have already discussed the whole business with 
 the doctor. Any day the crisis may be upon us and 
 meanwhile all is ready. German rule will extend in a 
 very short time from Berlin through Turkey to Bagdad 
 and on to the Persian Gulf," he wound up with a self- 
 satisfied air. 
 
 "Heavens!" exclaimed the listener, less impressed 
 than the speaker anticipated. "So the Turkish or 
 rather Moslem notion of freedom is to exchange one set 
 of masters for another? Kidiculous short sight on their 
 part, or is it simply an unlimited presumption on that of 
 Germany ? ' ' 
 
 Rosen's face reddened at this audacious reply. 
 
 "Leave that matter," he said, swallowing his resent- 
 ment, "time will enlighten you. My point is this. 
 Events of grave nature are at hand. The day will be 
 here quicker than you think when only the German flag 
 can give security. You have long known that I love your 
 daughter. For her sake I would consider as a sacred 
 duty, second to none, the well being and safety of all 
 those dear to her. ' ' 
 
 The arrogance suddenly died out of his voice, and in
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 33 
 
 its stead pleaded a solid note of sentiment which drew a 
 responsive vibration from Mme. Severin's sensitive 
 nature. 
 
 "Yes! yes!" she assented, slowly. "You have a 
 kind heart when you do not take pains to hide it. I 
 have put no obstacle in your way with regard to Ver- 
 onica. On the contrary I have left you free to win her 
 confidence and affection." 
 
 "I know you have," he said, agitatedly, "and that 
 is why I now beg for your mediation. You can have 
 nothing against me. My position is assured with an 
 income that increases yearly. I can keep a wife in more 
 than comfort. Her happiness should be my first 
 consideration. Dear Madame, I am willing to make any 
 concession you demand if you will only promise to use 
 your influence with Veronica." 
 
 Anna Severin's deep eyes looked at him reflectively. 
 A multitude of thoughts thronged her mind, the fore- 
 most being that which dwelt upon the possibility of sav- 
 ing Veronica the probation of the stern school of life 
 through which she herself had been forced by fate to 
 pass. Exiles from Eussia in her youth her family had 
 known deprivation even to hunger till the father, a 
 doctor of repute in his own country, had fought his 
 way into a new practice in a big provincial town of 
 France. 
 
 Anna, educated in the local communal school, had 
 learnt to speak French like a native. Brought up to 
 recognize that she must work to win a livelihood she had 
 first studied hard, and showing aptitude for a medical 
 career her father had then sent her to pass through the 
 usual courses in a Paris hospital. There she had met 
 her husband, the first Nicholas Severin, enthusiastic and
 
 34 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 an ardent patriot, imbued with the high aim in life of 
 freeing Armenia from the Turkish yoke. 
 
 Anna, entering into his vision, put no obstacle in the 
 way when the right moment came for him to return to 
 the near East. Their son had been born in Paris, but 
 was still in infant when Dr. Severin took up a post of 
 authority in an Armenian college of Syria run by a 
 foreign mission. 
 
 Since then long years had run out their dole of mixed 
 joys and strangled hopes, tragic epochs and intolerable 
 injustices. The day of established reforms so long 
 promised by Turkey to satisfy the national aspirations 
 of the Armenians never dawned in the lifetime of Anna's 
 husband. 
 
 Veronica, born ten years later than Nicholas her 
 brother, was a year old when her mother took both 
 children to visit the grandparents in France. The pro- 
 fessor followed when his holidays began. During their 
 absence suddenly broke out and raged furiously those 
 terrible massacres of 1895-96, which drew from Glad- 
 stone the fire and wrath of his last public speech. What 
 had begun among young and ardent spirits of Armenian 
 blood as a dream of superb freedom, leading in imita- 
 tion of .Russian organizations to the creation of secret 
 societies, had merged into a nightmare of fearful inten- 
 sity through continual brooding upon their country's 
 horrible wrongs. When of a sudden an avenging spirit 
 quickened the white heat of their fervor, and reckless of 
 consequence these "exaltes" fired with supreme con- 
 fidence the first shots in Constantinople, retribution fol- 
 lowed with swift and sure stroke, no less than 300,000 
 Armenians in Asia Minor falling victims to these brutal 
 massacres.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 35 
 
 Nicholas Severin the elder never recovered from the 
 shock and anguish of this blow to all his hopes of national 
 liberty. They went back to their home when the storm 
 was spent and the Powers once again had forced Turkey 
 to bend to the dictates of humanity. Innumerable inno- 
 cent had paid the price for the temporary madness and 
 exaltation of the few. Relations and many close friends 
 of the Severin family had been murdered. Promising 
 students of the college had fallen fighting vainly for 
 home and the emancipation of their race. 
 
 All these sleeping memories awoke and slipped swiftly 
 as the successive pictures of a cinema film before the 
 mental eye of Anna Severin. And as the ancient wounds 
 began to burn shadows deepened in her steady gaze. 
 
 Her husband had died within a year of his return to 
 Opella, of a broken heart without a doubt. In the years 
 of her son 's education and medical training, and of Ver- 
 onica 's school days, spent partly by the girl in France 
 and partly in a local American school, what a retrospect 
 of burning anxiety, of the straining of every energy of 
 body and mind to keep together the happy home estab- 
 lished by the father. Rather than yield a step to circum- 
 stances she had taken boarders into her house, given 
 endless courses of French lessons in college and school 
 and to private pupils, until finally she had gained relief 
 after years of eare through inheriting the accumulated 
 little fortune of her parents. 
 
 To Nicholas her son had passed the reputation of his 
 father, and also the strong silent determination never 
 to resign his national individuality. In a real and 
 radical deliverance from the Turkish yoke he had ceased 
 to believe. The nation was too scattered for united effort 
 towards emancipation. His hopes centered ever on the
 
 36 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 recognition sooner or later by the Young Turk Party 
 that it would only be possible for them to establish a 
 regime of order and civilization throughout the Ottoman 
 Empire by making use of the high intellect and superior 
 business ability of the Armenian element. 
 
 Pictures of the hopes and enthusiasms raised by the 
 triumph of the New Constitution, then of the fearful 
 disillusion in the Adana and other Syrian massacres a 
 year later, gave way in Mme. Severin's brain to one of 
 dire foreboding for the days to come. 
 
 And if tragedies of yesterday were to repeat them- 
 selves in some near to-morrow as darkly suggested by the 
 man before her, how could he dare to stand there and 
 bargain cold-bloodedly for the chief treasure of her 
 mother's heart? 
 
 Her eyes blazed with sudden fire. 
 
 "// you say, Herr Eosen if," she said, her mel- 
 low voice vibrating with scorn. "Why should there be 
 any if in the matter ? You, a representative official of a 
 nation which boasts louder than any other of culture and 
 true religious feeling, you can come to me and speak with- 
 out blushing of an alliance with the assassins of 
 Christians? And you even wish to make conditions for 
 a necessity that may arise of offering the protection of 
 your flag to a family into whose intimate circle you have 
 been admitted, at whose board you have eaten and drunk, 
 at whose hands you have always received unvariable 
 kindness and welcome? Say, have you been our friend 
 or a time server?" 
 
 "Conditions? "What do you mean? Time server! 
 This is intolerable," stuttered Rosen, choked with anger 
 and decided dismay at a revolt where he had looked 
 blindly for acquiescence and even warm appreciation.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 37 
 
 Like most aggressive natures when firmly tackled he 
 blustered, thereby betraying that his defenses were weak 
 and easily penetrated under a skillful attack. 
 
 "What chance of success in your wooing could you 
 expect if Veronica guessed one iota of the kind of bar- 
 gain you wish to drive with her mother?" continued 
 Anna Severin, pressing home the advantage she saw she 
 had gained. 
 
 "But my good Madame Severin you have utterly mis- 
 taken me, ' ' said Rosen, determined to let nothing come in 
 the way of his unalterable resolve to win Veronica. 
 "Under all circumstances my services would be at your 
 disposal. It was premature for me to bring the German 
 flag into question, for who would be more certain than 
 myself to fly to your succor should the need arise, 
 which God in heaven forbid? All I am begging of you 
 is the favor of a word on my behalf with Veronica. I 
 make no conditions, absolutely none." 
 
 "My daughter will never love any man to order," said 
 Anna Severin. "Of that I am certain. Just as my 
 dear parents left me free to marry where my heart was 
 given so I intend Veronica to enjoy the same freedom." 
 
 Her words drove from Otto Rosen's mind all but the 
 paramount idea of how to adapt love's counsel as it 
 appealed to him to Veronica 's liberty of choice in select- 
 ing the man of her heart for a husband. 
 
 "But you have nothing against me personally?" he 
 asked, abruptly. 
 
 "No!" said Mme. Severin with decision. 
 
 "Where is she?" he asked, looking round the spacious 
 living room with its Oriental hangings, deep divans and 
 scattered pieces of French furniture, and then stepping 
 up to a side table to stare at a large painted photograph
 
 38 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 of Veronica arrayed in all the vivid bravery of an ancient 
 Armenian costume. 
 
 Mme. Severin viewed him narrowly, her critical 
 scrutiny charged with all that capacity for detail which 
 a mother employs in summing up the points of a man 
 who openly declares his love for her daughter and that 
 an only daughter. His disclosures had given her urgent 
 cause to think. She did not reply at once. 
 
 "Where is Veronica?" he inquired again. There was 
 ardor in his voice. The pictured beauty of the girl had 
 completely melted the hardness in his steel gray eyes. 
 
 "Just before you came in she drove down to the 
 orchard with Zia and Amina to prepare for the evening 
 meal there. Will you join us ? " 
 
 "If I possibly can, but it depends upon the mails and 
 certain telegrams I am waiting for," he replied with a 
 hurried wrinkling of his brows, for official duty never 
 more important, could not possibly yield place to the 
 urgent call of the heart. He had not yet arrived at the 
 stage where the ardor to possess and dominate becomes 
 with men of his nature a stubborn obsession that sweeps 
 all but the one aim aside in order to attain it. 
 
 It was true as Anna Severin declared that Nicholas 
 had kept the worst rumors of Turkey entering the war 
 from her knowledge, but he had no delusions himself on 
 the matter. Mobilization was already in swing. Men 
 were being forced to leave their homes and work. 
 Hundreds employed on the new railroad had already laid 
 down tools and been marched off to an unknown desti- 
 nation. Their place was later to be taken by victims 
 totally unsuspicious of the fate lying in wait for them. 
 
 The town was more than ever a busy gateway of the 
 East, teeming with traffic of all kinds. At the Interna-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 39 
 
 tional Telegraph office in the Serai Consular Agents 
 clamored in vain to get their messages through, receiv- 
 ing one uniform excuse that the wires were monopolized 
 under Government orders. Conflicting reports leading 
 to sharp and violent discussions in the ante-rooms added 
 to the general suspense. 
 
 "I will go to the station," said Nicholas Severin, 
 called from the hospital by an urgent message from his 
 mother, "and see if I can pick up any fresh news there. 
 The mail itself will not be in till later. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Otto Rosen had the air of expecting important things 
 by it," she said, anxiously. "Say, Nicholas, shall I 
 send for the children? We can sup in the house to- 
 night. They are in the orchard. ' ' 
 
 "No, let them be," he said, hastily. "Thrust worry 
 aside as long as you can and as far as is possible for their 
 sakes. I will bring on the latest news. Better still, 
 pick me up at the hospital. You can remain in the car- 
 riage while I make enquiries in the station." 
 
 "Bien! But what is your own real opinion? With- 
 out reserve, my son!" pressed Anna Severin, clutching 
 his arm as he turned to go. 
 
 He looked down at the tense face raised to his. Silence 
 would but aggravate her fears, whereas knowledge of 
 fact would tend to steady her nerves. In any case he 
 could no longer conceal the gravity of the situation. 
 
 ' ' Matters are serious. Turkey 's doom is upon her, ' ' he 
 said in a deep, almost prophetic voice. "It is a fatal 
 error for her to break with her two oldest and best 
 friends, England and France, but the German pressure 
 is so strong she has been driven to it." 
 
 "Then it means war as Otto Eosen said, and on the 
 wrong side," she exclaimed. "I would not credit it
 
 40 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 though he insisted that Germany was winning all round, 
 and her enemies had not a chance. And her enemies are 
 our friends!" 
 
 Nicholas Severin glanced round the room. Was there 
 an eavesdropper within hearing ? 
 
 "Be careful, little mother," he said with the air of 
 one used to caution in all his words. 
 
 "The outlook is dark," she muttered. 
 
 "Let us hope while we can," he reassured. "Mean- 
 time it is not necessary to provoke Rosen needlessly. 
 There is no doubt he is in deadly earnest about Veronica. 
 I have seen it coming for a long time. Give her a hint. 
 It will do her no harm to be prudent, though I don't 
 think for one moment she will entertain his proposal 
 seriously." 
 
 ' ' My poor France ! ' ' murmured Mme. Severin, darkly 
 pursuing her own train of thought. "Bleeding! Suf- 
 fering! It is only the beginning." 
 
 "I don't believe half we hear," Nicholas said, still 
 confidently, though a gleam of anguish showed for an in- 
 stant far down in his dark eyes. He felt that not only 
 France was in dire peril. "Rosen told only his own 
 views. Wait till we hear the other side. It is bound to 
 come through sooner or later. Go and get ready now 
 while I run back to arrange one or two matters before 
 you call for me." 
 
 She flung her arms round him. 
 
 "My son! My dear, dear son! Be wise, and always 
 cautious, ' ' she gasped with a half sob. 
 
 He kissed her, calling her by the old endearing names 
 of his childhood. She calmed under his caresses, quickly 
 regaining her composure.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 41 
 
 "God be with you," she said suddenly in a restrained 
 voice, pushing him gently forward. 
 
 She followed slowly to the terrace to watch him pass 
 down the shrubbery path to the gate in the wall which 
 communicated with the hospital. Her imagination still 
 ran riot in those past scenes of dread and horror evoked 
 by her conversation with Rosen. 
 
 What did the future hold ? 
 
 For herself she feared nothing. The worst fate 
 would but unite her with the beloved husband whom she 
 mourned to-day as deeply as on the day he died. All her 
 fear concerned her children and Zia. In any case noth- 
 ing should take them unawares. They must be circum- 
 spect and in all ways ready to face the unknown future. 
 
 And as she stood there the haggard and worried look 
 faded from her face. Strength and calm resolution re- 
 turned to her eyes. As she had done many a time before, 
 Anna Severin resolutely closed the door of her soul to 
 fear.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 AT the station reigned the usual Oriental Pande- 
 monium, keyed to a shriller, more excited note than 
 ordinary. Since the gala day of inauguration, at a re- 
 cent date, there had never been such a crowd. Blazing 
 eyes, nervous impassioned speech, enhanced vivacity, 
 were signals of the prevailing flaming desire for news 
 the latest the most definite news. 
 
 One question hovered on every lip. Was it war? 
 
 It would seem so. The only important train of the 
 day had at last arrived, every seat and corner crowded 
 out. From near and far away travelers of the bel- 
 ligerent nations were working a difficult, and in many 
 cases, a circuitous way to the coast. Would they find 
 a steamer in waiting was another burning question. 
 And had the last one come and gone, leaving them 
 stranded in an enemy's land? 
 
 Nicholas Severin alternately edged and forced a pas- 
 sage through the struggling masses. Hailed now and 
 again in Turkish, in Arabic, in Armenian, he showed his 
 intelligence and a prudent discretion more in keeping 
 an open ear than in squandering words himself. 
 
 Suddenly a whisper was shot into his ear. 
 
 ' ' Dr. Severin ! ' ' Then a hand gripped his arm. 
 
 He turned sharply, touched by a sense of familiarity 
 in the voice, and found himself looking into the face of 
 Pierre Marson. 
 
 "You, Monsieur?" he began, then stopped short in 
 response to a muttered "Hush ! No name, please !" 
 
 4*
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 43 
 
 "Myself and none other," Marson resumed in guarded 
 tones, " trying to rush through before the way is 
 blocked." 
 
 "How? Where?" 
 
 "Scanderoon. A boat touches there to-morrow night, 
 perhaps the last. There are a party of us. We have 
 conveyances and horses in readiness. An express mes- 
 senger came on in advance to engage them. ' ' 
 
 "How long do you stay here?" 
 
 "We must start in a couple of hours. Madame 
 Severin, Mademoiselle Veronique, and the little Zia? 
 They are well?" asked Pierre Marson, hurriedly. 
 
 Talking in rapid undertones the two men drifted into 
 a backwash of the throng. For a moment they stood 
 isolated under an archway while the human tide, strug- 
 gling, gesticulating, shouting, surged by them. 
 
 "Two hours? You have to dine somewhere. Do so 
 with us in our orchard. Veronica and Zia are there al- 
 ready. My mother herself waits for me now outside the 
 station. Come! All will be ready. " 
 
 "Is it far?" Hesitation wrestling with his desire to 
 comply were both mirrored in the vivid glance Pierre 
 shot at Dr. Severin. 
 
 "A short five minutes drive only." 
 
 "Where's my man?" said Pierre sharply, as he took 
 a step forward to scan the crowd right and left. "I 
 must know the exact time of starting and the place of 
 rendezvous. Not for anything in the world must I miss 
 that connection. Ah, there he is!" 
 
 On the point of raising his voice to a dark faced Syrian 
 in Western clothes and a red fez standing against the 
 wall a few yards away with traveling bags in hand, the 
 words died 'away on Pierre's lips. On the instant his
 
 44 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 face became void of expression as if cast in stone, and 
 then with an ease showing prompt resource in a 
 critical moment he turned with a brilliant smile to his 
 companion. 
 
 "Yes, Raschid Pasha himself was my host and an ex- 
 cellent one. From first to last His Excellency feted me 
 right royally," he said, loudly, in faultless Arabic, as if 
 in the full flow of harmless gossip. "One day he took 
 me with him to a review of his cavalry. A magnificent 
 display, I assure you." 
 
 He laid his hand on the doctor's shoulder as if to em- 
 phasize his remarks, but in reality there was warning in 
 the pressure. He had seen a face he knew among the 
 passers-by, a face in whose arrogant gaze both suspicion 
 and curiosity mingled darkly. At last he had recognized 
 the man for the German consul whom he had met, 
 though scarcely spoken with, in the society of the Severin 
 family. 
 
 It was clear to Nicholas Severin that Marson was 
 speaking for effect. Yielding promptly to the pull of 
 the fingers on his arm he moved away from the archway 
 and plunged into the stream of people. 
 
 "The cavalry of His Excellency, Raschid Pasha, are 
 without a rival, ' ' he said, enthusiastically, responding in 
 the same vein. "Did you see that wonderful mare about 
 which so many strange tales are told ? ' ' 
 
 They were soon blocked from sight by Marson 's 
 servant following closely ait their heels in obedience to a 
 gesture from his master. 
 
 "Dangerous man, without a doubt," commented Otto 
 Rosen inwardly as Nicholas Severin went by apparently 
 too absorbed to notice whom he had elbowed, "though 
 he does not seem to be hatching mischief at this moment.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 45 
 
 If he were not Veronica's brother I'd soon have him out 
 of the way," 
 
 But for the recent talk with Mme. Severin and its 
 promise of hope, and the insistent call of official duty 
 that would take no denial at this moment, he would cer- 
 tainly have stopped the two men under cloak of friend- 
 ship with one of them, and put many questions of an 
 embarrassing nature. 
 
 He dismissed as improbable his first suspicion that be- 
 cause the fellow was in the doctor's company he was go- 
 ing to his house. At this critical juncture in the 
 military situation any pause in a speedy departure 
 would be madness to a Frenchman. And better let him 
 be gone and out of the country than remain a prisoner 
 to excite enhanced interest and sentiment in the bosom 
 of a girl whom he had certainly tried to draw into a 
 serious flirtation. Luckily Veronica was not a girl to be 
 won by cheap methods, Rosen took time to reflect, before 
 again applying his mind to the intricacies of German 
 intrigue. And so complacent was he with his own worth 
 in the girl 's eyes that he had no doubt whatever as to her 
 ultimate surrender. She would certainly be ready for 
 love's claiming whenever he chose to insist upon a real 
 decision. 
 
 While Nicholas guided Marson out of the crowd to the 
 rear of the station it was swiftly planned that the drago- 
 man should drive with them to the garden to note the 
 locality, retaining the carriage to go off quickly to make 
 final arrangements for the journey. He was then to 
 come back in the vehicle hired for his master's use, pro- 
 vided with all that was necessary. 
 
 "It is on the direct route. No time will be lost," 
 said Nicholas, opening the sun curtains of a low carriage
 
 46 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 drawn up by the roadside beyond the agitated area of 
 the station. "Mother, I bring you a visitor to supper, 
 Monsieur Marson, whose acquaintance we made on our 
 summer holiday. He is on his way to the port and has 
 little more than an hour to spare. We must hurry on." 
 
 He gave a sharp order to the coachman, then followed 
 Marson into the carriage. The driver, as the dragoman 
 got up quickly beside him, whistled to his horses, then 
 whipped them into a smart canter. The bells on their 
 necks rang gayly as the carriage rolled onward in a cloud 
 of dust between lines of plane trees and silver poplars. 
 The road crossed the valley of orchards which stretched 
 north and south of the town, but was now sadly disturbed 
 by the new railway line and its ugly paraphernalia of 
 sheds and work shops. 
 
 Events were marching, and fate already forging links 
 to unite them with her family without any interference 
 on her own part, was Mme. Severin's rueful reflection 
 as with surprise but cordiality she greeted Pierre Marson. 
 
 "More than my compatriot," she added warmly. 
 "My heart is with France, Monsieur. You must be 
 careful. If war be a certainty, as people declare, can 
 you manage to escape detention before reaching the 
 coast?" 
 
 1 ' No difficulty, dear Madame, ' ' he said. ' ' My teskereh 
 is without a flaw, and I hold besides an extra pass signed 
 by no less a personage than Baschid Pasha. Even if the 
 fatal break has already occurred nothing can stop me. 
 I go straight through. I could even brave Constanti- 
 nople itself. ' ' 
 
 'God be thanked!" said Anna Severin, thinking more 
 of Veronica than the man before her. For intuition at 
 once flew to the motive inspiring Marson 's appearance
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 47 
 
 with Nicholas. Her heart warmed to him forgetting its 
 burden of foreboding while she listened to a rapid sum- 
 mary of his plans. Her woman's eye the while was 
 quick to note with revived interest Marson's resolute 
 but fine profile, the keen bright eye, the slender muscular 
 grace of the figure bending towards her. He was de- 
 cidedly the best type of Frenchman de race was her 
 lightning reflection, and flecked with just that touch of 
 the dare-devil which is fascinating to many women. 
 
 The garden of the Severins was in true Oriental 
 fashion a plantation of fruit trees of many varieties, and 
 flowering shrubs stretching behind high stone walls from 
 the highway to the edge of a small limpid river. Wide 
 spreading and leafy branches of a group of mulberry 
 trees which threw their shade half over the water and 
 half over the sandy soil, overhung the garden pavilion 
 in which a table was set out for the evening meal. 
 
 An odor of cooking emanated from a small lean-to 
 where a native woman of fifty, dark-skinned and black 
 eyed, presided over a brazier, a briskly boiling crock and 
 a griddle. 
 
 "They'll be here before you are ready, I know they 
 will," cried Zia through the trellis work at intervals. 
 "Amina, do you hear?" 
 
 "Rest thy mind with thy legs, little mother of haste. 
 All in its own time, even the hour of the evening meal, ' ' 
 came soothingly from within as Amina made busy among 
 her dishes and pots, muttering under her breath the 
 Arabic equivalent for "Bless the child! Why she can't 
 let me be?" 
 
 ' ' I tell you the hour is late. Hurry, lazy one ! And 
 where is the clotted cream? Oh, what a scolding you'll 
 get ! I never saw such a slow coach. ' '
 
 48 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "You will teach me to cook, little wise one! That is 
 good, but wait till to-morrow comes. To-day the time to 
 learn is short," said Amina, imperturbably. 
 
 "Vronfca! Aunt Vronka! Why do you stay so long 
 with Ali T Tell him to go quickly. I want you." 
 
 Zia's voice was fretful. She had tired herself out with 
 play and now exhausted was lying stretched out on a 
 divan at the entrance of the garden house. Alternately 
 her head turned restlessly to peer through the vine foli- 
 age and fling words at Amina, and to call out to Veronica 
 who stood on the river bank looking at something below. 
 
 "I am coming, Zia, in a minute," she called over her 
 shoulder, then bent forward again to speak to a slim 
 young Arab arranging himself and various possessions 
 in a small boat. "Tell Zorah I will ride over and see her 
 to-morrow. Have you all the packages in safety ? You 
 must hurry or the night will overtake you. ' ' 
 
 "Maleish! The darkness has no fears for me." 
 
 "Of course not. Are you not a son of the Weldeh?" 
 
 "By Allah, it is so! It is the truth," said the young 
 man, simply. "Now I am ready. Peace be with you !" 
 
 "And to you peace, Sheikh Ali! God give you safe 
 journey," responded Veronica, as pressing an oar against 
 the bank he thrust out into the stream and started to row. 
 
 She stood looking after him with grave eyes thinking 
 hard of things he had told her. He had come to the 
 orchard from the town to bring a message from his sister, 
 the Arab wife of the Englishman, John Culver, who was 
 brother-in-law to Nicholas. Zorah, having matters of im- 
 portance to confide to her, wished to see her at El- 
 Fereidus as soon as possible. 
 
 At any other time Veronica would have guessed that
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 49 
 
 these matters concerned such vital news as the baby's 
 new tooth. But to-day All had told her of various ru- 
 mors in the Sukhs and had hinted, with Arab ambiguity 
 and suggestion, of strange happenings that a declaration 
 of war would disclose. 
 
 "Yes, I am stupid. No doubt I shall ever be stupid 
 in the eyes of my little wise one," replied the patient 
 Amina to further reproof from her small tyrant, "but 
 wait till her teeth of ivory bite into the honey cake I am 
 baking for her alone." 
 
 ' ' Oh, Amina ! A honey cake and all for me ? I love 
 you for it. I will " Zia broke off, sat up in a listen- 
 ing attitude and then called out shrilly, "Little aunt, 
 they are coming, they are here. But some one is with 
 them. I hear voices. It is a stranger a tall, dark 
 man. ' ' 
 
 She slipped to her feet and limped off through the 
 trees. 
 
 Veronica started at her words and looked back as if 
 hearing distant familiar sounds. 
 
 A stranger ! Some one Zia did not know. Yet no, the 
 child's voice already rang out in excited words of recog- 
 nition and greeting. 
 
 During the weeks immediately following the outbreak 
 of the great European war a look of waiting that was 
 almost suspense had settled into Veronica's eyes. They 
 had taken on a habit of looking up at the sound of every 
 fresh footstep, and at the opening of the door. Of 
 Pierre Marson she had talked confidentially and 
 anxiously with her mother, wondering if and how the 
 news had gone through to him, and whether he had gone 
 back to France. 
 
 She had been wracked by suspense and dread con-
 
 5 o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 cerning his safety, and the uncertainty of whether under 
 the new terrible conditions of war she would ever see 
 his face again. 
 
 Then suddenly her mood had become dumbly quiescent 
 as if yielding involuntarily to the inherited strain of 
 fatalism in her veins. Now at a rush all the early fever 
 of unrest was back again. Without a moment's warning 
 a cloud of the unexpected was moving straight upon 
 her. Scarcely could she summon courage to face it. 
 For a few seconds she remained still and tragic as a 
 figure of the sphinx. 
 
 Suddenly she paled, giving a little inarticulate cry, 
 paused uncertainly on the edge of the river bank for a 
 few more breathless seconds, then turned and walked 
 slowly forward. For though her eyes might deceive her 
 she too had heard a voice, a voice that almost made her 
 heart stop beating, and then start to beat faster than 
 ever before. And now she glowed from head to foot. 
 Then all at once she heard her mother speaking to her 
 as if from a great distance away. 
 
 "It is none other than Monsieur Marson, my child. 
 Just looking in upon us for a short hour before con- 
 tinuing his journey to Scanderoon. The supper must be 
 served immediately," and at that Mme. Severiu hurried 
 off to Amina. 
 
 Night and day for what had seemed an eternity Pierre 
 Marson 's brain had been filled to bursting with the night- 
 mare of a France in arms, of France, his beloved France, 
 in dire straits, of France overrun with wolves and assas- 
 sins, of his own absence in this appalling crisis, of the 
 maddening distance to cover before he could get back 
 with certain valuable information in his possession. 
 
 Yet now as his eyes fell on Veronica, for a moment it
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 51 
 
 seemed there was a great burst of sunlight across that 
 troubled world of his vision. All difficulties lifted. He 
 felt that by some magic he had been suddenly transported 
 to a place of joy and peace, that the pictures of battles, 
 death, and disaster painted by imagination and rumor, 
 were no longer real. 
 
 In the expression of Veronica's eyes as she came to 
 meet him fear and joy were strangely blended. And 
 there was something behind, a kind of veiled light. 
 
 Pierre made his way towards her as though the meet- 
 ing had been pre-arranged by some dim decree of fate 
 who shall say it was not ? He saw the light in her eyes, 
 and a quick flush on her cheeks as of the early dawn. 
 With a smile he concealed his deep inward agitation as 
 they met face to face and shook hands with apparent 
 calmness, and for a moment stood looking at each other. 
 A thousand things left unsaid seemed to be understood 
 between them. For love is never so eloquent as when 
 it is dumb. 
 
 It was worth it, flashed through his mind, just this one 
 moment of complete understanding eye to eye, worth all 
 the risks imaginable. He was glad he had come, how 
 glad he scarcely dared admit. For though his soul was 
 on fire with patriotic fervors, and every nerve steeled 
 to the paramount importance of speed and secrecy in 
 getting out of Syria he felt that this brief interlude of 
 reunion would inspire him to act hereafter with the 
 strength of ten. For his love for Veronica now stood 
 revealed with flashlight certainty as a something splendid 
 and enveloping, a something transcending all emotion 
 and passion he had ever experienced. In a word it was 
 the grand passion which comes once and once only in a 
 lifetime.
 
 52 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 " Ah !" said Verpnica, speaking with an effort at last. 
 "You you have come, after all." 
 
 "After all? I never intended to do anything else but 
 come," he said with the fire that marked his utterance, 
 as he raised her hand to press it to his lips, kissing it 
 with all a lover's ardor. 
 
 Nicholas Severin looked at them both searchingly, 
 then wheeled sharply round, hastily calling Zia's atten- 
 tion to his pockets. 
 
 She fell upon them as to a favorite game full of 
 perennial surprises. Slowly, imperceptibly, diverting 
 her all the time by word and gesture, he drew her to the 
 little vine-overhung pavilion where his mother was add- 
 ing another cover to the table after ordering supper to 
 be served on the minute. 
 
 "How did you happen to meet him?" she asked, 
 hurriedly. 
 
 Nicholas explained. 
 
 "I wish you had missed each other," she added, speak- 
 ing in Turkish on account of the child. "She might 
 have forgotten him then. And yet " 
 
 "Till this instant I hadn't an idea that it was a serious 
 affair between the two, though now it is plain enough to 
 be seen," he said, his forehead wrinkling in deep lines. 
 
 "He is of my dear, adopted country," she continued 
 with the anxious look of one who looks ahead of the 
 present moment. "If there had been no war all would 
 have been well. But there ! It is destiny which will not 
 be denied. My poor girl ! And he leaves so soon. Who 
 knows if we shall ever see him again ! ' ' 
 
 "You speak of the matter as a foregone conclusion. 
 We still have Rosen to reckon with," said the doctor, 
 abstractedly.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 53 
 
 "No, Zia, you must wait a moment. Veronica is com- 
 ing directly." 
 
 Zia bad dragged her chair to the table and was calling 
 loudly to Amina. 
 
 "Naughty girl!" exclaimed the grandmother. "Is 
 that the way to behave when a guest is here?" 
 
 "I am hungry," declared Zia, tossing her curls over 
 her shoulders, and beginning to thump the table with a 
 fork. "Aunt Veronica is always talking to somebody 
 when I want her to come. First it was Ali, ' ' here Mme. 
 Severin and her son exchanged a rapid look of enquiry, 
 "and now Monsieur Marson. It is my turn to talk now 
 and to eat. I am hungry. ' ' 
 
 A wave of shyness swept over Veronica at the touch of 
 Pierre's lips on her hand. She trembled under the fire 
 of his absorbing look. Its message burned itself into 
 her heart. 
 
 The scents of aromatic shrubs and herbs saturated the 
 air. Everywhere sounded the shrill chirping of grass- 
 hoppers and the drowsy drumming of winged insects. 
 Somewhere near breathed the cooing note of a pigeon. 
 The calm of approaching sunset was over the land. 
 
 A little idyll of Eden was being enacted in one small 
 garden of an earth which elsewhere was being wracked 
 with war and all its horrors. The one man had found 
 the one woman made to be his mate. He knew it. She 
 felt it. Both were suddenly caught up by the power 
 moving them into a state that lies entirely outside time. 
 
 "You knew that I could not go away without seeing 
 you again?" he whispered. 
 
 "And I, too, wished very much to see you," said 
 Veronica, softly, with a little break in her voice. 
 
 Overcome by his emotions and the stringent need for
 
 54 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 holding them on the curb, Pierre drew himself up with a 
 sharp movement and gazed fixedly over the river. He 
 saw nothing that was visibly before his eyes for the 
 moment. For the sting of a bitter reality was pricking 
 him hard. He was on the verge of placing the width 
 of Europe between himself and the girl he loved. How 
 could he bear to leave her behind in a land under the 
 power of the Turk, who was fast becoming the enemy 
 of France as none knew better than himself ? 
 
 His face was colorless beneath the dark tan of his 
 cheeks as he turned suddenly and took her hand. His 
 eyes were shining. 
 
 "I must not say what to-day I have no right to say," 
 he said, speaking with difficulty. "France is calling 
 me. She has the greatest need of all her children. 
 They must put every thing behind them except duty and 
 love to her. I dare not delay a day, scarcely an hour 
 to tell you all that is in my heart but when and if I 
 come back, Veronica," he broke off, looking deep into 
 her eyes, which big and darkly blue were regarding him 
 steadfastly. 
 
 "Have no fear ! I will wait for you to the end of my 
 life," she said simply, in a full firm voice. 
 
 As she spoke these words a great calm fell upon both. 
 For it is only doubt, and the failure of the word of 
 certainty that stirs into a state of gnawing unrest the 
 heart's hidden wealth of love. That a man's mind was 
 not unlikely to change during an indefinite absence when 
 things would be moving with impetuous rapidity never 
 entered Veronica's head. And that the look in her eyes 
 could ever shed its glow of tenderness on another man 
 than himself was also an impossible thought. Fidelity 
 and love ait that moment were interchangeable realities.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 55 
 
 Mme. Severin came to the doorway of the pavilion to 
 look out into the garden. As if her eyes were dazzled 
 by the golden sunlight piercing the foliage she made a 
 screen of her hand above them. For a moment she stood 
 there silent and watchful with a growing ache at her 
 heart. All the yearning of motherhood's prescience 
 was in her gaze. 
 
 Then she called in a caressing voice, "Veronica! 
 Supper is served."
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 /COFFEE had been served. Zia had gone off with 
 \jl Amina to feed various animal pets in the garden. 
 
 Involuntarily the circle at the table drew closer to- 
 gether. Tension strung the moments taut. Nerves 
 tingled, though any show of emotion was rigidly sup- 
 pressed. Their voices were low as of those who speak in 
 confidence and have much to compress into swiftly flying 
 time. 
 
 Pierre Marson had touched on the difficulty of choosing 
 a route home. Whether to strike down the river to the 
 Persian gulf and thence to France by way of the Red 
 Sea, or to journey hurriedly through Syria to a Levan- 
 tine port. His eyes, vivacious and dark, darting from 
 one to the other of his listeners and returning ever to 
 look with intensity at Veronica's absorbed face, indicated 
 that something stronger than a choice of longer or shorter 
 route, or greater or lesser danger had brought toa head 
 his decision to pass through Opella. 
 
 Now they were rid of the child he sketched in curt, 
 telling words the unrest of the districts he had passed 
 through. In the East conviction never waits upon evi- 
 dence, and rumors spreading from the vast sounding 
 board of Islam were reverberating in every village, in 
 every nomad camp, in every caravan of travelers, all 
 magnified and greatly distorted by reason of their me- 
 dium of a myriad voices and as many opinions. 
 
 Strong traces of a German propaganda of hostility to 
 56
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 57 
 
 France, England and Russia he had found everywhere. 
 Evil insinuations were rife that all three powers were 
 working hard hand in hand to keep millions of Orientals 
 in slavery, and at one dire, united stroke to destroy 
 Islam. 
 
 "We have sucked the Orient dry to our own sole ad- 
 vantage is what these rascally Germans say," said 
 Marson, his voice shaken by resentment and sharp with 
 anger, ' ' and that we have simply exploited the land for 
 our own benefit. I tell you, doctor, the atmosphere I 
 have come through is inflammable with hot suspicions 
 against the Entente Powers. God knows how and where 
 to find the right counteractive. I burn with 'anxiety to 
 get back and disclose all I know in the right quarter. 
 And after that I should not be one whit surprised to be 
 sent back again at express speed. ' ' 
 
 He pressed his lips tightly together as if he could 
 have said much more, but refrained. A certain hard- 
 ness came into his face. His eyes were like steel. 
 
 Veronica's eyes widened and her lips parted. A 
 stimulating warmth ran through her veins, melting the 
 chill which Pierre's approaching absence had pierced 
 her heart. She bent forward clasping her hands as she 
 looked at Pierre, quite unaware of the tenderness in her 
 face. But in a minute this look was chased by another 
 expressing solicitude, vivid wonder and a growing 
 suspense. 
 
 "How? That is not possible," exclaimed Nicholas, 
 shortly. 
 
 "Not possible? My friend, you little know me or 
 my resources," retorted Pierre, almost boyishly, his eyes 
 sparkling as he leaned over the table and still further 
 lowered his tones, "and I guarantee that the next time
 
 58 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 we run across each other as to-day you will pass me by 
 without the least recognition. Remember I was brought 
 up in the East. To this day my father's name as a 
 hakim of miraculous healing power is one to conjure with 
 in Bagdad and its whole district. Did I tell you that 
 Raschid Pasha himself went out of his way to pay me 
 unnecessary attentions?" 
 
 "Such attentions hide wheels within wheels. Oftener 
 than not they are the prelude to something sinister," 
 said Nicholas. "Never trust them!" 
 
 "I know, I know! Intrigue is their food and drink. 
 You can teach me nothing there. What I mean is this. 
 Turkey has no real quarrel with me, a Frenchman, 
 Turkey has no desire to go to war with France. It is 
 only our mortal enemy, Germany, trying to attack us 
 from another quarter." 
 
 Mme. Severin and her son exchanged a quick glance, 
 Otto Rosen and his blatant assertions springing spon- 
 taneously to the minds of both. 
 
 "Germany's policy in the East has long been an open 
 secret," said Nicholas. "She poses as the protector of 
 Turkey, especially at this moment. It is with that same 
 policy the Entente Powers must reckon to-day, that 
 above all." 
 
 "And a policy she will stick to whatever happens I 
 expect," put in Pierre, bitterly. "The violators of 
 Belgium will jib at nothing." 
 
 "Yes, there is not the least doubt that they support 
 the New Turk Party, which favors them on account of 
 their own absolute confidence in the greater future of 
 Germany." 
 
 Pierre Marson gave a contemptuous little laugh. 
 "The Kaiser made that choice long ago," he said,
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 59 
 
 shortly, "and sealed it in that memorable embrace of 
 Abdul Hamid on the steps of the Bosphorus palace. He 
 made himself an ally of the Red Sultan simply to en- 
 courage his own importance in the near East." 
 
 "Be careful, my friend," said Mme. Severin. "Hard 
 experience has taught us never to utter such sentiments 
 even in a whisper, whatever we hide in our hearts. ' ' 
 
 "Pardon, dear madame," he said, hurriedly, with a 
 pleading glance. "Let us come back to ourselves. Tell 
 me exactly how you stand with regard to this crisis," 
 turning to speak directly to Dr. Severin. Acute anxiety 
 showed in both voice and look. 
 
 "You see it will not be a war of patriotism for us. 
 How could we fight with a willing heart against France 
 and her Allies ? It will be nothing but a struggle against 
 that very Liberty for which we have striven <and suffered 
 for years. Do you know, ' ' Nicholas, speaking rapidly in 
 a highly nervous tone, now lowered his voice to a 
 whisper, "news has come through secretly that six 
 hundred Armenians of Paris and America are already 
 enrolled as volunteers in the French Army ? ' ' 
 
 "Bravo!" ejaculated Pierre. 
 
 "Our people are brave as lions, but you know in this 
 land they have no arms, ' ' continued the doctor, bitterly, 
 "and if they had they lack training and discipline." 
 
 "No arms to act independently, you mean, Nicholas," 
 put in Veronica, quickly, a depth of passion thrilling 
 in her words, for she, too, was imbued with no small 
 measure of the spirit of her father. 
 
 "Yes, yes, for since the obligation of military service 
 has been extended to Christians, our youngest and 
 strongest men are placed in the active army of Turkey. ' ' 
 
 "Of course in ordinary times it is only fair the
 
 60 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Christians should help the Moslems to bear the burden 
 of war," said Pierre, "but it will go terribly against the 
 grain for you to side with Turkey against the great 
 Powers which have always been your friends, and are 
 now waging war for liberty." 
 
 "Liberty and Progress!" exclaimed Mme. Severin, 
 carried beyond her usual caution. "The false cry of onr 
 tyrants, but never from the beginning have they held 
 to its promise. I was in Beyrout on my way to France 
 to visit my parents at the time of the festivities which 
 were held to celebrate the new era of Liberty and Prog- 
 ress. I was an eye witness to the apparent reconcilia- 
 tion of Moslem, Christian and Jew. Moslem ulemas and 
 Christian priests embraced in the open street. They 
 drove through the town side by side in the same carriage. 
 My heart was heavy. The reality of this millennium of 
 peace among so many jarring elements seemed a farce. 
 My presentiments were true enough, for in less than a 
 year the sole reward of Armenian loyalty and fidelity to 
 the new government was massacre, terrible and bloody 
 massacre. Once again we lost many friends and rela- 
 tives. They were murdered, foully murdered. ' ' 
 
 Veronica pulled her chair close up to her mother. 
 
 "There, there, little Mother! Do not speak of it. 
 You will make yourself ill," she said, putting her arm 
 round the older woman 's shoulder. 
 
 "Yes, Monsieur Marson, and you would hardly believe 
 that even after the heart breaking disillusion at Adana 
 my husband's martyred race still remained faithful to 
 Turkey," continued Anna Severin with a hurried stac- 
 cato utterance showing how deeply she was moved. 
 "During the Balkan war Turkey had no soldiers more 
 devoted and loyal and courageous than her Armenian
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 61 
 
 subjects. God alone knows what will be the issue if 
 these same faithful souls are dragged into a war against 
 their conscience and against every sane notion of liberty. 
 If they rebel " she raised her hands with an expres- 
 sive gesture. 
 
 "All my unhappy country has wanted or demanded 
 at any time has been security of life with some kind of 
 protection of our national goods by a kind of autonomy. 
 Nothing more ! ' ' said Nicholas with a gloomy fieriness. 
 
 "In one word, life, and freedom to live it," said 
 Pierre, emphatically. 
 
 His eyes, full of thoughts, with a quick intentness in 
 their gaze, rested first on one then on the other. He was 
 reflecting rapidly, being a man to make rapid conclusions 
 and then draw up a definite plan to meet them. With 
 presentiments hammering at his heart he looked fixedly 
 at Veronica, whose protective attitude towards her 
 mother filled him with a passion of yearning. Of her 
 grave deep blue eyes, soft and luminous in the waning 
 light, he saw chiefly the gaze- suggested under a sweep 
 of straight dark eyebrows. 
 
 " I am going to propose something startling, ' ' he said 
 suddenly, bending forward and speaking quietly though 
 every word was clear. "It is this. That you all leave 
 Opella with me this very night and come back to France, 
 your true foster mother. That you leave all without 
 looking back, without regret. Take nothing into ac- 
 count except the fact that to-morrow may be too late. 
 Don't speak yet! Think it over! Consider well that 
 my proposal is no idle suggestion. The fact that I make 
 it proves my personal serious view of the situation. Be 
 advised ! Come ! ' ' 
 
 Veronica, suddenly white and trembling, held her
 
 62 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 breath in an anguish of suspense. Her gaze hung spell- 
 bound on the vivid face of her lover. Then she turned 
 and stared at her brother while her arm still clasping 
 her mother tightened unconsciously. 
 
 With startled attention Nicholas Severin followed 
 Pierre's speech. A quivering light leaped to his eyes. 
 His mother looked only at him. When Pierre ceased to 
 speak but still tried to compel them to his will with the 
 eagerness of his gaze, she touched her son on the arm. 
 
 "Speak, Nicholas! It is for you to reply," she said, 
 tersely. 
 
 "Not possible!" he ejaculated, abruptly, his face 
 setting firmly though his sensitive nostrils quivered. 
 "Run away from my father's people? Leave my sick 
 to their fate? Prove by my own flight the disloyalty 
 tacked on under every pretext to the Armenians? In 
 my turn, my friend, I can say you do not know me. 
 You cannot tempt me. You do not realize what you 
 ask. It is the impossible. I am neither a coward nor a 
 deserter. ' ' 
 
 Pierre Marson colored hotly. He got up hastily and 
 went to the doorway as if to gain self-mastery over sud- 
 den upwelling emotions. 
 
 Veronica raised her hand to her eyes and dashed away 
 two bright drops that threatened to roll down her cheeks. 
 Nicholas looked sternly before him. Mme. Severin got 
 up and began with nervous fingers to arrange a basket 
 of fruit for her guest to carry away for the journey. 
 
 The tragedy underlying her recent words was still 
 present to Pierre's mind as he gazed unseeingly over the 
 garden. Standing there the air seemed heavy with 
 portent. The swift shortening of the moments spent 
 with Veronica came to him with sickening realization.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 63 
 
 He was seized with horrible fear, fear of hideous evil 
 lying in wait in that vague and agitated future. If 
 only he could have taken her away with him, just have 
 flung around her an enveloping mantle and carried her 
 off like a Bedouin his newly made bride. With that mad 
 passionate desire uppermost pressing all other considera- 
 tions aside a second inspiration came to him. 
 
 He turned with decision and came back to the table. 
 
 " Pardon me, mon bon ami," he said, putting his hand 
 on the doctor's shoulder. "You are perfectly right. I 
 see your point of view and admire your courage. But 
 you have a mother, a daughter, a sister, for whom at any 
 moment the position may be suddenly serious. And how 
 can a man either work or fight at his best when he knows 
 his womenfolk are in danger ? It is best to be prepared. 
 Trust them to my care ! Be wise in advance," he paused 
 impressively, imbued by his own words with a growing 
 sense of the necessity for prompt action. "The carriage 
 coming for me will accommodate them as well. I will 
 be their faithful escort. Nothing shall harm them. I 
 swear that " 
 
 "No, Monsieur Marson, no! We could not leave my 
 son alone," interrupted Anna Severin, very pale and 
 still, while her eyes, proud and fond, looked steadily at 
 Nicholas. 
 
 Dumbly Pierre turned to Veronica. 
 
 Her face grew white and tense under the appeal of his 
 eyes. She shook her head unable to speak. He could 
 not and would not accept finality in this wordless reply, 
 and dropped into the empty seat beside her. He took 
 her hand and pressed it as a man does when urging a 
 vital point that lies very near his heart. 
 
 "Try to persuade them with me," he said in a voice
 
 64 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 that was abrupt and hoarse. "The time is very short, 
 but it can be done. We can hasten the speed." 
 
 "I must stay with Mother and Nicholas, of course. 
 Nothing else is possible," she said at last, trying to keep 
 her lips from trembling. "We cannot go away without 
 him. Beside, Zia might be ill and he alone understands 
 how to treat her. No, it is not possible." 
 
 Pierre was not too blinded by his fears of future perils 
 to feel with intuition that only a sense of duty would 
 sway the girl to action one way or the other. As this 
 sense of duty weighed in the scale of decision against his 
 advice he knew it was now hopeless to persist. But he 
 felt sick inwardly at the thought of the girl's fragrant 
 beauty blooming on the stormy background of war in 
 surroundings where dangers would be of a nature at once 
 more brutal and insidious than in the Western arena. 
 
 For not yet had the full toll of German atrocities in 
 Belgium and on his own native soil come to his knowl- 
 edge. Their horror was to strike like a barbed arrow 
 into his soul at a later hour. 
 
 Tension seemed at breaking point. Emotion of va- 
 rious forms inflated every heart. Upon Veronica and 
 Pierre the darkening shadow of separation had a numb- 
 ing effect. 
 
 Suddenly Nicholas Severin stirred, throwing off his 
 stern abstraction. He looked around with his normal 
 quiet but genial expression, then stretched out his hand 
 to take a cigar from an open case on the table. Deliber- 
 ately he struck a light. 
 
 "We are walking out to meet imaginary trouble," he 
 said. "Let us face the facts. In case of war my work 
 will go on as usual, but its output will be doubled, per- 
 haps trebled."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 65 
 
 "You may be attached to an Army Medical unit for 
 active service," put in Pierre, promptly. 
 
 "Not at all likely. My hospital is so well adapted .for 
 the purpose that I am quite sure it will be utilized as a 
 base military hospital. I shall need all the help I can 
 get." 
 
 ' ' Another reason we cannot desert my son, ' ' said Mme. 
 Severin, addressing Pierre. "We must have no worry 
 about Zia. Our kitchen will supplement more than ever 
 the needs of the patients. My daughter is not only a 
 good nurse but has learnt to dispense when the doctor 
 is overworked." 
 
 "Then all your efforts are to be used for the benefit 
 of Turks and Germans, ' ' said Pierre in a sarcastic voice 
 as the personality of Herr Rosen flashed across his mind. 
 "I forgot certainly that you might always rely, in case 
 of necessity, upon the good-will of that German consul 
 you know so well. ' ' 
 
 "That is true," said Nicholas, calmly. 
 
 "Nicholas! What are you saying? Rely on the 
 enemy of France? Never!" exclaimed Veronica with 
 sudden heat, and then overcome almost to tears by the 
 surprised glance of her brother and the eager joy with 
 which, Pierre turned to look into her face, she got up and 
 went hurriedly into the garden. 
 
 "Of course all our hopes were centered on France and 
 England," Nicholas resumed in a strained voice. "Now 
 these are crushed by the probable entrance of Turkey 
 into the war against them it will be chiefly to America we 
 shall look in any hour of danger. The United States 
 consul of Opella is as good a friend of ours as Herr 
 Rosen." 
 
 " I am glad to hear it, my friend, ' ' said Pierre, dryly,
 
 66 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 as he looked at his watch. "I fear the carriage is al- 
 ready waiting. It is more than time for me to be 
 getting on. ' ' 
 
 "I will go at once and see," said Dr. Severin, jump- 
 ing up. 
 
 Left alone Pierre Marson cast an eager, scrutinizing 
 look into the garden, then turned with an impulsive 
 gesture to Mme. Severin, and took her hands. 
 
 "Mother of Veronica, I love your daughter. If I come 
 safely through the war will you be my mother also ? " he 
 asked with simplicity, not ashamed to look into her face 
 with dimmed eyes. 
 
 She returned his gaze with a gravity that studied him. 
 Then with a curious little glow in her eyes she said, 
 "If Veronica herself wishes it, but till then you must 
 wait to ask her. Who can read the future?" 
 
 He glanced quickly at her with anxiety in his eyes. 
 
 "She will remember?" he said, earnestly. 
 
 "Can you ask?" she returned, significantly. 
 
 He stooped, kissed her hands, then drew himself up, 
 straightened his shoulders with a resolute gesture and 
 went out of the pavilion. 
 
 Voices guided his steps. Bound the bend of the path 
 he came to an open space between the trees. Zia stood 
 there, a basket in her hand, her fair curls falling in a 
 tangle over one shoulder as she looked up at Veronica 
 with delight in her delicate face. 
 
 "Here they come! Now!" she shouted, gleefully. 
 
 Veronica was standing still with her head up and well 
 back. She held both her hands extended filled with 
 grain, and uttered a little cooing call with her throat. 
 
 A number of pigeons came wheeling down from the 
 trees 'around and tumbled about the girls, pigeons of
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 67 
 
 varied soft-hued plumage with curious nostrils, both 
 swelled and rough. They perched confidingly on Ver- 
 onica's shoulders, wrists, and even her head, filling the 
 air with their tender cooing notes, and began indus- 
 triously to pick up the grain. 
 
 The blood mounted to Pierre's face. He drew a long 
 breath, gazing with a wild passion of wistful despair at 
 the beautiful sight. As he hurried toward the spot he 
 heard Mme. Severin 's voice. 
 
 "Zia, I am going to the garden door with a bag of fruit 
 for Monsieur Marson. I want you to help me." 
 
 "It is finished," said Veronica, scattering the re- 
 mainder of the grain on the groud. ' ' Eun to Meme and 
 give me the basket. ' ' 
 
 Eager for the new diversion Zia ran off at once. 
 Veronica was holding one of the birds in the hollow of 
 her neck and stroking it gently. The pigeon, dove- 
 colored, and with large bright eyes, pecked at her blouse, 
 but seemed well content to be fondled. 
 
 "I am going to put my little Zuleika in a basket for 
 you to take away with you, ' ' she said, speaking to Pierre 
 as if he had been with her all the time. He saw as she 
 looked round at him that her eyes were full of unshed 
 tears. 
 
 ' ' The pigeon ? Is it yours ? How I shall prize it ! " he 
 said, earnestly. 
 
 "It is not to carry over the sea," she added, quickly. 
 "It is for you to send back here from Scanderoon. She 
 has often made the journey. When she comes back she 
 will tell us you are safe. ' ' 
 
 "Veronica!" 
 
 "Please raise the cover and I will put her inside the 
 basket. See, it is all ready with a little store of grain
 
 68 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 and water at the comers. Just here under the wing is 
 the place to fasten a little note." 
 
 "How long will the bird be flying back to you?" he 
 asked in a husky voice, holding the basket while 
 Veronica deftly transferred the pigeon to its snug nest 
 and immediately fastened it in. 
 
 Pierre, overcome by the nearness and dearness of her, 
 was fast losing his composure. The absolute certainty 
 of Veronica's love had transported him on. the instant 
 into that condition of mind, desperate and agitated, 
 which threatens by one mad single impulse to cut all 
 apart from a man's life but the absorbing love of an 
 individual and make a complete volteface. Honor, pa- 
 triotic ardor, self sacrifice, were being tossed as leaves 
 of no account on the love current, unruly and relentless 
 as a river in spate, which raced through his veins. 
 
 "About eight to ten hours," said Veronica in a faint 
 voice, ever swift to feel the effect of mental atmosphere 
 and never more so than at this moment. 
 
 At that critical juncture a voice called out of the 
 distance. "The carriage waits and the' driver is in a 
 hurry to be off." 
 
 Like a soldier called to attention Pierre drew himself 
 up stiffly. But still he looked at Veronica. He was 
 struggling with a new weakness, the sense of helplessness 
 which comes to one in face of the inevitable. How was 
 he going to say good-by? 
 
 Veronica herself relieved the strain for both by walk- 
 ing in the direction of the voice. Mechanically he paced 
 by her side, his face becoming grave and fixed as sud- 
 denly he remembered Mme. Severin's words. 
 
 The girl stopped short at the last bend of the path and 
 turned to him. She could not face the parting at the
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 69 
 
 gate with spectators around. The color came and went 
 in her face. Her lips beginning to tremble she reso- 
 lutely set them firm. 
 
 "Go quickly! Every minute is precious on such a 
 journey," she said with a brave look in her blue eyes 
 revealing that whatever peril or trial might lie ahead at 
 any rate the spirit within her would quail before neither. 
 "May God protect you on the way, and preserve you in 
 danger!" she added in an Eastern strain. "Always in 
 my heart I shall pray for you." 
 
 She found it impossible to articulate another word. 
 Something throbbing in her throat was choking her. 
 But with a strenuous effort she preserved her control, 
 looking into his face with calm and tender eyes. 
 
 He took the- little basket containing the pigeon from 
 her outstretched hand. Then he put his arm round her 
 and kissed her on the lips, the eyes, the hair. For a 
 moment he held her clasped as though he must hold her 
 and never part from her all his life long. 
 
 "I shall love you forever," he said, hoarsely, and 
 then sped away, not daring to pause for another second. 
 
 Before disappearing between the trees he looked 
 around as if conscious that the moment was to be one of 
 the indelible memories of his life. 
 
 The last sight of Veronica was of a tall graceful figure, 
 finely molded in all its lines, a still face of ivory pallor 
 set in a nimbus of hair black as night. She stood sil- 
 houetted for an instant against the sky showing between 
 the trees, then she turned to hide the tears streaming 
 down her cheeks and walked quickly away.
 
 CHAPTER VH 
 
 A CLOUD of dust far up the road, a faint and ever 
 fainter jingling of bells gave back -to the group 
 watching at the garden door the last sign of Pierre Mar- 
 son 'B flying visit to Opella. A glance into the carriage 
 so swiftly disappearing from sight would have showed 
 him gazing with a fixed persistency into space, the cigar 
 lighted before starting dying out between his fingers. 
 Before the concentrated eye of the mind one image only 
 was visible, the figure of Veronica as she had last ap- 
 peared to him, with the deep blue eyes of her brimming 
 with love and purest devo.tion. God help her, and God 
 help him, too, in the days to come, was the predominat- 
 ing thought as the sword of separation pierced ever 
 deeper into his heart. 
 
 Dr. Severin declared he must not delay longer, he 
 must go back to the hospital. 
 
 "Then take Zia with you," said Mme. Severin. 
 "Amina has gone home and will put her to bed. I have 
 various things to put by. Veronica and I will return 
 together." 
 
 "Yes, I am tired," said Zia, languidly, and held out 
 her arms to her father. 
 
 "Send the carriage straight back, Nicholas," called 
 Mme. Severin as her son drove towards the town. 
 
 The keeper of the garden came forward from his mud- 
 brick hut close to the strong door in the wall to detain 
 her in talk for a few moments. Then she went back 
 with hasty and eager steps to the pavilion. 
 
 TO
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 71 
 
 "Veronica, are you there?" she said, anxiously, halt- 
 ing on the threshold to peer into the shadowed room. 
 
 No answer gave back from within or through the soft 
 freshness of the evening air without. With a heavy sigh 
 she entered, picked up various articles lying about and 
 thrust them with an air of detached thought into a mas- 
 sive chest. This she locked and put the key into a bag 
 at her side. 
 
 For a moment she stood pondering, a wistful look in 
 her far-seeing eyes. Then -she went down to the river 
 bank, looked hurriedly right and left, and out over the 
 deepening waters and immediately turned aside into a 
 little path winding through the trees. 
 
 "Veronica!" she called again. 
 
 The pigeons were still murmuring somewhere out of 
 sight. When she came out on the clearing where 
 Veronica had put Zuleika into the basket she found the 
 birds, some moving on the ground, others in the air, all 
 uttering their cooing notes to a slim white figure stand- 
 ing among them still as a statue with arms taut and 
 fingers tightly locked before her. 
 
 "It is a big struggle, my little daughter," said Mme. 
 Severin, quietly, coming up behind her, "but courage! 
 You will win through." 
 
 A moment's silence and then the girl turned slowly 
 and looked with tragic eyes at her mother. 
 
 "But it is hard," she said in a gasping voice, spread- 
 ing out her hands in mute appeal to the fate upon her. 
 
 The passionate strain of her attitude suddenly snapped 
 beneath the tenderness of her mother's presence. She 
 dropped in a heap to the ground, bowed her head into her 
 arms and began to weep bitterly. 
 
 In a moment Mme. Severin was kneeling beside her.
 
 7 2 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 In the relief of free outward expression of her grief 
 Veronica sobbed out her heart on her mother's breast, 
 and with it wept away most of the strain and bitterness 
 of that parting hour. 
 
 Soon she began to listen to the words whispered in her 
 ear. 
 
 "My heart is sore for you, my dear one. It is hard 
 to love and to part in the same hour, but love is a master 
 that will not be denied when called up by the voice of 
 destiny. For it is destiny herself who has arranged all 
 this mixed happiness and pain, in order to mold you to 
 her will. She knows that through the giving of love 
 to faithful hearts she will be able to bring certain things 
 to pass in your life, things hidden from us now but that 
 the future will make plain. ' ' 
 
 "But why must destiny be cruel?" muttered the girl. 
 
 ' ' Out of what seems cruel to-day you will one day see 
 good springing like a flower. For love and a brave heart 
 can go far in conquering the evil of what seems the most 
 adverse destiny. Many experiences go to the molding 
 of a life. If you submit to them you can often turn 
 them to your advantage." 
 
 "I did struggle hard to persuade myself that all would 
 be well," said the girl, sitting up with a sort of desperate 
 gasp and pushing with one hand the soft black hair from 
 her forehead, "that no harm could possibly happen to 
 him that nothing dare happen to him, that we shall 
 still go on at home in the same placid old way, and that 
 one day he will come back." 
 
 "Try to believe by all means that everything happens 
 for the best," said the mother earnestly, "but life at 
 home for us, my Veronica, is going to be a grave matter, 
 needing all our courage."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 73 
 
 "I know! I know! I was not able even to pretend 
 that my hope would come true," said Veronica, dully; 
 ' ' only one comfort I have Pierre might have gone with- 
 out saying a word, and then everything would have been 
 unbearable." 
 
 Anna Severin 's eyes flashed. 
 
 "I told him to wait," she said, quickly, "that you 
 were not to be tied by a promise." 
 
 "If he had not spoken I should have drowned myself 
 in the river," said Veronica with passion in her voice. 
 "It makes all the difference in being able to endure 
 anything and everything just to have heard him say it 
 once." 
 
 ' ' My dear ! ' ' murmured her mother in a gentle but ex- 
 postulating voice. 
 
 "From my heart I mean it," Veronica's voice thrilled 
 to a deep note, ' ' for I know ! I know ! And when one 
 knows it is possible to endure all things. You shall see ! ' ' 
 
 She had spoken with decided ardor of expression, gaz- 
 ing with a far off uplift of look into the growing dark- 
 ness under the trees. Now, as suddenly, she dropped her 
 face into her hands, overcome by the feeling that in the 
 dawning of her great and amazing happiness a thick 
 cloud had fallen blotting out the glory. In spite of her 
 brave words emptiness and despair were ready and even 
 eager to creep into her heart. 
 
 Anna Severin drew up the shawl which had slipped 
 from her shoulders and rose to her feet. "Wrapping her 
 arms more closely she stood erect looking down silently 
 at the girl. 
 
 Veronica's love for the Frenchman she thanked God 
 for his nationality which had come so suddenly had 
 made a new being of her little girl. This was a woman
 
 74 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 grown who was speaking. Ah, well, such a crisis was 
 bound to come from the very nature of things. Fate 
 had declared her will. From this reading of life nobody 
 who has the smallest strain of Oriental blood in their 
 veins is ever free. 
 
 "And now we must go home, Veronica," she said, 
 firmly. "You must try to compose yourself even as 
 Pierre made the effort when he came to bid us good-by 
 at the gate." 
 
 Veronica looked up with arrested eyes. "Yes?" she 
 said in a questioning voice. "Yes ? ' ' 
 
 "His self control was marked. It had to be. But I 
 knew he was inwardly as deeply moved as yourself. He 
 cannot, he must not give way. He belongs to his 
 country, though he will serve her the better for loving 
 you with all his heart. Now, listen to me, dear! You, 
 too, have other aims to consider. We have to be ex- 
 ceedingly cautious, and above all to keep strict silence 
 about the love between you and Pierre however difficult 
 it may be to conceal it." 
 
 With parted lips Veronica listened with the same look 
 of fixed attention. Directly her mother finished speak- 
 ing she sprang up. 
 
 "Tell me all!" she said with instant intuition. 
 "There is something else, I know. I will be selfish no 
 longer, petite mere," 
 
 Come then ! Let me draw your lace scarf over your 
 hair and round your neck. The carriage waits. I will 
 explain as we walk." 
 
 With tender touch Anna Severin smoothed the girl's 
 disarranged hair, and arranged over it and round the 
 neck the lace in the Syrian fashion, concealing as much 
 of the face as possible as it was growing dark. She
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 75 
 
 kissed Veronica on either cheek and then taking her 
 arm they went away. 
 
 As they walked Anna spoke of Herr Rosen's visit that 
 afternoon, explained his ominous news, his dark hints of 
 future disaster, and above all his declaration of love and 
 confident hopes. 
 
 "Have you told Nicholas?" was Veronica's first 
 question. 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 "He knew all this and yet refused to listen to Pierre? 
 Oh, mother!" 
 
 "Your brother is like his father. When he sees the 
 right he does it and never swerves. ' ' 
 
 "That is your way, too," said Veronica in a toneless 
 voice. "What must I do? How can I face that man 
 again knowing his preposterous ideas about me? You 
 know that I could never have loved him even had I 
 never seen Pierre." 
 
 ' ' I felt you were not at all in sympathy with him, but 
 on no account must we make him our enemy. ' ' 
 
 "The very thought of him repels me," said Veronica, 
 fiercely. ' ' How can he dare take so much for granted ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Simply a good share of the confidence and unbounded 
 conceit common to most Germans," said Anna Severin, 
 dryly. "They are out to make trouble if war really 
 starts afresh. I doubt even if they will in any way make 
 things easier for the Christians of this land in spite of 
 their boast of religion." 
 
 Veronica started as the words recalled something for- 
 gotten to her mind. 
 
 "Ali was with me before you came this evening," she 
 said breathlessly. "The Sukhs are filled with dark re- 
 ports that the Bedouin are rising. Already the Jehad
 
 7 6 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 is being preached among them. I told him to take no 
 notice of it seriously. We have so often heard similar 
 reports." 
 
 "No doubt there is a plot somewhere to create disturb- 
 ances," said Mme. Severin. "You must tell Nicholas." 
 
 "Zorah wants me to go and see her to-morrow. It is 
 urgent, said Ali." 
 
 ' ' I wonder John Culver himself has not been over to 
 see us. These are times when we must all keep in touch 
 with one another. ' ' 
 
 The carriage waited outside the garden door with its 
 curtains drawn. The two women sat closely together, 
 Veronica's arm still linked in her mother's during the 
 drive, but both became silent. 
 
 Veronica followed in thought the man she loved. She 
 reminded herself how he would have to cast off every 
 care, every consideration, even every thought that might 
 hamper complete duty to his country. That as a man 
 girded for a race, with his life as the prize, he would 
 have to be ready to act, to serve, to sacrifice, without 
 respect of self or of any other person whatsoever. 
 
 She put the question to herself. If she, Veronica 
 Severin, the daughter of as brave a patriot as ever 
 breathed, were to fall short in courage, self-sacrifice, and 
 strict self control, how could she in any way be worthy 
 of the love of such a man as Pierre Marson ? 
 
 For answer every fiber of nerve within her stiffened. 
 She possessed all the caution as well as all the passion of 
 her father's race, qualities inseparably intertwined in 
 Armenian character through the very nature of its 
 development under Turkish tyranny. It follows then 
 that when her mother turned to her as the carriage 
 drew up and said, "Be careful, dear! Prying eyes may
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 77 
 
 be about!" Veronica replied in a steady voice, "Have 
 no fear!" and when she came under the lamplight and 
 threw back her scarf there was no trace left on her face 
 of recent agitation beyond an added depth to the color 
 of her eyes. 
 
 "Zia! Still up? But that is naughty, very 
 naughty," cried Mme. Severin, as stepping through the 
 double doors of the portico into the lewan she saw Zia 
 struggling to escape from Amina's arms. 
 
 "I can do nothing with her, lady," wailed the 
 woman. "Since the khowaja went off she has been like 
 a little mejnoun." 
 
 "What khowaja?" asked Anna Severin, sharply, 
 while Zia escaping, ran to Veronica and threw herself 
 into her arms as if for protection. 
 
 "There, there, child! Be good and then Aunt 
 Vronka will take you to bed herself," said Veronica in 
 a soothing voice, though <that instant her heart jumped 
 at Amina's reply. 
 
 "Khowaja Rosen, the German consul!" 
 
 With a startled flash in her eyes Anna Severin looked 
 at Veronica. What new communication was this, she 
 seemed to ask? 
 
 "Yes, he came just after the master went out. I 
 was taking Zia to her room. She heard the khowaja 's 
 voice and then nothing could hold her. Allah! You 
 know what she is ! " concluded Amina. 
 
 "Go now and get on with your work," said her mis- 
 tress. "I will look after the child." 
 
 Amina made off with alacrity, glad to be easily relieved 
 from blame, while Mme. Severin came to the divan where 
 Veronica sat holding Zia in her arms. 
 
 Zia was talking in a shrill, excited voice.
 
 7 8 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "I can't understand, dear," said her grandmother. 
 "Go back to the beginning and tell Meme all about it." 
 
 "I hate him. He is a wicked man. He gave me a 
 box of chocolates and when I said things he did not like 
 he took them away from me and said he would give 
 them to another little girl who was a real friend and 
 not like me." 
 
 "That was very unkind," said Mme. Severin, decid- 
 edly. "What was he angry about?" 
 
 "He came to play the violin with some new music for 
 Vronka. I told him Aunt Vronka was in the garden 
 and that Papa and Meme were there. He asked me 
 why I had come home without them." 
 
 "Did you tell him we had a visitor?" 
 
 "Yes, I thought he might have forgotten our dear 
 Monsieur Marson, so I put him in mind of the holiday 
 in the mountains, and how we all loved him." 
 
 She was too absorbed in her recital to notice the horri- 
 fied glance passing between her aunt and grandmother. 
 
 "Then he asked me a lot of questions and I got tired 
 of answering them." 
 
 "What questions, dearie?" put in Veronica, quietly. 
 
 "He wanted to know when Monsieur Marson had 
 come to the garden, and who brought him, and if we 
 had expected him. I said it was a beautiful surprise 
 that had made us all very happy. He looked cross and 
 I asked him why, and said Monsieur Marson was always 
 so gay, and I should like him better if he was the same. ' ' 
 
 "That was rude," said Mme. Severin, firmly. 
 
 "No! It was Herr Rosen who was rude. He said he 
 had better taste than to imitate the manners of a grin- 
 ning dog of a Frenchman. I told him that his own 
 manners were very impolite to speak like that of our
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 79 
 
 visitor, and -that it was not only me who loved Monsieur 
 Marson, but that Meme and Aunt Vronka did." 
 
 "And Papa, too?" thrust in Mme. Severin. 
 
 "Yes," said Zia with hesitation, "but I said I did not 
 think he liked him as much as we did. ' ' 
 
 "Did Herr Kosen ask what we were talking about?" 
 
 Veronica put this question, trying to speak calmly, 
 though her heart throbbed with the pain of a new and 
 burning anxiety. 
 
 "Indeed, he did! But I told him that when I asked 
 what any one had been talking about I was called in- 
 quisitive and scolded. Then he took away the chocolates. 
 He was red as a bride's veil, quite quite red, and very 
 angry. He came close up to me. I thought he was 
 going to shake me. If he had I meant to pinch him 
 hard." 
 
 "All the same he ought to have waited till I came in," 
 said Mme. Severin, too concerned about the man's anger 
 to denounce its effect on Zia. 
 
 "I told him to go away and I stamped my foot at him. 
 I said it was my Papa's house and he did not allow any 
 one to be unkind to me." 
 
 "You must never do that again," said her grand- 
 mother, sternly. "It is not for a little one like you 
 to decide who comes to the house or not. Herr Rosen 
 was our guest. It is a shameful thing to drive away 
 a guest." 
 
 Zia started to wail. For Meme to turn against her 
 gave a tragic twist to conduct of which she had been not 
 a little proud. 
 
 ' ' She is very tired, mother. If you will let me I will 
 put her to bed," said Veronica, feeling wondrously 
 tender towards the unconscious little champion of Pierre.
 
 80 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Also she was secretly elated, whatever the risk, that 
 Otto Rosen had been defied and certainly made to eat 
 humble pie, though at a child's hands. 
 
 "Very well, and I will come in later and see that she 
 is quite a good girl," said Mme. Severin. 
 
 Left alone she became very grave, anticipating a vin- 
 dictive if petty revenge on Otto Rosen's part for the 
 behavior of a child. How could it be averted? Was 
 there a means by which she could disarm his jealousy 
 and resentment? 
 
 An idea soon came to her. With clearing brow she 
 hurried to her writing table. Shortly she had written 
 and fastened up a letter, and then called Amina to her. 
 
 "Give this to Murad and tell him to go with all haste 
 to the house of the German effendi," she said. "Come 
 and tell me when he returns for then I shall know how 
 quickly he has delivered my message. And Amina!" 
 she called out as the woman hurried from the room. 
 ' ' Come back after you have sent Murad off. I want you 
 to light the lamps in the salon." 
 
 Anna Severin, always alert in the face of a complicated 
 emergency, again put on her considering cap. Then 
 muttering, "Now to persuade and convince Veronica," 
 she quitted the lewan.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 AS a rule the German Consulate showed no signs of 
 life at this hour. But to-night the whole town was 
 alive. Every cafe was full, inside and out, of talking 
 and gesticulating groups. In the narrow streets men 
 passed and repassed incessantly, a continuous hum of 
 voices and hoarse shoutings echoed and re-etehoed between 
 the blank-faced walls of the houses. 
 
 "Clear the court!" shouted the Consul as he came in. 
 "Let no one enter again without bringing me word." 
 
 Men standing in groups under the arcade of the court, 
 and squatting near the divan in the gateway began a hur- 
 ried exodus while the doorkeeper reiterated the order in 
 a shrill, penetrating voice. 
 
 The Consul turned sharply to the majestic Kawass who 
 was following him in. 
 
 "Give it to me!" he said, savagely. "Have a care, 
 you idiot, or you will drop the case. Hold yourself in 
 readiness. I may go out again to the Serai at any 
 minute." 
 
 The Kawass, with an air of relinquishing some prized 
 treasure of the universe, gave up the violin case, then 
 made a magnificent gesture* signifying absolute readiness 
 to fly to the ends of the earth at His Excellency's com- 
 mand. But his swarthy face scowled blackly as Herr 
 Rosen marched across the paving and up the steps to the 
 great door overhung by the Insignia of Germany. 
 
 "Why must a man of my race wait upon the will of 
 
 81
 
 82 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 such as these?" he said in an irritable aside to the 
 keeper of the gate. 
 
 "Allah is great ! The world changes. It will be your 
 turn one day." 
 
 "Please God!" returned the Kawass, hopefully. 
 "May it soon be His will, for these Christians are all 
 alike." 
 
 He produced cigarettes for two from the voluminous 
 folds of his trousers, and sitting down by the gate began 
 to discuss vigorously the pros and cons of the burning 
 topic of the hour. 
 
 The Consulate was to be open all night in case of the 
 arrival of important messages by wire or hand. At the 
 sound of Rosen's step and voice two or three clerks left 
 in charge, who had their heads together in busy confab, 
 flew to their desks with an air of industry. To their 
 surprise and relief he took no notice of them but passed 
 on to his own sanctum and closed the door with a bang. 
 
 He seemed pent up with suppressed emotions, and, 
 after placing his violin case aside, paced with fiery energy 
 up and down the room, setting his teeth in anger. 
 
 The suspicions stirred up by the sight of Dr. Severin 
 and Marson together at the station had come back in a 
 virulent form. Instinct and revenge demanded prompt 
 denouncement of Severin in a quarter that would mean 
 prompt arrest, but his punishment would not touch the 
 chief offender and foe, and might irretrievably estrange 
 Veronica. 
 
 Yet with Veronica herself Otto Rosen was bitterly 
 incensed. Zia had betrayed even more than she had con- 
 fessed or imagined. Why this complaisance to a man 
 who was the national enemy of Germany? Obligations 
 of personal friendship to him, Otto Rosen, numbered
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 83 
 
 years, whereas the acquaintance of the Frenchman 
 counted in weeks only. 
 
 What did it mean, he asked, suddenly kicking a stool 
 that lay in his way with a force so savage that it flew 
 across the room and knocked over a low table on which 
 was a tray with glasses and a syphon. 
 
 With a jerk he pulled up short, glared with starting 
 eyeballs at the havoc on the floor, while from his lips 
 tumbled a fluent stream of Teutonic swear words. 
 Startled clerks, hearing the crash, burst in at the door, 
 fearing an untoward catastrophe. 
 
 "What do you want here?" he called angrily. 
 "Can't I have an accident without the whole Consulate 
 neglecting its duty ? Here, I want this mess cleared up. 
 Sharp ! Send some one to see to it. " 
 
 Suddenly he composed himself, and sitting down 
 stared straight in front of him without moving a muscle. 
 A native servant came silently in, sopped up the water 
 and brushed the debris into a pan. He went out and 
 brought in more glasses and a fresh syphon. 
 
 "Put that table in a safer place up against the wall," 
 ordered Rosen. "The next time I find it in the middle 
 of the room you can look for another master." 
 
 Volubly the man began with many salaams to defend 
 and excuse himself. 
 
 "Enough! It is finished. Go!" roared Eosen, ex- 
 asperated. 
 
 The edge of his inward anger had worn blunt, but he 
 still sat brooding over the indignity put upon him by 
 an impudent child, and the slight to his loyal friendship 
 for the Severin household by their hospitality to a 
 Frenchman. 
 
 For what else than a slight could he call this welcome
 
 84 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 and pronounced partiality for an enemy of his country? 
 He could call it more than a slight. It was a betrayal, 
 for who could tell what treacherous machinations were 
 not hidden beneath the seeming harmlessness of that 
 unlucky visit? 
 
 How then to get a quid pro quo for indignity and 
 slight, and a more than probable treachery? For the 
 indignity, best of all he would like to place the sharp- 
 tongued little Zia across his knees and whip her well. 
 
 "Do her good!" he exclaimed. "If ever I get a 
 chance of correcting that child, bringing her under 
 discipline to stamp out her willfulness, I shall take 
 
 it" 
 
 And this resolve brought him close up to the other vital 
 matter, his passion for Veronica, and any possible influ- 
 ence that the contemptible but dangerous visitor could 
 have exercised upon her. 
 
 None, he told himself emphatically. The time had 
 been too short. And then he remembered his own invi- 
 tation to supper in the garden, proving that Monsieur 
 Marson's visit had been quite unforeseen. What mad- 
 ness on Severin's part to invite such a man to the inti- 
 macy of that evening meal. He could picture it all, 
 having shared it so often himself. 
 
 With this revival of memory he again grew angry with 
 Veronica, who had treated him with cold indifference at 
 his last appearance in their family circle. He began to 
 think how he could annoy or even humiliate her. For 
 apparently she had the excruciating taste to have a 
 liking for this Frenchman. Zia had declared loudly, 
 "We all like him," and had added, "especially Meme 
 and Aunt Vronka." 
 
 All kinds of rancor passed quickly through his mind.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 85 
 
 Ceaselessly lie began to rack Ms brain .for a scapegoat 
 on whom to vent his rage. Finally he got up with a 
 concentrated air of wrath and determination, and walked 
 out of the room. He had decided to denounce the 
 Frenchman, who was the arch culprit. 
 
 He summoned his Kawass and started out for the 
 Serai. In another ten minutes he entered the presence 
 of the Wali of Opella with all the assurance of one whose 
 visit is not only welcome but an act of condescension. A 
 curious bearing for a representative of the German 
 Kaiser at a moment when the whole of Europe and even 
 of the world was still hanging upon the decision of 
 Turkey to enter the arena of war. 
 
 But he, Otto Rosen, Germany's chief consular official 
 for a wide district, was already in the secret. Even 
 now he knew that Turkey's horrible gamble had begun, 
 that Enver Pasha, Talaat Bey, and their accomplices of 
 that deadly Committee of Union and Progress, so soon to 
 be denounced as a ' ' gang of unscrupulous ruffians, ' ' had 
 thrown the dice on the side of the Central Powers. 
 Hence this new access of German arrogance, and cer- 
 tainty of his own position. 
 
 Unluckily his hands were tied in many ways until the 
 decision was openly made known. But even Rosen could 
 not divine that, in the same hour in which he sought out 
 the Wali, cable messages were flying, far and wide, 
 revealing the treacherous blow struck by Turko-Germanic 
 warships against Russia in the Black Sea. 
 
 Little time was ever wasted by Otto Rosen in disclos- 
 ing the point of an official call. In fact he was apt to 
 slur over essential niceties of etiquette, a practice which 
 secretly affronted the Oriental mind, and often created 
 an atmosphere of subtle hostility. At best he was a poor
 
 86 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 diplomat and all the experience in the world would never 
 alter him. 
 
 His present mood led him to abridge in a highly im- 
 proper manner the customary shibboleth of ceremony. 
 With indecent haste he tumbled out the subject of his 
 
 visit. 
 
 Kahoum Pasha listened, smoking leisurely, gravely, his 
 gray-green eyes shot with fleeting gleams of malice. His 
 silence betrayed no surprise, nor did he appear inter- 
 ested. A spectator might have guessed him to be bored 
 at the mere idea that any one particular Frenchman, 
 more than another, slipping out of the country could 
 possibly be a detail of the least importance at this special 
 juncture. 
 
 "Prevention is better than cure," snapped Rosen. 
 "He is a dangerous man. Who knows what plans of 
 the country, and promises from traitors he is not carry- 
 ing back with him? Hold him now and no valuable 
 information can be conveyed to the enemy through him. 
 I have the strongest grounds for distrusting him." 
 
 He paused, scenting of a sudden that his charge and 
 demand were not receiving the attention he had expected. 
 A wave of resentment surging within showed outwardly 
 in the suspicious glare of his eye turned upon the unper- 
 turbed Wali. 
 
 "It is well, Excellency! I compliment you upon 
 your quick sight," said Kahoum Pasha, suavely. "Be 
 assured that my own eyes are not shut. Though I have 
 to sit here waiting the orders of the All-Highest from 
 Stamboul my hands are able to stretch far on his behalf. ' ' 
 
 "Stop the rascal then! Have him arrested before he 
 leaves the shore. Do not hesitate. Time is short. 
 There must be no mistake," said Rosen, sharply.
 
 87, 
 
 From Kahoum Pasha's eyes darted an ironical glance 
 that scanned the speaker keenly. 
 
 "What would you say if I told you that I already 
 know every detail about the Frenchman, even to the 
 fact that he halted on his way to sup with a family you 
 reckon among your intimate friends?" The Wall 
 paused to take a long whiff through his pipe. 
 
 Eosen stared with an air of amazed inquiry. 
 
 "It is true, Excellency!" the Wali went on, quietly. 
 "And yet I shall allow this dangerous foreigner to sail 
 to-morrow night for his own country." 
 
 Rosen, though cunning, was a mere tyro at the game 
 of intrigue compared with the player before him. He 
 was at no pains to hide his perplexity and anger. But 
 before he could open his lips to speak again Kahoum 
 Pasha called out in a loud voice. The curtain over the 
 door moved and a young official known to Rosen as the 
 Wali's confidential secretary came in. 
 
 "Repeat to his Excellency, Rosen Effendi, the report 
 brought in about the Frenchman, the protected of Ras- 
 chid Pasha whose life may God preserve!" said 
 Kahoum Pasha. 
 
 "The protected of Raschid Pasha!" echoed Rosen 
 with an accent of scornful incredulity; but already the 
 secretary, having made his courteous salaams, began to 
 speak. Rosen listened with mixed feelings of which im- 
 patience was emphatically the strongest. 
 
 "You believe that plausible tale, Highness?" he 
 said, addressing the Wali. 
 
 "You have said it, Effendina," was the reply. 
 
 "He will never come back at all. You will lose him 
 altogether. You must see it is only a blind." 
 
 "Not so! When the hour comes he will be here.
 
 88 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 What he will then bring into the country will be more 
 valuable than anything he now carries away. One 
 whose word carries higher weight than my own has so 
 declaral. The Frenchman leaves the country un- 
 checked. ' ' 
 
 "That is your last word?" asked Rosen, acidly. 
 "The German military staff at Damascus and above all 
 in Stamboul will look with different eyes on his escape. 
 For an escape, unchecked, it will be, and nothing else. ' ' 
 
 "That is my last word, Excellency," said the Wali, 
 dryly. 
 
 Rosen swallowed the coffee he still held in his hand, 
 dropped into the cup a half finished cigarette, and rose to 
 his feet. With unusual punctilio he took leave and went 
 back to the Consulate in a ferment of discontent and 
 baffled designs. 
 
 As he mounted the steps from the courtyard a figure 
 shot up from a mat near the door, salaamed humbly, 
 and presented a letter. 
 
 Herr Rosen took it, looked at the handwriting, then 
 at the man and walked on. 
 
 "Khowaja! Am I to wait?" said the man, follow- 
 ing him. 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 The man spread out deprecating palms as he answered. 
 "The reply, khowaja!" 
 
 "There is none! Go!" said Rosen, loudly, and 
 passed into the building. 
 
 He flung the letter on a console table by the door and 
 sat down at his writing table. Fresh papers at once 
 claimed his close attention. He bent over them, frown- 
 ing, examining one after the other, then pushed a bell at 
 his side.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 89 
 
 An hour after midnight he got up with a big yawn. 
 His subordinates could now carry through the remainder 
 of the work. It was by no means necessary for him to 
 share their vigil, though he had given orders he was to be 
 called at once if any important message arrived. 
 
 When he rose to his feet to go to bed he caught sight 
 of the letter and remembered he had not read it. He 
 took it to his bedroom. Again he flung it down vindic- 
 tively with a revival of the anger driven forcibly to 
 cover by the urgent business of the last few hours. 
 
 But the virulence of his previous mood had subsided. 
 As he undressed his glance wandered speculatively to 
 the closed envelope. At last he took it up, hesitated, 
 and finally tore it open with an air of decision. 
 
 "We have just come in from the garden," he read, 
 ' ' and find to our real chagrin we have missed your visit. 
 Why did you leave before we came ? You can only have 
 left the house a few minutes before our- arrival and 
 nothing would have pleased and refreshed us (especially 
 my music-loving Veronica) more than an evening with 
 your violin. If you can possibly arrange to return I 
 beg of you to come. We shall expect you and be ready 
 in the salon. We were delayed later than usual in the 
 garden through an unexpected visitor whom Nicholas 
 curiously enough ran across at the station. It was none 
 other than the Frenchman who was a fellow guest for a 
 few days in the hills this summer. No doubt you remem- 
 ber him. His time was extremely limited as he was on 
 his way to the port. We supped as soon as the two men 
 appeared, and at the end of the meal he had to say good- 
 by and resume his journey. Perhaps under the circum- 
 stances you are not sorry that business kept you from 
 accepting my invitation to the garden. In any case
 
 90 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 both Veronica and I trust you will make a special effort 
 to return with your violin and give us the pleasure we 
 always appreciate." 
 
 Otto Rosen read the letter with varying expressions of 
 countenance. Suspicion still rankled at the back of his 
 mind, and out of its depths some of the earlier bitterness 
 swam to view. Yet he was not insensible to the concilia- 
 tory strain of the letter. 
 
 What did it mean? Almost as if the writer had 
 already conveyed to Veronica the substance of his con- 
 fidence of the afternoon. 
 
 Was it possible that Veronica had bent a willing ear 
 to listen t And were these open expressions of regret, 
 and the wish to retrieve a missed pleasure the first timid 
 display of changing heart ? 
 
 Question and surmise drew his eyes to a second slower 
 reading of the letter. He pondered over every sentence, 
 weighing the possible motives of every remark in turn. 
 And while pondering he considered a reply, one that 
 would be dignified and magnanimous, and yet convey 
 a delicate suggestion of reproach and surprise that his 
 friends had shown ready hospitality to an enemy of Ger- 
 many. For a man of French blood must of necessity be 
 in the opposing camp. 
 
 His brain was too tired to write out this reply now. 
 Besides it was useless to send a letter in the middle of 
 the night. He would answer in the morning. His last 
 mental effort as he threw himself on the bed spluttered 
 out in black hatred for this particular Frenchman above 
 all others, and in contempt for the Wall's reprehensible 
 slackness in letting him go.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 WITH a sense of ineffable depression Veronica fell in 
 with her mother's scheme for propitiating Herr 
 Rosen after his fatal skirmish with Zia. Murad's delay 
 was not regarded as ominous until he gave a highly 
 colored account of his reception and dismissal by the 
 Consul. 
 
 The two women looked silently at each other, dismay 
 in their eyes. 
 
 "He won't come to-night," said Veronica, speaking 
 first, with a wan smile. "What a relief! I doubt if 
 I could have hidden my real feelings from him. ' ' 
 
 "Don't say that, when it is a matter of sheer neces- 
 sity," said Anna Severin, excitedly. "You are short- 
 sighted not to look beyond personal feeling. You have 
 not grasped the situation. Germany at war with France, 
 her ancient enemy! "We, Otto Rosen's friends, have en- 
 tertained a Frenchman. The fact was disclosed to him 
 in the least desirable way. ' ' 
 
 "But so far we are neutrals and should therefore be 
 impartial," retorted Veronica, warmly. 
 
 "He knows that Turkey is about to enter the war on 
 Germany 's side. ' ' 
 
 "He may know and say what he likes, but he shall 
 not frighten me into submission to his whims and tyran ; 
 nies. My one and sole fear is that the breach may come 
 before Pierre is able to get away. ' ' 
 
 While waiting for the expected entrance of 
 
 91
 
 92 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Veronica, turning over the leaves of the music on the 
 open piano, had become almost calm and resigned. 
 Now, with her mother's reproach, sensations of extreme 
 uneasiness and cold dread sprang to life in her mind. 
 
 "For that very reason I am trying to keep in with 
 the man," said Mme. Severin, emphatically. "He will 
 make a dangerous enemy, bitter to vindictiveness ! His 
 influence with Turkish authorities will now carry far." 
 
 "But they all dislike him," said Veronica. 
 
 "That does not matter in the least. It is the power 
 behind him that makes him of consequence, and quite 
 independent of their individual favor. But here comes 
 Nicholas ! He will tell us what to do." 
 
 "Hullo, what is the meaning of these gala lamps and 
 general fine array?" exclaimed Dr. Severin, glancing 
 around surprised as he entered through a window of the 
 veranda. "I expected to find both of you gone to bed, 
 exhausted after the excitement of the day. ' ' 
 
 "It is just this, Nicholas! Zia has been indiscreet," 
 and Mme. Severin explained the situation. 
 
 The blood mounted to his face and he drew a long 
 breath. "If he stops Marson through spite or jealousy, 
 and he is quite capable of this, it will look as if we had 
 betrayed our friend," was his first rejoinder. 
 
 "Exactly!" said Mme. Severin, decisively. 
 
 "But he will not dare," said Veronica, hotly. "He 
 has no authority to act till Turkey is the actual ally of 
 Germany. ' ' 
 
 "I have this moment come direct from the Club," 
 said Nicholas, looking at her with troubled eyes. "The 
 die is cast. Private messages have come through, that 
 Russian ports in the Black Sea have been bombarded by 
 the Turkish fleet. Hostilities have been willfully pro-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 93 
 
 voked. The two German warships were, of course, in 
 with them." 
 
 "And hostilities against Russia commits Turkey to a 
 war with France and Great Britain, ' ' said Mme. Severin 
 in a tone of finality. ' ' The unspeakable has happened. ' ' 
 
 "Moreover," he went on, "troops are concentrating. 
 Mobilization has started, of Christians as well as Mussul- 
 mans. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Our people ! How will it affect them ? ' ' said Anna, 
 in a breathless voice. The disclosure of this latest news 
 dwarfed in significance all else that was in her mind. 
 
 Nicholas took out a cigarette and lit it. His face was 
 void of expression. 
 
 "God knows!" he burst out suddenly. "According 
 to all reports and telegrams the Central Powers have 
 already beaten the Entente." 
 
 Veronica, always sensitive to mental atmosphere, and 
 stupified by this last climax to her fears, was unable to 
 utter a word. Only her big eyes black with emotion fixed 
 unwaveringly upon her brother's face. 
 
 "Were there any newspapers in the Club to-day?" 
 asked Mme. Severin. 
 
 "A few, all German, full of their own victories. Also 
 bulletins from Constantinople, confirming the rumors 
 that England and her Allies have been thoroughly beaten 
 to their knees, by land and sea. ' ' 
 
 "I don't believe it! Do you?" exclaimed Mme. 
 Severin. 
 
 "The news is given in such detail that there must be 
 some truth in the reports of the actual state of affairs." 
 
 "What is the feeling in the town?" 
 
 "The same impression that the Germans are in truth 
 top dog. A merchant just arrived from Constantinople
 
 94 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 declares that there they are supreme, though stern 
 methods alone enable them to hold their supremacy. 
 Court martial is no idle threat. It seems that the Turks 
 are crazy about reconquering Egypt. They declare they 
 will drive the British out of the Persian Gulf and de- 
 stroy their commerce with Bagdad and Ispahan. They 
 speak of invading even India, where the natives will wel- 
 come them with open arms. A party of German offi- 
 cers are expected here any day to organize military 
 affairs." 
 
 "I hope to heaven we are not going to have a repeti- 
 tion of that terrible time when troops for the Balkan war 
 were being concentrated, ' ' exclaimed Mme. Severin, rais- 
 ing her hand with a tragic gesture. "How many of 
 those unfortunate men deserted ? ' ' 
 
 "About eight or nine thousand at least," said Nicho- 
 las, darkly, as his mind at once conjured up the lawless 
 state of the environs of Opella in consequence, the multi- 
 plication of highway robberies and villainous plundering 
 in the whole district, which followed the wholesale deser- 
 tion of badly treated Turkish soldiers of many races. 
 "Discipline under German officers will be more effectual 
 these days." 
 
 "Also more brutal," said Mime. Severin, emphatically, 
 "to Turkey's infinite satisfaction. For Turkey irritated 
 and at war is nothing but a fanatical barbarian. The 
 gang who misrule her and have deliberately led her into 
 war with her ancient friends will march on from one 
 shocking blunder to another, and from crime to crime." 
 
 Nicholas checked her abruptly with a warning uplift 
 of one finger and went to the window, opening it wide to 
 peer right and left under the arcades of the veranda. 
 The night was very still and dark. The trees in the
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT, 95 
 
 garden were silhouetted black against the star-sown sky. 
 Not a movement within the inclosure indicated that a 
 living soul was near. Only from the town beyond the 
 higJi walls there sounded detached raucous cries and 
 calls, a monotonous beating of drums, the barking of 
 dogs and other signs of life peculiar to the Orient. 
 
 He came back, fastened the window carefully and let 
 down the heavy damask curtains. To the room door he 
 next stepped lightly, opened it suddenly and looked into 
 the lewan where a hanging lamp still burned. 
 
 "It is all right, Nicholas," called out Veronica. "No 
 one is about. The servants are in their own quarters. 
 The house doors are bolted." 
 
 He shut the door and sat down on the divan by his 
 mother, who once more seemed overcome by a wave of 
 black forebodings. 
 
 "Dear soul! Brave heart!" he ejaculated in a 
 moved voice, covering her clasped fingers with his hand. 
 "What you say is absolutely true and my personal 
 opinions are one with yours. But silence must be more 
 than ever our watchword in this critical hour for Ar- 
 menia. ' ' 
 
 "Armenia? Is it as bad as that?" exclaimed Ver- 
 onica, forgetting for the moment all that had been said 
 in the garden but what immediately concerned her love. 
 
 "Certainly! Eobbed of her protectors, the only 
 shields between her and a pitiless animosity, she will be 
 in a helpless and highly perilous position. It is useless 
 to conceal it from you." 
 
 "There will still be America to protect us; America 
 who has done so much," said the girl in a protesting 
 voice. 
 
 "Do you know that to-night in the Club allusion was
 
 96 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 made purposely in my hearing to the share that Arme- 
 nians took in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870? It was 
 even recalled that the volunteers who fought in the 
 French ranks were Armenians from Zeitoun. ' ' 
 
 ' ' The men of Zeitoun have always been fighters, ' ' said 
 Mmc. Severin, who was as familiar with the adventurous 
 annals of her husband's people as with those of her 
 parents' race. "My God! Will there never be an end 
 to this uncertainty of life ? Must we to the end of our 
 days cringe and conceal and be on our guard ? My son, 
 we should have followed Monsieur Marson's advice and 
 shaken off the dust of this accursed land, to seek and 
 find freedom before we die. ' ' 
 
 A blighting breath of the past swept over her face, 
 making it suddenly old, and impressing her with in- 
 creased fragility. Nicholas, looking at her, was chilled 
 with presentiment. To lose his mother would as vitally 
 affect his moral being as would the loss of a limb his 
 body. Never had his mother spoken so strongly. It 
 proved how deeply she was shaken, almost to breaking 
 point. 
 
 Suddenly he turned away his face, putting his hand 
 across his eyes. The wind of freedom! The mere 
 thought of it thrilled him with ecstasy. God knew how 
 his whole being panted to be breathing the clean-swept 
 spaces of its kingdom. Had he up to now been chasing a 
 chimera? Was it even right for him to hold fast to the 
 patriotic creed of his father? 
 
 "My son, forgive your old mother," said Anna 
 Severin, speaking again with self mastery as she turned 
 with a quick gesture to throw her arm round his neck. 
 "Until to-day I had been living in a fool's paradise. I 
 dreamt that the days of spies were gone forever, that
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 97 
 
 the gains of eavesdroppers were so meager and rare that 
 they had renounced the game. The awakening to reality 
 has thrown me off my balance. Wait until I get again 
 into touch with those old days of unrest, and dread, and 
 a never sleeping caution. With the need of the hour my 
 strength will grow. For my children and through my 
 children I can still face all that is to come. ' ' 
 
 Veronica was weeping silently, crouched on the ground 
 at her mother's knee. Personal fear and sorrow were in 
 retreat. The past heroisms and fortitude of her mother 
 had leaped to the front of her mind. Whatever hap- 
 pened they must all cling together and God in his justice 
 and mercy would not omit to help them. It was curious 
 how in all their minds an uncanny foreboding of the 
 future hung over them like a cloud. 
 
 Nicholas lifted his head and slipped his arm round his 
 mother. 
 
 "Again I have spoken hastily," he said. "We are 
 too prone to concentrate on probable disaster in a crisis of 
 danger. In reality there are others in more immediate 
 danger than our own people. For Armenians are being 
 mobilized to fight with Turkey, who knows how well they 
 acquitted themselves in the Balkan war." 
 
 ' ' Who then are in most danger ? ' ' asked Anna Severin, 
 adding, bitterly, "in any case don't count upon Turkish 
 benevolence for our people, if that is what you mean." 
 
 "Englishmen, Frenchmen and, of course, Russians. 
 The men will all be imprisoned, that is to say all those 
 who failed to take warning and get away in time." 
 
 Veronica 's tears were checked by these startling words. 
 Her eyes fastened upon his face with questioning anxiety. 
 
 "Will they stop Monsieur Marson from embarking?" 
 she asked breathlessly.
 
 98 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Unless Rosen acts promptly he will get through 
 safely enough. Even then Turkish dilatoriness will no 
 doubt delay any order from being carried out in time. 
 He has every chance of getting away," said Nicholas in 
 a troubled voice, "but you must certainly make up your 
 mind to be more amiable to Otto Rosen, my girl ! More 
 may depend upon your attitude than you can possibly 
 imagine." 
 
 "Wait until to-morrow," interjected Mme. Severin. 
 pressing Veronica against her knee. "He will read the 
 letter I wrote to him and be here in the evening as usual. 
 Of that I am certain. Veronica, by the by, is going to 
 visit Zorah. She can warn John at the same time. He 
 must be on his guard." 
 
 "It will be her last visit there for a long time. The 
 roads will not be safe for her. She must take Murad 
 with her and come home without fail before sunset." 
 
 Though Veronica went late to bed she was up early 
 in the morning. She had dropped into a dreamless sleep 
 almost the instant her head had touched the pillow. 
 Many emotions and surprises rending her fiercely 
 throughout the day had resulted in a great physical 
 weariness which brought her the mercy of oblivion. 
 
 The way to El-Fereidus lay north of the town. The 
 bright morning sun, the breeze still soft and aromatic 
 with the odors of the night, the glittering foliage of the 
 orchards filling the valley, the mists light as sea foam 
 on the hills of the north, all these things quickened and 
 braced her spirit. 
 
 In front of her Murad rode on a sturdy gray mule 
 hung with a well-filled saddle-bag. He sang incessantly 
 in a monotonous sing-song chant. 
 
 Veronica looked steadily ahead, reflective and sad, yet
 
 99 
 
 with hope faintly astir at her heart. Her figure swayed 
 lightly on her Western saddle in obedience to the motion 
 of her strong limbed pony, which trotted untiringly 
 along the road. 
 
 After a ride of some three 'miles they crossed a bridge 
 over a stream and at once turned aside to follow its 
 course along a valley lying between two hills. 
 
 "With the windings of this wadi the stream zig-zagged 
 from side to side, its banks fringed with willows and 
 oleanders which were still a mass of pink flowers. Of 
 traffic there was quite an amount, for the road led to the 
 village of El-Fereidus and the silk factory belonging to 
 John Culver. They overtook many women trudging 
 along on foot. Peasants were driving strings of laden 
 asses in each direction. 
 
 Soon the low ridges on either side grew tall and began 
 to draw nearer together. At a bend of the track they 
 rose into veritable cliffs. The gap between looked in the 
 distance like a giant gateway through which the stream 
 flowed into the same river that watered the orchards of 
 Opella. From the workshops on the water bank came the 
 creaking of busy silk wheels. The air was alive with the 
 whir and swish of many shuttles at work. There was 
 nothing stagnant in this special factory whatever the fat 
 of other heavily taxed industries. 
 
 Veronica checked her pony to walking pace and leaned 
 sideways in passing to look through the unglazed 
 windows. A man standing within caught sight of her 
 and came at once into the road. 
 
 "Hullo, Veronica, what is Nicholas about to let you 
 stray so far from home to-day?" he asked, caressing the 
 pony, which turned its head to nozzle him familiarly. 
 
 "It was my last chance for a long time, he told me
 
 ioo LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 last night, and as Zorah sent me a message yesterday I 
 didn't want to disappoint her. All well here I hope." 
 she said, indicating by a glance the noisy interior beyond. 
 
 "Could not be better," he said, heartily, then his brow 
 clouded. ' ' For how long Allah alone knows ! ' ' 
 
 "I have a special message for you from Nicholas," 
 she said, gravely. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "Not here! One never knows," she replied with a 
 significant glance at a muleteer with a string of mules, 
 and then at some idle Arabs lounging about the entrance 
 in their usual happy aimlessness. 
 
 John Culver gave her a straight look of inquiry from 
 eyes that were deep set and curiously luminous. He 
 was a tallish man, broad-shouldered, yet lean. Though 
 his movements were deliberate, almost lazy, they gave an 
 impression of strength in reserve. He continued to scan 
 her face as if discerning a something new and unfamiliar 
 in its expression. 
 
 "I will come up to the house after Zorah has had time 
 to empty her heart and show off the boy's new tricks," 
 he said, a humorous twinkle in his eyes suddenly 
 brightening his somewhat grave face delightfully. "I 
 hope Zia is well?" 
 
 "She was sleeping soundly when I left. She keeps 
 better on the whole these days," said Veronica moving 
 away, a bright color called into her cheeks under that 
 penetrating look. 
 
 The house seen from below was a mass of gray stone 
 looking part of the rocky cliff against which it was built. 
 The pony climbed nimbly up a steep winding path to a 
 postern gate in the wall of rock. Here Veronica dis- 
 mounted. As Murad led the two beasts away to the
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 101 
 
 stable the gate opened and Sheikh All, slim and long in 
 his Bedouin garb, came out. 
 
 "Neharak said, ya Sitt, Veronica!" he said, salaam- 
 ing gravely. 
 
 "May your day also be blessed, Sheikh Ali," she 
 replied, smiling kindly. 
 
 "You honor the house with your presence," he said, 
 ceremoniously, and held the gate open for her to enter. 
 
 For a few seconds the young man glanced alternately 
 within and without the gateway as if attracted by two 
 magnets of equal interest. Finally he deliberately closed 
 the door, gave a decisive pull to his abbai over one 
 shoulder and stalked after Murad calling to him to wait. 
 
 Veronica crossed a little paved court and mounted a 
 flight of stone steps which emerged under a colonnade of 
 arches. Passing through the nearest into a vaulted pas- 
 sage she paused to call a greeting into a doorless interior 
 whence came to tickle the nostrils of passers-by spicy 
 odors suggestive of Oriental cooking. 
 
 The old woman hovering over a pan of charcoal turned 
 a black face with ivory gleaming teeth to beam welcome 
 upon the visitor. 
 
 ' ' Ey wallah ! It is none other than Sitt Veronica her- 
 self," she cried. "The mother with her son wait for 
 you on the terrace."
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 JOHN CULVER was one of those emancipated beings 
 to whom the dallying ways of social conventions 
 mean servitude of an accursed and detested type. His 
 father had run the silk factory before him. He had 
 been nurtured in the sound of its looms, bound to the 
 Orient by a life-long meshwork of familiarity. 
 
 School years spent in England had not quenched the 
 spirit which carried him eastward on his few long holi- 
 days with all the eagerness of a homing bird. From 
 adolescence to manhood his insuperable impulse to 
 breathe the open air of nature had grown ever fuller and 
 stronger. Camping out under the stars was a ceaseless 
 delight. He found life of any kind ideal, that had the 
 flavor of the desert in its breath. 
 
 These wild and happy tastes, held within certain re- 
 strictions during his parents' lifetime, burst their cage 
 when a year after their death his only sister, Esther, 
 married Nicholas Severin and he was left alone. To 
 relate how he fell in love with and won his Arab wife 
 in spite of obstacles galore is a separate chapter of his 
 life. 
 
 It had all happened one transcendent spring, when an 
 irresistible nostalgia for the freedom of open spaces had 
 driven him to pitch his canvas tent between green slopes 
 and stretches of golden sand, among the tents of a 
 friendly group of the Beni-Weldeh. The sons of the 
 Weldeh loved him as a brother up to the hour in which 
 
 102
 
 103 
 
 he made overtures of marriage in the customary way 
 for Zorah, the daughter of their Sheikh Mabruk. 
 
 John Culver had chanced upon a timely moment in 
 which to broach his proposal. Owing to a serious dis- 
 pute with the tax-collecting powers of Turkish authority 
 the Sheikh and his family were in grave monetary straits. 
 Sheikh Mabruk had been arrested and put into prison. 
 The herds and flocks had been confiscated, all except a 
 residue, hastily collected and driven to a secret hiding 
 place. 
 
 The price offered by the Englishman for his Arab 
 bride meant not only release for his prospective father- 
 in-law, but also the redemption of the flocks, with a 
 tempting little sum over and above to hoard against 
 future trouble. Marriage with a Roumi was against the 
 law of Islam, but then the Bedouin are not strict in 
 religious observances. In addition, who but Allah, him- 
 self, could have opened the hand of the rich man to offer 
 the price that would succor their tents? 
 
 In spite of the fierce criticism and opposition launched 
 by conservative spirits of both sexes against a hated, 
 breach in the social codes of their tribe, the pretensions 
 of rival claimants were put aside. John Culver's per- 
 fect knowledge of the language, his high standing among 
 the Bedouin, and his lavish distribution of presents re- 
 moved obstacles that were by no means of a trifling 
 nature. 
 
 He carried his will through, to the goal of signing the 
 marriage contract with the girl whose exotic beauty and 
 a something, palpably magnetic, in the small oval face 
 and dark eyes, had fired him body and soul, and mounted 
 like strong wine to his brain. 
 
 For Zorah was no mere beautiful, barbarous child of
 
 104 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the desert. She stood to John Culver for the living 
 symbol of an ideal he had cherished all his life. She was 
 the embodiment of that Orient he loved, and to which 
 but for the accident of birth he belonged as truly as the 
 native born. 
 
 On the whole he lived on good terms with his wife's 
 relations. Upon Zorah had fallen the brunt of the dis- 
 pleasure stirred up by the marriage. Yet John Culver's 
 pockets were too well lined to make his enmity profitable 
 to the Beni-Weldeh. The arrival of the baby son 
 smoothed over the breach to a great extent. 
 
 Ali, the eldest son of Sheikh Mabruk, spent most of 
 his time in the Culver household, or in the factory, 
 whichever his fancy favored for the moment. For the 
 cult of the normal Bedouin is how best to dispose of his 
 time agreeably, with neither the wish nor the obligation 
 to work imposed upon him. Between him and his sister 
 was a bond of strong affection. He worshiped his small 
 nephew. John Culver more than tolerated his Bedouin 
 brother-in-law. He even liked him. 
 
 During the Balkan war, life at El Fereidus had re- 
 mained practically untouched, save for the thinning out 
 of the factory hands by recruiting agents of the Sultan. 
 Women had stepped in to work the vacant looms. But 
 the present crisis held strange omens. 
 
 How long would John Culver be left in freedom to 
 carry on his business? What would be its fate once 
 Turkey stepped definitely to the side of Germany and her 
 Allies? For he was still a British subject, though an 
 alien to his country's customs. 
 
 These were only a few of the vexed questions cud- 
 geling his brains as he entered the house and climbed in
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 105 
 
 his deliberate way to the roof terrace which Zorah made 
 her chief abiding place. 
 
 His face relaxed as he mounted the steps. Little danc- 
 ing lights broke up the gravity of his eyes. He lifted 
 his head as if to inhale the scents which drifted lazily to 
 meet him. Subtly penetrating scents, both bitter and 
 sweet, scents in which oleander, geranium, myrtle, thyme, 
 and other alluring odors alternately prevailed. 
 
 The terrace roof was broad and long, one half running 
 at right angles to the other. He came out on the end 
 overlooking the gorge, and gave a glance, as he passed, 
 into the upper chamber. The persiennes were drawn 
 and in the shaded interior a long mirror glinted, and 
 white mosquito nets hovered, like pale ghosts, over the 
 deep Tyrian blue of the silken bed covers. 
 
 Tubs of oleanders in rosy bloom bordered the outer 
 wall of the terrace. Across the deep angle from parapet 
 to the roof room there stretched a barrier of trelliswork 
 overrun with bougainvillea, a mass of purple stars of 
 many shades and of flaming ruby. Over the low arch 
 in the center, and almost hiding it, trailed long tresses 
 of foliage splashed with the same wine-tinted petals. 
 
 With a touch that protected the flowers John Culver 
 parted the living curtain and stood for a moment looking 
 at the home of his dreams. It was a home into which 
 had entered more than a little of v the charm that had 
 lulled the Lotus-eater in that "land where it was 
 always afternoon." 
 
 The ground was thickly strewn with sand that glistened 
 white in the sunlight. Couched on the sand was a 
 Bedouin tent, one of the most approved kind, having in 
 addition to the dark brown roof and overhanging drapery
 
 io6 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 of goatshair canvas, walls of woven reed matting after 
 the style of the desert. 
 
 Several young palm trees, appearing to grow out of a 
 projecting ledge of rocky soil, spread their fans against 
 the cliff behind. A feathery tamarisk rose above the 
 parapet in the far corner. Climbing geraniums 
 wandered in profusion round an embrasure in the end 
 wall which opened upon a vista of the river, winding 
 north towards the broken waves of faraway lavender 
 hills. 
 
 Passers-by on the water below the grim house, built 
 like a fortress into the rock, were apt to look up at the 
 high outer wall, honeycombed with the usual loopholes, 
 and say "The Englishman knows how to guard his 
 harem securely as any Pasha. ' ' 
 
 The Englishman himself walked over to the tent where 
 the reed walls facing the view of the river were widely 
 opened. The entrance was enlarged and sheltered from 
 the sun by an awning of thickly interlaced green boughs, 
 which Ali had taken unaccustomed pains that same morn- 
 ing to freshen and re-arrange in honor of the expected 
 guest. Just outside was a myrtle bush in flower, grow- 
 ing in a giant vase of hammered brass. 
 
 A low divan was spread out under the leafy sun screen. 
 Veronica, leaning dreamily against a pile of cushions, 
 looked up as John Culver's tall figure suddenly ap- 
 peared. 
 
 "You are alone? How is that?" he said, quickly, 
 glancing at the child's toys which littered the sand. 
 
 "Only for a moment. Here comes Zorah, herself!" 
 
 As she spoke the division curtain within the tent was 
 lifted by a little hand with henna-stained finger tips. 
 A slender figure, stipple and graceful, stepped lightly to
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 407 
 
 view, wearing a wrapper of soft muslin spotted with red, 
 and girdled with a silken cord. A tiny red cap was set 
 saucily on the dark hair, which was waved and abundant, 
 and drawn into two long plaits interwoven with gold and 
 red threads. 
 
 By what magic had John Culver induced his wife to 
 banish even temporarily the massive silver ornaments and 
 coins which are the dowry of every Bedouin woman? 
 Only the bracelets encircling her wrists and arms were 
 still retained in their place. Perhaps the rare jeweled 
 chain she wore round her neck, the ruby studded disk in 
 her hair, and two smaller ones to match hanging from her 
 ears were part of the magic. 
 
 How well they set off the mellow tan of the brilliant 
 little face to which the velvety texture and color of per- 
 fect health gave an added luster. She had a small 
 straight nose, and finely curved lips. The upper one 
 was short, the lower pouted. Little blue stars tattooed 
 sparsely round the mouth and a trio of them between 
 the eyebrows lent a far more startling piquancy to her 
 face than that given by any variety of Georgian patch. 
 
 But in looking at Zorah all these features were for- 
 gotten by the beauty of her eyes. They were so big and 
 dark and unfathomable, and their look so penetrating 
 and yet caressing, with the white of their setting height- 
 ened to a pearly brilliancy by a light shadow of kohl 
 round the socket. John Culver found in these eyes all 
 the best that the East possessed, shadow and light, fire 
 and proud aloofness, and above all dreams, the shudder- 
 ing, vague yet tranquil dreams of the Orient. 
 
 "He sleeps," she said, taking his hand and drawing 
 him behind the curtain. 
 
 He had to lower his head to pass into the tent and gaze
 
 io8 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 at the picture of his son asleep on the rug spread out 
 for his morning nap. It was a picture that was always 
 new. 
 
 Zorah looked down upon the sturdy little limbs with an 
 ecstasy of love and worship in her face. Suddenly a 
 cloud flitted across its sunshine. She turned with a hur- 
 ried gesture, nestling up against her husband as she held 
 out her hand palm downward. He bent his head to 
 press his lips to her thick, sweet-smelling hair. 
 
 As she lifted her hand it seemed of a sudden as if the 
 eternal charm of the East was shed anew in the subdued 
 light of the tent. A rare ring was on her finger, inset 
 with a huge turquoise, a blue wonder of a stone which 
 seemed to reflect its own brightness, and then after fur- 
 ther concentration again to send it forth. Zorah prized 
 this ring as her very life. It was her mascot, protecting 
 her against the evil eye and many other dreaded dangers. 
 The stone was a turquoise without blemish, possessing 
 magic qualities. As long as she wore it she would be 
 happy, but if ever she had the misfortune to lose it why 
 then her happiness would take unto itself wings and 1 
 forsake her. 
 
 "May Allah protect him!" she said. "For look, the 
 stone has become green. I am afraid." 
 
 John put his arm round her and raised the little hand 
 to look closely at the ring. 
 
 "Be at ease, Zorah, my star!" he said. "Remember 
 the words of the soothsayer when we purchased the ring. 
 If danger threatens, the stone will become green because 
 it will be drawing the danger upon itself. If it seems 
 green now, it is drawing the bad influence away from you 
 and the boy." 
 
 It was so simple a matter to explain the omen satis-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 109 
 
 factorily from the Oriental point of view that John 
 Culver had no scruples in driving out the fancy of danger 
 by an appeal to his wife's credulity. 
 
 "You have certainly eased my soul, but still I am 
 afraid," she said slowly with an anxious look at the 
 child and then at the ring, "but our guest is alone. 
 She is in trouble. We must go back to her. ' ' 
 
 This last revelation, Veronica in trouble, explained 
 Zorah 's mood. What did it mean, pondered John Culver 
 as he seated himself cross-legged on the ground, his 
 back against the divan, while Zorah dexterously pulled 
 forward and piled behind him the hard bolsters which, 
 to her continual wonder, he always preferred to the pil- 
 lows. As he handed round cigarettes to which Zorah 
 held a lighted match in turn, as befitted her role as 
 hostess, he noticed that Veronica's eyes glittered, and 
 their lids were slightly red as if she had recently wept. 
 
 "What is the message?" he asked suddenly. 
 
 "How much do you know?" asked Veronica. "I 
 don't want to give you stale news." 
 
 "He knows what I have unfolded to you, my sister," 
 put in Zorah. "Speak on! Only the leaves are listen- 
 ing to us here." 
 
 To John Culver, who was just another big brother like 
 Nicholas to Veronica, her narrative was unreserved ex- 
 cept as regarded the closer tie now existing between her- 
 self and Pierre. John, however, did not fail to notice 
 the hesitating tremor of her voice when it was necessary 
 to bring in the Frenchman's name. Very different was 
 her accent of disdain and animosity when referring to 
 Otto Rosen. 
 
 ' ' Never liked the man, ' ' thrust in John Culver, push- 
 ing out his under lip. They talked in Arabic on Zorah 's
 
 no LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 account. "Now he will be a declared open enemy, for 
 his behavior to Zia is unpardonable." 
 
 "The enemies of my husband are also mine," added 
 Zorah, with a little click of her tongue, and a sudden 
 flashing yet intense look in her eyes. 
 
 He surveyed her with a slow, whimsical smile. The 
 thought of personal danger was still alien to him. It 
 seemed an impossible notion after the long years in which 
 he and his family before him had lived on good terms 
 with natives and foreigners alike, above all with the 
 Turks. And at the back of his mind, in spite of uneasy 
 speculation, lay the hopeful probability of being allowed 
 to remain unmolested and forgotten in his quiet back- 
 water, however the waters of strife might rage and swirl 
 in the open. 
 
 "If the Bedouin pitch their tents in the camp of the 
 Turks who have made friends with the Germans, what 
 then?" he said, teasing her. "For the English are at 
 war with the Germans, you know." 
 
 "Allah has not given a man two hearts," she made 
 quick reply, "and as your heart is with me and your 
 son it cannot be English. It is Bedouin." 
 
 "You see, Veronica, how Zorah has settled the mat- 
 ter," he said, raising his eyebrows. 
 
 "Zorah wishes to test your courage. A daughter of 
 Sheikh Mabruk knows well that a man must always be 
 ready to fight the enemies of his race," said Veronica, 
 thinking of Pierre especially, and speaking out of the 
 fullness of her home training. 
 
 "It is not yet certain who are his enemies," returned 
 Zorah, darting beneath her long black lashes an appeal- 
 ing, apprehensive look over to John. "No man lives 
 who is braver than my husband, but our star would be an
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 111 
 
 evil one if destiny ordained that he must fight in the 
 English camp." 
 
 "Shall I be allowed the choice?" said John, stolidly. 
 "When the war cloud bursts it is right overhead at 
 this moment those who raised the storm will command, 
 and not offer a choice." 
 
 "Though women are words and men are deeds, yet 
 Zorah has spoken wisely," said a soft yet guttural voice, 
 as Ali's slim figure stepped noiselessly to view and 
 squatted cross-legged on the rug before them. "You 
 are, indeed, our brother, the true son of our tents. God 
 give you long life ! ' ' 
 
 John Culver looked up, frowning. 
 
 "How long have you been there, Ali!" he said, 
 quietly. 
 
 "No longer than to listen to my sister's words, and 
 wait the right moment to draw near," said the young 
 man, suavely. 
 
 Veronica was secretly provoked at Ali's appearance. 
 For she was on the point of stating that Nicholas stood 
 exactly in the same predicament as John, liable to be 
 called upon at any moment to take arms against their 
 friends. 
 
 "What is England to you now, my friend and 
 brother?" Ali went on. "What happiness does that 
 land of no sun and false friends ever give to you ? ' ' 
 
 "False friends? You invent a strange fable there," 
 interrupted John, smiling grimly. 
 
 "By my eyes, there is little else talked of in the 
 bazaars to-day but the falseness of English promises, 
 and the sapping of their strength. ' ' 
 
 "By whom?" 
 
 "Those powerful war lords, the Germans," said Ali,
 
 112 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 uneasily. "I do not love the Germans, but they are 
 strong, and their purse overflows. It is said that they 
 hold the fate of this land in the hollow of their hands." 
 
 ''Don't believe it, All," said Veronica, emphatically. 
 "There are Russia and France to reckon with as well as 
 England." 
 
 "God forbid that I should repeat a lie," disclaimed 
 Ali, with visible excitement. "The cry of the Jehad is 
 sounding in all the camps. There are tribes who have 
 already sworn on the holy book that each one of them 
 is the brother of all other Moslems, that united for the 
 cause of Allah they will fight together as one gun, and 
 if they die fall together under the same sword. And 
 this they have sworn on the mouth and the heart." 
 
 "Speak on, Ali," said Zorah, imperatively. "Empty 
 your heart of all you have seen and heard." 
 
 "Yesterday after sundown when I rode out to our 
 camp, a holy man of the Shekhi Bekhr came and stood in 
 the door of my father's tent. All our men gathered 
 round to listen. 'Allah, the All-Powerful, wills that 
 your sword drinks blood,' cried the holy man, 'for the 
 time long foretold is now at hand. All infidels are to 
 bite the dust, and the dust of their bones will be used 
 to whiten the mosques.' He said that first of all it was 
 necessary for all true believers, and above all the young 
 men, to learn the fighting ways of the enemy. For their 
 art of war is more powerful, and subtle, and hard to do 
 battle with than any kind of combat hitherto known. ' ' 
 
 John Culver nodded his head, wisely. 
 
 "It is clear that Enver Pasha wants more soldiers 
 for the Turkish army," he broke in. "That is what the 
 dervish came to procure. If to gain his purpose he in- 
 cites honest Bedouin to kill, like the Kurds, for their
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 113 
 
 pastime, he goes against the writing of the Khoran." 
 
 With glowing pride Zorah's eyes enveloped her hus- 
 band. What a man thus to be able to read the secret 
 motives of other men ! 
 
 What she did not know was that he spoke deliberate 
 intent to influence Ali, and through him his family and 
 camp to consider another standpoint. For none knew 
 better than John Culver that from no fanatical impulse, 
 but only if it suited their purpose, would the Bedouin 
 rise to the cry of the Jehad. Self interest alone would 
 spur them to take every advantage of a priceless oppor- 
 tunity, once pillage and killing became authorized, pro- 
 vided the victims were not of the Moslem faith. 
 
 "What was Sheikh Mabruk's reply to the dervish?" 
 asked John, while Ali, nimbly rolling a fresh cigarette, 
 seemed to be revolving the fresh idea put into his head. 
 Zorah gazed solemnly at her ring. 
 
 "All-seeing and all-knowing as is my brother, he 
 knows that my father is a man not easily to be persuaded. 
 What can Sheikh Mabruk gain by taking an oath? Is 
 he not already the sheikh above all other sheikhs of this 
 country ? Can he not already help himself to all that he 
 wants whether it be a sheep, a tent, or a camel?" said 
 Ali, evasively, his black eyes glancing furtively yet with 
 a fiery alertness of gaze from one to the other of his 
 listeners. 
 
 "Take him this word from me," said John Culver, 
 emphatically. "Let him beware of making a compact 
 with the holy man. If he does, you will be taken with 
 all the young men of your tents to add fighting power to 
 the Turkish army. Directly the news is spread abroad 
 that only the old men are left to guard the tents, brigands 
 will attack and destroy everything. They will carry off
 
 n 4 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the flocks and herds, the women and children, and bum 
 the harvest. When the sons of the Weldeh come back 
 from fighting the battles of the Germans and the Turks 
 it is certain that all will not return, for some will be 
 killed and others maimed what then will they find in 
 the place that was once their own? Death and desola- 
 tion!" 
 
 Zorah gave a low wailing cry and began to rock her 
 body to and fro. Veronica shivered and grew suddenly 
 pale. 
 
 "Allah forbid these things!" exclaimed Ali, getting 
 up with a swift, lithe movement. "I will go and tell 
 all you say to my father, and open the eyes of my broth- 
 ers. There is a way out of the snare. Inshallah! We 
 must take it." 
 
 "The gate of the desert is never shut," said Zorah, 
 lifting her head with eager understanding. 
 
 "Where is the boy? Let me see him before I go," 
 said Ali, abruptly. 
 
 Zorah rose, and together they slipped behind the cur- 
 tain of division. 
 
 "John! Why did you paint such a terrible scene? 
 Do you truly anticipate the worst?" said Veronica in 
 a low voice. 
 
 "Anything may happen," he said, guardedly, "and 
 to make an impression on Sheikh Mabriik after the 
 dervish's fiery oration, strong colors are necessary. His 
 friends are mine and I want them to realize the truth. 
 Once before Ali only just escaped conscription. You 
 know what that means in the Turkish army for such a 
 nature as his. He would be shot for insubordination, or 
 go utterly under. It was I, myself, who found and paid 
 the substitute. In this war there will be no way out
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 115 
 
 once the noose of service is round his neck. The Turks 
 will press every able-bodied man they can find into uni- 
 form." 
 
 "What about yourself, John?" she asked, anxiously. 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders. The lines suddenly deep- 
 ened between his brows. 
 
 "Allah knows!" he ejaculated. 
 
 "In case Zorah should become even more alarmed let 
 me give you the special message from Nicholas now. 
 You must be well on your guard, he says, for directly 
 Turkey declares war it is quite certain that all the 
 Frenchmen and Englishmen in Syria will be im- 
 prisoned. ' ' 
 
 "Nicholas may be right. For myself I cannot yet see 
 clearly what will happen. One thing is certain that it is 
 the Germans who are setting the Jehad in motion. It 
 is a dangerous game to risk placing the heel of the 
 Moslem on their own neck. ' ' 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "They, too, are Christians," said John, significantly. 
 "The preaching of the Jehad must in the end recoil on 
 themselves. They never show more than the crudest 
 comprehension of the mind of the Orient." 
 
 Zorah and Ali reappeared. 
 
 "Hanna! This is the moment of decision of which I 
 have already spoken," said Zorah, going up to John. 
 She caught at his hand and pressed it to her lips and 
 against her heart. "If our father orders the tents to 
 be folded and the camels loaded, let Ali tell him that we 
 with our son will go with them on their journey. ' ' 
 
 Ali stood behind immovable as a statue, but for his 
 eyes, which glanced alternately from Veronica to John 
 and back again.
 
 n6 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 John clasped his wife's fluttering hand and held it 
 firmly within his own. 
 
 "It cannot be done, my dear," he said in a tender, 
 grave voice, "at least not to-day, and perhaps not in a 
 week of days. Can I leave my house unguarded for 
 thieves to break in and rob? Can I go away, shut up 
 the workshops, and silence the looms all in a moment?" 
 
 "All these matters weigh light as dust in the balance 
 compared with the safety of our son," she said, 
 passionately. 
 
 "True, mother of Daud, but would you have me 
 throw away, as of no account, the heritage of our son? 
 I do not say we must stay here if it is dangerous to re- 
 main, but that I must have time to put my affairs in 
 order, to pay off and satisfy the workers, and to find a 
 faithful guardian of my property. Would you wish my 
 son to be a beggar when he comes to the age of Ali ? ' ' 
 
 If the Germans had meager insight into the mind of 
 the Orient, it was clear that John Culver knew exactly 
 how to adapt both word and imagination to the desired 
 point of view. Zorah's liquid eyes, hesitating, question- 
 ing, looked from John to Ali, and back to John. 
 
 "What my English brother says is well," said Ali. 
 "Inshallah ! He must be given time, but if what he has 
 told us is the truth, what is done should be done 
 quickly." 
 
 "Then you must lose no time in getting back to the 
 camp," said John, calculating with the caution and ac- 
 quired intrigue of the East; but, once roused, pushed 
 by his English blood to prompt action. "Let me know 
 without delay what course Sheikh Mabruk decides to 
 take. I will send a messenger to the town. Before sun- 
 down I shall know whether it will be well to send Zorah.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 117 
 
 and the boy to the -tents of her father while I remain 
 at El Fereidus to finish what must be done." 
 
 "No! With you only will I go," said Zorah, agi- 
 tatedly. ' ' Where the father of my son is, there will his 
 mother be found. ' ' 
 
 "Zorah, my angel, you will do what is best for the 
 boy," John replied with finality. "And now do not 
 allow your brother to leave the house fasting. Come, the 
 meal is ready. We will go down at once."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 A LI, too impressed to linger even over a meal was soon 
 on the way. An hour later Veronica started for 
 home accompanied by John. Zorah, though eager and 
 nervous, was of one mind with her husband touching the 
 importance of getting reliable news from Opella. 
 
 "One thing I omitted to tell you," said Veronica, as 
 they rode up the valley, Murad ahead on his mule. 
 "Herr Rosen is certain to visit us some time to-day. It 
 is his way to repent of his bad temper and then try to 
 atone for it by some extra attention. It will never do 
 for you to meet him." 
 
 "Poor Rosen!" said John, quizzically. "He has 
 somehow missed the road to your special good will I 
 can see." 
 
 ' ' He has never had any chance of finding it, ' ' she re- 
 plied, quickly, "and now, as an enemy, he is outside the 
 line." 
 
 "Be careful! When crossed, Otto Rosen can show a 
 very nasty temper. ' ' 
 
 "You are as bad as Nicholas," she said, hastily. 
 "Neither of you can teach me how to manage that man. 
 I find it easy enough." 
 
 They reached the bridge and in another minute would 
 have crossed to the highway, but a sound of many horses 
 approaching checked their progress. Suddenly a 
 troop of Turkish cavalry came into sight, followed by a 
 carriage and more cavalry behind. 
 
 118
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 119 
 
 With a hurried exclamation John Culver jumped to 
 the ground, wheeled his own horse half round, and 
 backed Veronica's pony to the shadow of trees at the side 
 of the bridge. 
 
 "It must be Ahmed Pasha, the new military com- 
 mander," he explained, rapidly, "who was not expected 
 till to-morrow. Events are marching. "We must wait 
 till they are well ahead." 
 
 But for Murad, who halted stockstill and open- 
 mouthed in the middle of the bridge, the general and his 
 escort would have passed by without a glance at the way- 
 side group. The beast, with action particularly mulish, 
 unexpectedly kicked up its heels, pitching its rider into 
 the dust, then promptly turned tail and started on a wild 
 career down the gorge. 
 
 With a loud cry Murad scrambled up and started in 
 pursuit, shouting down, as he ran, all imaginable curses 
 on the parentage of the runaway. Curiosity drew every 
 eye in that direction, the clamor even attracting the 
 notice of the important officers in the carriage. 
 
 Ahmed Pasha's glance flashed from John Culver to 
 Veronica with keen observation. An officer sitting op- 
 posite leaned forward and spoke to him as the carriage 
 went by. At once the pasha turned his head to look 
 again, this time with a gaze of searching scrutiny. 
 
 "Oh, you brother of asses !" ejaculated John in Arabic 
 vernacular as he looked after Murad, and then turned 
 a curiously anxious look after the vanishing riders. 
 
 "I have seen the new pasha before, John," said 
 Veronica, excitedly. "He was in the hotel this summer 
 for several days. I fancy he recognized me." 
 
 "I shouldn't be surprised," he said, slowly, looking at 
 her, ' ' and if I were your mother I should follow Oriental
 
 120 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 and not French customs, and never allow you to go out 
 unveiled. ' ' 
 
 Veronica's eyes widened, and then she laughed gayly. 
 She knew what he meant, but her consciousness of be- 
 longing entirely to Pierre put every other man in too re- 
 mote a perspective to cause her uneasiness. Besides the 
 pasha was out of the plane altogether. 
 
 "Let us be getting on," she said, after a pause. 
 "Murad will find his own way home." 
 
 What had not penetrated her mind was John's per- 
 sonal idea that Ahmed Pasha's chief attention had fixed 
 upon him, the Englishman, now a suspect to the Turkish 
 mind. For he knew very well the Opella officer who had 
 provoked that second look from the carriage. 
 
 "All right, but instead of riding at their heels and 
 perhaps getting into a crowd at the gates let us take the 
 way through the orchards, though a little longer," said 
 John, privately resolving to return later by boat and 
 again avoid the high road. With Zorah and the boy to 
 consider he had no mind for the moment openly to flaunt 
 his nationality. 
 
 For similar reasons he took Veronica's advice about 
 Otto Rosen, and to escape a needless encounter went di- 
 rect to the hospital to consult with Nicholas. 
 
 As it happened, Rosen, through no fault of his own, 
 found it impossible to leave the consulate except on im- 
 portant visits to the Wali, the new Commander, and his 
 Austrian colleagues. He could not get off even for an 
 hour till the afternoon of the next day. 
 
 Veronica had driven to the orchard in the morning, 
 ostensibly to fetch vegetables and fruit, but in reality to 
 see if Zuleika had brought her a message. 
 
 The note which her fingers, cold and shaking with ex-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 121 
 
 citement, had discovered when the homing pigeon safely 
 arrived had fluttered from the trees to her neck, she had 
 placed, for greater security, in a tiny charm bag, and 
 hung round her neck in hiding against her breast. 
 When Rosen called she was sitting in a vine-shaded 
 corner of the big veranda over some needlework. 
 
 She watched him come out of the corner of her eyes. 
 
 ' ' Be temperate ! Let him say all he wants to, ' ' her 
 mother had said, warning her not willfully to anger him. 
 "Times were never more serious. Invite his confidence 
 by all means. What he will tell you may be of great 
 value. For his statements, though highly colored with 
 his German bias, will not be all false. ' ' 
 
 Veronica recalled his bad temper with Zia on two oc- 
 casions, and John's recent word of cau-tion. An hour 
 ago she had had a heated discussion with Nicholas, in 
 which he had sternly forbidden her to go to the orchard 
 again, or anywhere else outside the town gates. Now 
 that the highways were filled with recruits coming and 
 going, soldiers on the march, convoys of supplies merg- 
 ing from all parts on this military center, women were 
 safer under their own roof. 
 
 For war was a declared fact. Christians as well as 
 Moslems were being pressed into its service. His work 
 in the hospital had increased out of all measure. 
 Whether he would be allowed to remain in charge or be 
 commandeered to some medical unit on active service 
 was still in the balance. The subject had already been 
 broached. 
 
 But all these matters were subservient in Veronica's 
 mind to the central fact of Pierre's proved safe de- 
 parture from Syria. This knowledge, still potent to 
 lull other alarms, braced her mental attitude and charged
 
 122 
 
 her with courage to face difficulties of the future. The 
 love, deep and soul-swaying, which had grown in her 
 heart with the speed of all growth under Eastern skies, 
 was to her as an impenetrable breastplate from which ap- 
 prehension still glanced aside without reaching a vital 
 target. 
 
 What if Nicholas had to go away ? They would feel it 
 deeply, especially little Mother; but so would every 
 mother whose son was called up. It was a cruel destiny 
 that in this way divided and broke up countless families. 
 Still Nicholas would be more favored than others, as 
 whether in hospital or on active service, he would be able 
 to pursue the work he loved. At home surely all would! 
 run on smoothly. Zia would still be well cared for, and 
 even if their hearts were desolate and filled with sus- 
 pense, they would all wait patiently for the war to end, 
 praying that God would soon send peace to the world. 
 
 It was after this fashion Veronica's thoughts were 
 working hard when she caught sight of Rosen. A sus- 
 picious moisture had dimmed her eyes, while musing, 
 so that his figure sdemed blurred. She sat on quietly, 
 taking no notice of his approach, and all the time steel- 
 ing herself to the encounter. 
 
 Rosen always carried his head high, but his customary 
 assurance to-day gave an impression of suppressed ex- 
 citement, which might signify elation or triumph, or a 
 little of both. Yet as he drew near his steps slackened. 
 He was secretly uncertain how Veronica would receive 
 him, feeling sure that her detestable little niece would 
 have colored their quarrel in her own favor. 
 
 That secluded nook on the veranda where Veronica 
 sat seemed isolated from the tumult of the big world out- 
 side, cut off from the clamor and intrigue of the tur-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 123 
 
 bulent town, which Rosen had left for a brief interlude 
 on the other side of the door in the high wall. 
 
 There was a calm loveliness and confidence about the 
 girl sitting serenely at work that called strongly to the 
 home ideal implanted in his Teuton nature. More than 
 that, she appeared to him, in some mysterious way, a 
 dream type of that Germania which, unperturbed and 
 steadfast, watched over and guided the conquering arms 
 of her devoted sons. 
 
 Suddenly, in spite of his manifold preoccupations, and 
 the dual growth of ambition and the authority he loved, 
 he began to dream of the possibilities of a parallel ex- 
 istence full of intimate joys and the repose of home life. 
 And his dream circled solely round the figure of 
 Veronica, making her the object of a passionate desire 
 eternally to have and to hold somewhere apart from the 
 ugliness of a world at war. 
 
 In quick response to the sentimental twist of imagi- 
 nation he now hurried up the veranda stairs. Many 
 a time he had kissed Veronica's hand before, but never 
 with the lover's ardor of to-day. 
 
 Veronica, incensed, could scarcely resist lifting her 
 free hand to administer a smart box on the ears. His 
 action, harmless enough when strictly ceremonial, had 
 become a liberty, above all to one whose hands and lips 
 belonged to another. 
 
 She snatched her hand away. He looked at her re- 
 proachfully, and suddenly depressed. 
 
 "You are still angry?'' he asked, 
 
 ''Angry? Not at all. "Why should I be angry?" she 
 said, coldly, feeling momentarily that now Pierre was 
 safely on the sea nothing else mattered, and that she 
 could and must defy this man.
 
 124 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Because I have been long in coming. Believe me, it 
 was unavoidable." 
 
 Veronica's eyes still sparkled, though her cheeks 
 colored by anger had turned again to their clear pallor. 
 
 "These are days when a man's time is not at his own 
 disposal. Shall I call mother, or is it Nicholas you have 
 come to see?" she said, evasively, and again fell in- 
 dustriously to work, chafing at his obtuseness. 
 
 '* Don't trifle with me, Veronica," he said, earnestly. 
 "You know very well I have slipped away with enor- 
 mous difficulty to see you and you only. Chiefly to make 
 my peace with you." 
 
 "But I have no quarrel with you, Herr Rosen," she 
 said, flashing a look at him. 
 
 "Nothing serious, I hope," he replied, nervously ad- 
 justing his eyeglasses, "but I am sensitive to the least 
 change in your manner towards me. Let us come to 
 such an understanding, that doubt with each other will 
 never enter our hearts." 
 
 He made a gesture as if again to seize her hand. 
 Veronica, putting down her work, managed at the same 
 time to draw back her chair. She felt chilled inwardly 
 with the effort to repress her true feelings, while search- 
 ing for a way out of the position. 
 
 ' ' Evidently you imagine doubt where none exists, ' ' she 
 said, trying to speak as one good friend to another. 
 "You mean well, I am sure, but you are apt to be hasty, 
 as for instance with our delicate little Zia, yet you have 
 a good heart, and you know what your German proverb 
 says, ende gut, alles gut!" 
 
 It did not occur to her that the kindliness of her voice, 
 though forced, was a direct encouragement. His brow 
 instantly cleared.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 125 
 
 "Now I am certain of your full forgiveness," he said, 
 eagerly. "I was hasty. It is my nature, unhappily. 
 To show my regret, look what I have brought, ' ' he dived 
 into his pockets, "two boxes of chocolates for Zia in- 
 stead of the one I took away. My heart is good at bot- 
 tom, and, believe me, it beats only for you my beautiful 
 Veronica. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You must not say that, ' ' she stammered. 
 
 "Don't put me off again, my dear, good Veronica," 
 he sr.id, vehemently, this time capturing her hand, and 
 attempting to draw her into his arms. "You know how 
 devotedly I love you. Your mother knows. She must 
 have told you. I confessed everything to her. ' ' 
 
 "You have no right to hold me, Herr Rosen," said the 
 girl, escaping from him, "and what you tell my mother 
 has nothing to do with me." 
 
 Baffled but by no means rebuffed, he stood looking at 
 her with both passion and reproach in his eyes. How 
 could he in any way subdue this wayward, beloved being 
 to his will ? She must in reality love him. He was quite 
 assured of that. 
 
 "Sit down! Don't be frightened," he said, suddenly, 
 forcibly controlling himself. "Let us talk quietly to- 
 gether. I want to tell you how our love for each other 
 will not only create unspeakable happiness for us both, 
 but be the means of rendering the greatest service to 
 your family during the war." 
 
 "Love for each other?" she queried, coldly. "When 
 have I given you any reason to imagine that I loved 
 you!" 
 
 "Always," he responded at white heat, "with your 
 eyes, your voice, your music, your songs, you have al- 
 ways encouraged me to think so."
 
 126 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "You have no right to say that," she interrupted, 
 
 hotly. 
 
 "Can you honestly say you were ignorant of my feel- 
 ings towards you?" he said, vehemently. 
 
 "Not altogether, but it is false to say I ever en- 
 couraged you." 
 
 "Unconsciously, Veronica, unconsciously, since the 
 other displeases you," he said, raising his voice, ex- 
 citedly. "No man could be near you and not love you, 
 and you know it. One thing I know well myself, though, 
 that if any other man dares to step in between you and 
 me, I will " he broke off, abruptly, the threat choked 
 by a quick rebirth of suspicion, "but there is no other 
 man, is there, Veronica?" 
 
 He bent forward to look her full in the face. An 
 ominous light glimmered in his eyes. 
 
 "Is there another man?" he repeated, grimly. 
 
 Under his look and at his words her face went red and 
 white by turns. Waves of hot color surged from within 
 and swept over her cheeks to the very tips of her fingers. 
 
 1 ' How dare you look at me like that ? ' ' she exclaimed, 
 defiantly, with flashing eyes. 
 
 Otto Rosen's gaze shifted, as if automatically, into 
 space above her head. His teeth set rigidly together. 
 Bitterness and rage consumed him inwardly, his breast 
 heaved. 
 
 "It is the Frenchman," he snapped, viciously. 
 "Deny it if you can!" 
 
 "You insult me! You are cruel!" gasped Veronica. 
 "No girl could love a man like you." 
 
 Her flushed cheek turned pale as her fortitude sud- 
 denly forsook her. She hid her face in her hands and 
 began to weep convulsively.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 127 
 
 Startled and dismayed, with rapid revulsion of feeling 
 Rosen flung himself on his knees before her. 
 
 11 Forgive me, forgive me! I would not wound you 
 willingly for all the world," he poured out, distractedly. 
 "I know I am bad-tempered and horribly jealous, even 
 of the air that touches your cheek. I beseech you, my 
 beloved Veronica, my sweet, dear girl, dry your tears. 
 I will never give you reason to shed them again. You 
 shall " 
 
 ' ' You must get up at once ! Somebody may come and 
 see you," she said in a choked voice, drying her eyes. 
 "It is useless to quarrel, but if we are to remain friends 
 you must never say such things to me again. I cannot 
 bear it." 
 
 Subdued even to the point of instant obedience Rosen 
 got up and stood over her silently, feeling that he would 
 gladly renounce every other dream of his life, and the 
 bliss of heaven itself, if only once he could hold her in 
 his arms and hear a word of love from her lips. He had 
 never dreamed it was possible for him to feel for any 
 woman as he felt for her. It was madness, he knew, 
 but nothing else mattered in the world. 
 
 All at once a door close at hand was flung open and 
 Amina hurried forward. At sight of Rosen she stopped 
 abruptly, but recovering herself came close up to 
 Veronica in spite of his scowling look. 
 
 "Come at once, little lady, without delay," she said 
 in a hushed, excited voice. 
 
 ' ' What is the matter 1 ' ' said Veronica, startled, spring- 
 ing to her feet. 
 
 "The Sitt wants you. .It is very pressing," and 
 Amina ran back to the house, followed as quickly by her 
 young mistress.
 
 128 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Rosen instantly suspected a ruse, a pre-arranged plan 
 of again putting him off. Be clutched his hat, caught 
 up the boxes of chocolates, and strode off impetuously. 
 At the head of the stairs his steps wavered and came to 
 a standstill. He had begun to debate furiously with 
 himself, whether to wait for Veronica's possible return, 
 or to act with finality and leave the house never to enter 
 it again. While still hesitating he heard a voice calling 
 him. 
 
 "Effendi! Effendi! Will it please you graciously to 
 come. You are wanted," and Amina reappeared before 
 him, flurried and heated. 
 
 Perplexed, but acutely gratified and relieved, he fol- 
 lowed the woman, who led him to a small anteroom at 
 the end of the lewan. 
 
 Here his eyes fell on an agitated group gathered round 
 the figure of an old black woman who sat hunched up on 
 the floor, rocking herself to and fro in a paroxysm of 
 grief. 
 
 Mme. Severin, seated on the edge of a divan, was bend- 
 ing over her strange visitor with pale and worried face. 
 Close by, whispering together with repressed excitement, 
 stood Amina and Murad. Veronica knelt beside the old 
 woman. She had taken her by the hand and was talking 
 to her quickly yet soothingly. 
 
 ' ' What is it ? " asked Rosen, hurrying up to her genu- 
 inely concerned. 
 
 "A dreadful thing has happened," she said, looking 
 up. "John Culver has been arrested. He is in some 
 prison, and no one knows what has become of his wife 
 and child." 
 
 "John Culver in prison?" repeated Rosen, taken 
 aback and scenting a complication for which he had
 
 129 
 
 little relish. He spoke as if trying to call back the 
 name. 
 
 ' ' You know him well. The brother-in-law of Nicholas 
 and Zia 's uncle. A man who has lived all his life under 
 Turkish rule, paying his taxes loyally, like his father 
 before him, with the best of Turkey's subjects," said 
 Anna Severin in a deep emphatic voice. " To me he was 
 like a second son. ' ' 
 
 "Ai! Ai! Ai!" wailed the woman on the floor, 
 though not a word was intelligible to her, the conversa- 
 tion being carried on as usual in French. 
 
 ' ' Who brought the news ? ' ' he asked, shortly, twisting 
 with nervous speed the long points of his mustache. 
 
 ' ' This woman who was the household cook. She is still 
 too agitated to give many details," said Mme. Severin. 
 
 "It was only the day before yesterday I rode out to 
 El Fereidus to visit them," said Veronica, looking up. 
 "John came back with me to the town thinking that 
 Murad alone was not sufficient escort. ' ' 
 
 "Quite right!" nodded Rosen, approvingly. 
 
 "He also wanted to see Nicholas, and find out the 
 truth about affairs, but it was chiefly on my account he 
 came to the town," continued Veronica, rapidly, "and 
 now I feel it is all my fault." 
 
 ' ' You see he was arrested that same day when passing 
 through the town gate on his way home," explained 
 Mme. Severin. "The woman says that a guard of 
 soldiers came to the house that night. They kept her 
 busy cooking for them all yesterday. Early this morn- 
 ing she managed to slip away, but has been long in get- 
 ting here because she was afraid of being followed and 
 put in prison. You know how timid these people are. 
 Whether the wife and child were taken away by the
 
 i 3 o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 military, or whether by some means or other they 
 escaped she cannot tell. They have disappeared with- 
 out leaving trace of any kind. The silk factory is to 
 be run for government purposes, and the house used 
 for military officials. The men on guard talked of these 
 matters without reserve." 
 
 "Oh dear, oh dear, whatever can we do!" cried 
 Veronica. "Poor innocent John clapped in prison like 
 a common thief. The Zorah he adores and their beauti- 
 ful boy not to be found. It is infamous. Should the 
 news reach him in prison it will kill him." 
 
 1 ' It is all because he is an Englishman, ' ' put in Mme. 
 Severin. "Otto, my friend, will all English subjects be 
 arrested f ' ' 
 
 "They will certainly be interned, and not only the 
 English, but all enemy aliens, ' ' he said, stiffly. 
 
 "But John Culver is our relative and friend," 
 Veronica protested with warmth. She sprang to her 
 feet and stood provocatively before him. "Now, Herr 
 Rosen, is the moment to test the strength of your friend- 
 ship for us. Procure his freedom! You can if you 
 choose. ' ' 
 
 Rosen looked darkly at her, a strife of cross feelings 
 struggling within him and showing outwardly in his 
 rapidly changing expression, 
 
 "Your influence at the Serai and with the "Wali would 
 go far," suggested Mme. Severin, persuasively. 
 
 "What is Nicholas doing?" he asked, abruptly. 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 Mon Dieu ! He knows nothing at all so far. He has 
 had to visit some important out-patients, and took Zia 
 with him in the carriage. It will be a great blow to hear 
 that his wife's brother has been treated like this."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 131 
 
 "Have no fear, Mamotschka," said Veronica, confi- 
 dently. "Herr Rosen is going to put this injustice 
 straight." 
 
 Otto Rosen's face was a study while she spoke. He 
 flashed her a queer questioning look, then turned and 
 paced a few steps up and down, his head bent, his fingers 
 still busied with his mustache. 
 
 ' ' You must realize that the arrest is quite in order with 
 war regulations. There is no chance of Culver's re- 
 lease," he said, halting suddenly, and speaking directly 
 to Veronica. "I may possibly procure amelioration of 
 his treatment as a prisoner. For this I will do my best. ' ' 
 
 "That is always something," said Mme. Severin, 
 slowly. 
 
 "But not enough," Veronica added, imperiously. 
 "We want to know the truth about Zorah and the boy. 
 It is impossible for them to have vanished into thin air 
 without the knowledge of the officials who ordered this 
 cruel raid on El-Fereidus. You will not fail to find out, 
 Herr Rosen?" 
 
 "It will certainly be difficult," he said, uneasily. 
 
 "What does that matter if you gain your end?" she 
 retorted, not realizing the double significance of her 
 words till she saw the light leap into his eyes. 
 
 Personally he cared not a jot whether John Culver 
 ever regained his liberty or not. As for the wife and 
 child the ambiguity of their fate was but part and parcel 
 of the fortune of war. Yet to please Veronica he was 
 willing to move certain levers of influence, secretly, 
 discreetly. 
 
 For by doing so to success, he would gain the end for 
 which he was striving so ardently. She, herself, had 
 said it. He would hold her to her word.
 
 132 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Ende gut, alles gut? Is that still your true and 
 final word?" he said, significantly, in a low voice, com- 
 ing close up to her. 
 
 "Yes, certainly!" she replied, fearlessly. 
 
 "Good!" he ejaculated and looked at his watch. 
 "The sooner I begin the better. Besides I have im- 
 portant engagements already overdue and a host of 
 pressing business matters to settle." 
 
 He turned to Mme. Severin. 
 
 "Au revoir, dear Madame ! Let me have any new de- 
 tails you can gather later from the woman. They will 
 all help."
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 IN days of suspense which followed nothing more defi- 
 nite was added to the narrative of the old black 
 woman. Over the subsequent fate of John Culver after 
 his sudden arrest at the town gates hung an impenetrable 
 veil. Similar obscurity blotted out Zorah and her boy. 
 Nicholas tried familiar means of underground enquiry 
 but discovered nothing fresh. Even Ali, whose coming 
 and going never failed, showed no sign of life. 
 
 Had recruiting agents got hold of him ? The Severins 
 did not think so. Rather had John's prophecy of com- 
 ing disaster driven him swiftly to cover. 
 
 "Probably the whole camp has made a bolt for 
 safety," said Nicholas. "They would strike tents and 
 move away the same night that Ali took them the mes- 
 sage from John." 
 
 "In that case Zorah could not possibly be with them 
 unless Ali was able to get back to the house in John's 
 absence," said Veronica. "Yet old Fatima would have 
 known that." 
 
 "Not of necessity," put in Madame Severin, "and I 
 really don't think it possible for Zorah to have played 
 her husband such a trick, for she would have had to start 
 without even knowing of his arrest. All the same, 
 mother love may have driven her to take a desperate step 
 while brooding alone." 
 
 One of their surmises was soon verified. Nicholas 
 coming in one day said he had just heard that the 
 Beni-Weldeh encampment was actually broken up and 
 
 i33
 
 134 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 not a trace left in its wake. A quick swift Rahil had 
 evidently followed the sudden news of an approaching 
 danger. Nothing further could be known till some sign 
 reached them through Ali himself or a deputy. 
 
 "The only alternative is to wait and see what Otto 
 Kosen finds out," said Mme. Severin. 
 
 "What he has done you mean," amended Veronica. 
 "If he chooses to act he can get John freed. If not, why 
 then I have finished with him. ' ' 
 
 The angry passage with Herr Rosen had left a strong 
 impression on Zia. Highly strung and always frail, a 
 mental upset generally reacted on her weak body in a 
 way that only her father rightly understood. His indig- 
 nation with Rosen had been the stronger for its necessary 
 repression. 
 
 So far every one had succeeded in keeping from the 
 child the bad news about her Uncle John. This was all 
 the easier because conscription had carried off Murad, 
 and Amina left alone would not for worlds divulge any- 
 thing to bring a tear to the eyes of the child she adored. 
 
 Zia had not escaped reproof from her grandmother 
 for display of temper to Herr Rosen when a guest of the 
 house. 
 
 "But I tell you Meme it was Herr Rosen who first lost 
 his temper, ' ' protested the child petulantly, ' ' because he 
 wanted to know what Monsieur Marson talked about and 
 I would not tell him." 
 
 "Unless you had first told him Monsieur Marson was 
 with us that evening Herr Rosen would have known 
 nothing at all about his visit, my little one, ' ' said Mme. 
 Severin, firmly. "I have told you before you are not to 
 chatter about our visitors. You will know the reason 
 when you are older."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 135 
 
 "But I didn't say what we talked about," protested 
 Zia, with a catch in her voice. 
 
 Mme. Severin kissed the quivering little face. "Be- 
 cause my little girl knows even at her age the difference 
 between honorable and dishonorable behavior. That is 
 a lesson you have learnt well, cherie. ' ' 
 
 Then in a few simple words she explained that now 
 Turkey had entered the great European war France was 
 no longer a neutral in the Ottoman empire, and that 
 when Monsieur Marson dined with them in the garden 
 he was already Herr Rosen's enemy, and might easily 
 have been prevented from going back to France. "So 
 once again, petite, remember you must never tell the 
 names of any of our guests to Herr Rosen or to anybody 
 else. It might mean bad consequences for all of us, and 
 disaster for our visitors. ' ' 
 
 "What bad consequences ? Will they kill us and make 
 us martyrs like " began the child, excitedly. 
 
 "Hush, my dove!" said the grandmother, sooth- 
 ingly. ' ' Perhaps some one might be put in prison. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Prison ! ' ' echoed the child, still showing agitation. 
 
 "Or at any rate made to pay a big fine of money, or 
 perhaps tortured," said Mtae. Severin, meditatively, as 
 if for an instant off guard. "Who can tell! You must 
 never forget to say your prayers diligently, and ask to 
 be made brave. Heaven knows you will need every help 
 they can give you in life, petite. ' ' 
 
 Nicholas Severin disapproved of this enlightenment 
 for Zia. His mother disagreed and in the end he yielded 
 the point seeing that it might prevent further mischief. 
 For at all times their house had been a place of refuge 
 for hardly pressed compatriots. In such times as the 
 present even the silence of a child had to be ensured.
 
 136 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "She has a loyal soul," said Mme. Severin warmly, 
 "and now she knows the necessity will be mute as a fish." 
 
 All the same Zia showed stubborn reluctance to accept 
 Rosen 's peace-offering of chocolates. It was just as well 
 he was not present when they were put into her hands 
 for she dashed the boxes to the floor. A child's con- 
 fidence once outraged is not readily renewed, and this 
 was one of singularly intense and sensitive feeling, due 
 perhaps to the blending of her Eastern and Western 
 blood. 
 
 A week went by before Otto Rosen paid his next visit 
 to the house, a hurried one late one evening. Since the 
 town had filled with military bustle the gate in the high 
 wall was kept bolted by day as well as night. Amina 
 hastened to open directly she heard the loud demand of 
 the kawass for admittance. With an order to the kawass 
 to drive on, execute a commission, and then return and 
 wait for him the German consul entered and walked up 
 to the house. 
 
 The room into 1 which he was ushered was poorly lighted 
 by one petroleum lamp burning low, a different illumi- 
 nation from that which prevailed on days when he was 
 expected. He scarcely gave himself time to make the 
 usual greetings to Mme. Severin and Nicholas before 
 turning to Veronica. The confident intimacy of his 
 manner and look at once affronted her. 
 
 "You come to give us news of course. Is it satis- 
 factory?" she asked distantly. 
 
 About to reply he stopped short, his gaze arrested by 
 a figure in black seated on the divan. At once Mme. 
 Severin 's voice broke the silence. 
 
 "You can speak freely, my friend. Pastor Kasbarian
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 137 
 
 is a family connection of my husband. I cannot recall 
 if you have met each other before," and she made the 
 formal introduction, adding that their relative was visit- 
 ing Opella to say good-by to his son who had been called 
 up for military service. 
 
 Pastor Kasbarian rose to his feet, showing a long gaunt 
 body, which gathered itself slowly up as if none too ready 
 to make this new acquaintance. Otto Eosen, bowing 
 stiffly, received an impression of a black bearded face in 
 which one eye only burned like a live coal, while its fel- 
 low was extinct under the closed shrunken lid. 
 
 "Pastor Kasbarian hoped to obtain exemption for his 
 son, but has not succeeded so far," said Dr. Severin. 
 
 ' ' If his son enjoys good health it seems only fair from 
 the German standpoint that all Christians, especially the 
 young, should help the Moslems to bear the burden of 
 military service," was Otto Rosen's comment, taking his 
 seat by Veronica. 
 
 "If only there be no treachery," said the pastor in a 
 deep rough voice. 
 
 "That would be out of the question if Christian loy- 
 alty always encouraged the Turks to believe in it. ' ' 
 
 "My good sir, have you been long in Asia Minor?" 
 asked Pastor Kasbarian. 
 
 "Some eight years," returned Rosen, aggressively. 
 "You can safely presume that I know what I am talking 
 about. There are Armenians at this moment in the 
 Russian army. Isn't that sufficient proof of Christian 
 disloyalty to Turkey?" 
 
 Veronica turned indignant eyes on the speaker, her 
 look plainly stating that such an attack on their guest 
 reached the limit of her toleration.
 
 138 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Yes, Armenians who were Russian subjects before 
 the war, and so came under conscription. Surely you 
 know that/' thrust in Nicholas, quietly. 
 
 "There are others. I can cite hundreds," snapped 
 Rosen. "No colony of Armenians settled abroad has yet 
 attempted to come back and fight for Turkey." 
 
 "I should think not, indeed," Veronica burst in with 
 passion in her voice. "Those colonies consist solely of 
 Armenians who have managed with great difficulty to 
 escape murder at the hands of the Turks. ' ' 
 
 "Veronica!" called her mother, sharply, then con- 
 tinued in a tense voice. "Loyalty is of small value un- 
 less reciprocal, Herr Rosen. Our relative's experience 
 of Turkish loyalty has been bitter. He lost his eye in 
 defending his family during the massacres of 1909. Not 
 all were saved even then, and another son fell in action 
 fighting for Turkey in the Balkan war. The son for 
 whom he seeks exemption is the only one left. You see 
 his Christian loyalty to the Turkish over-lords has al- 
 ready demanded a heavy toll." 
 
 With distinct uneasiness Rosen stared for a few 
 seconds at Pastor Kasbarian, who sat with bent head, 
 troubled and brooding. 
 
 "Certainly that is a melancholy family history," he 
 said, deliberately, "but as my time is limited your 
 relative will excuse my entering into his troubles at the 
 present moment. You asked me a question"; he turned 
 again to Veronica. "As I promised I have made every 
 effort but with poor result. ' ' 
 
 "What do you mean?" she asked, impetuously. 
 "You keep us in suspense. Is Mr. Culver out of prison? 
 Have you found out anything about his wife and child?" 
 
 He shook his head and then replied, "You have no idea
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 139 
 
 of the difficulties that occur in investigating any side 
 issues to-day. In the face of all that is happening, and 
 the high pressure of military preparations this matter, 
 however important to those concerned, simply does not 
 count." 
 
 ' ' Oh, doesn 't it ! ' ' said Veronica, sarcastically. ' ' Per- 
 sonal affairs must all be dropped then. Is that what 
 you mean?" 
 
 He gave her a side glance, at once eager and furtive. 
 
 "Oh, dear no, only those personal affairs that in- 
 terrupt work devoted to the one all-important business. ' ' 
 
 "The business of war, I suppose," she said, indiffer- 
 ently. "War, and always the war these days! Why 
 are you men always trying to take by force something 
 that does not belong to you? Why do you not prefer 
 peace, and try to make life always happy and 
 beautiful?" 
 
 "Because the root of war lies in human nature itself," 
 he said, propounding the platitude in the tone of one who 
 humors a spoilt child, "and as long as human nature re- 
 mains unchanged there will always be war. ' ' 
 
 "War is detestable. It is a sin against humanity," 
 she retorted warmly. 
 
 ' ' On the other hand eternal peace is a dream, said our 
 wise Moltke, and not even a beautiful dream. The ideal 
 of perpetual peace has always been the pet Utopian de- 
 lusion of exhausted and spiritless ages," he said 
 sententiously. 
 
 "This is all beside the point, Veronica, and I am sure 
 Herr Rosen has something else of importance to tell us, ' ' 
 put in Mme. Severin, uneasily aware that it was breath 
 wasted to try and disabuse the German mind of its own 
 pet delusion that war was a good thing.
 
 i 4 o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Otto Rosen adjusted his pince-nez and, looking 
 straight ahead, began to speak in a stubborn voice. 
 
 "You must recognize that the English are in par- 
 ticularly bad odor with the Turkish authorities just now. 
 The prisoners made, they intend to hold, and are even 
 unwilling to grant them privileges. On the other hand 
 orders for general fair treatment have been issued to 
 officials in Syria, who will be held responsible for the 
 safety of individual English subjects." 
 
 "So far so good," said Mme. Severin, "but I should 
 like to know where John Culver is." 
 
 "He is interned in Damascus." 
 
 "Not in the public prison I hope," said Nicholas. 
 
 "In the public prison," repeated Rosen dryly, "and 
 considering that it is to the English nation alone we owe 
 all the mischief of this war the public prison is good 
 enough for any Englishman. Remember Amasia! 
 That was entirely due to English perfidy," he added, 
 significantly. 
 
 He alluded to a tragic episode following Napoleon's 
 famous expedition to the East, which had been recently 
 recalled to public notice in the French-press through the 
 research of a noted traveler. It seemed that after the 
 Convention of El Arish, signed Jan. 28, 1800, the 
 English had given up a number of captured French 
 soldiers to the Turks. Ten of these were conducted as 
 far as Amasia in Asia Minor, and there offered their 
 lives and a new start in life if they would become Mos- 
 lems. Five had consented to adopt the turban. The 
 five who refused were then shut up in one of the ancient 
 rock tombs of the cliff overlooking the town. 
 
 For two years the wretched prisoners lingered in this 
 purgatory, and then still refusing to renounce their faith
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 141 
 
 were taken out and put to death. The tradition of their 
 slow torture in the tomb was still preserved in Amasia, 
 wrote the traveler. He had discovered their names cut 
 into the stone walls of the cells. 
 
 Only a few months back Otto Rosen had been present 
 when Mme. Severin had received a French newspaper 
 giving full details of the whole episode and announcing 
 the intention of the ' ' Oeuvre du Souvenir Francais ' ' of 
 erecting a monument to the memory of the five martyred 
 soldiers. They had talked long and with deep interest 
 of the subject. 
 
 Rosen's inopportune reminder of the sad story struck 
 them dumb. Veronica's throat contracted painfully. 
 "Where once she had regarded Rosen with indifference 
 she felt more and more that she was growing to hate 
 his very presence. Pastor Kasbarian merely smiled, a 
 slow, terrible smile suggestive of sinister reminiscences 
 compared with which the fate of the French soldiers 
 seemed a mild and merciful one. 
 
 "I hold no brief for the English nation, but surely 
 you are strongly prejudiced, my friend," said Mme. 
 Severin, speaking at last with evident effort. 
 
 "Ask the Turks," he replied with warmth, "how by 
 intrigue long before the war the English tried their best 
 to force the emirs of Rasliid, Mushammerah and Koweit 
 to form themselves into a confederacy under an English 
 protectorate. ' ' 
 
 "Do you really believe it?" asked Nicholas, knowing 
 that Rosen had embarked on a subject that was a fixed 
 idea with most Germans. 
 
 "I know it to be true. I have every proof," said 
 Rosen angrily. "Their grand surveyor, Willcocks, 
 while pretending to study the matter of irrigation was
 
 i 4 2 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 making plans all the time to send home to his govern- 
 ment. You would be amazed to hear how many secret 
 treaties he made with Arab sheikhs of Mesopotamia. 
 Luckily the Arabs are true only to the highest bidder 
 for their favors, though if ever the English manage by 
 luck or treachery to get within measurable distance of 
 Bagdad you will see how they will tempt and impose 
 upon those same ignorant folk. 
 
 "Then the only remedy is for Germany to hold Bag- 
 dad, Basra, and the Persian Gulf." 
 
 "This is as vital to Turkey as to ourselves, otherwise 
 the gates of the East are closed for both. If England 
 attempts to enter Mesopotamia she must be thoroughly 
 beaten, for if her army united with that of Egypt, 
 Turkey would be cut off from Arabia. Syria would go 
 next and England's cursed power would be stronger 
 than ever." 
 
 He spoke with peculiar bitterness for reasons fully 
 understood by Nicholas Severin. Irrigation works on 
 the Tigris and Euphrates at a cost of two millions had 
 been put up for Turkey by a famous English engineer 
 and his staff. This was another fruitful source of anger 
 and discontent to the Germans, and very soon through 
 these masters of Turkey the British engineer-in-chief, 
 Mr. Arthur Whitley, was to become a prisoner of war 
 in spite of his excellent relations with Enver Pasha 
 himself. 
 
 "That would also mean the end of German power in 
 the East," said Mme. Severin, slowly. 
 
 "Never!" exclaimed Rosen with violence, rising sud- 
 denly from his seat. "Germany can never be beaten." 
 
 "Don't go yet, Otto! The tea is ready," cried Mme. 
 Severin as Veronica, who had been busying herself at a
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT '143 
 
 side table over a samovar, suddenly turned round with 
 a tray in her hand. "Serve Herr Rosen first, my 
 child!" 
 
 Veronica came silently to him. He noticed that she 
 was paler than usual, and how dark semi-circles under 
 her eyes, in which burned a wistful fire, gave her a 
 delicate look to which he was unaccustomed. Was she 
 fretting about this objectionable Englishman? Impos- 
 sible ! He remembered how she had spoken of war. It 
 was the sense of all it involved that was depressing her 
 feminine nature. 
 
 "I am going to Damascus myself the end of the 
 week," he said in a confidential voice, taking a glass of 
 the lemon scented tea. ''You shall hear the result di- 
 rectly I return." 
 
 "Do you hear, mamouschka?" she called with quick 
 animation. "Herr Rosen says he is going to 
 Damascus. ' ' 
 
 " Is it possible to convey a message through you to my 
 brother-in-law?" asked Nicholas. 
 
 "I might manage a written one provided you show 
 me the contents," said Rosen affably. "Let me have it 
 to-morrow some time. I will see what I can do." 
 
 He started to take leave and as he spoke pressed 
 Veronica's hand reassuringly. It was easy to yield a 
 point when for reward he saw how it brought back a 
 tinge of rose to her cheeks and light to her eyes. 
 
 Pastor Kasbarian's glance, somber and fierce, watched 
 him leave the room with Nicholas. 
 
 "I do not like the German, cousin Anna," he said, 
 morosely. "I foresee that you will regret you ever let 
 him enter your house. He is a man with a narrow eye." 
 
 ' ' The war has changed him. He is no longer the same.
 
 144 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 This is the first time he has brought in the Armenian 
 question," she said, with a troubled look at Veronica, 
 whose eyes agreed with the cousin's verdict, "but he was 
 never careful in weighing his words. ? ' 
 
 "He should have gone one step further and stated that 
 all our young men are being enrolled by the Turks," he 
 said. "Of what use will the old be to protect women 
 and children?" 
 
 "Heaven forbid that it will be necessary," said Mme. 
 Severin, hastily. "To-day we are all in one boat. 
 Surely we shall sink or swim together, Turk and Ar- 
 menian alike." 
 
 After mother and daughter went to bed Nicholas and 
 their visitor sat talking earnestly far into the night. 
 They arranged that the family's next holiday should be 
 spent under Pastor Kasbarian's roof in a prosperous 
 village on a hill slope commanding a view of the 
 Mediterranean. 
 
 "The sea air will be good for Zia," said Mme. Severin 
 next day, "and we shall be within easy reach of 
 Nicholas. ' ' 
 
 "If he is still here," said Veronica, significantly. 
 
 Three weeks elapsed before Rosen returned with 
 startling news from Damascus. John Culver had 
 escaped from prison. How and when was not actually 
 established. The Severins doubted the good faith of 
 Rosen 's informant, fearing that something sinister lay at 
 the back of the communication. Possibilities of death, 
 treachery, torture, privation and other details of Oriental 
 ill treatment often suffered in the public prison passed 
 through their minds. Their one hope lay in Rosen's re- 
 minder of the official orders touching British prisoners. 
 Not that he cared a jot beyond desiring to pose in a
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 145 
 
 cloak of high-minded benevolence in the eyes of Veronica. 
 
 He said something privately to her that suggested he 
 himself had lent a hand to John's escape. She taxed 
 him with it, throwing a warmth into her voice and glance 
 that smothered his first impulse of repudiation. He 
 shrugged his shoulders with an affected carelessness. 
 
 "Indirectly it is possible to act at times, but only in 
 the strictest secrecy. All traces must be covered," he 
 said, mysteriously. 
 
 She looked at him, summing him up, doubting and half 
 convinced. He could not be altogether bad if he had 
 really done this. 
 
 "Do good and throw it in the sea," she replied, quoting 
 an Arab proverb, "for if the fish do not know it Allah 
 will." 
 
 "I said I would do my best. One can't do more," he 
 said, his fingers busy at his mustache. 
 
 With a flash of insight she detected his insincerity. 
 Yet she deemed it politic still to stimulate belief, with the 
 result that he left highly pleased with his diplomatic 
 stroke. 
 
 On the other hand he foresaw trouble lying ahead 
 through his intimacy with the Severin family. In ad- 
 dition to their local standing of well-to-do Armenians 
 of European upbringing, they possessed an English 1 
 relative, were friendly in heart to the French, and there 
 were the Russian connections of Mme. Severin her- 
 self. Once Veronica was his wife, and he now saw 
 every chance of winning to the heart of her, all these 
 annoying links with Germany's enemies should be 
 snapped. He would have none of them. 
 
 Later in his office he threw up his head and laughed 
 maliciously. The scene of a prison court he had wit-
 
 146 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 nessed secretly with a Damascus official had suddenly 
 come back to his mind. While scrutinizing Turkey's 
 interned enemies to discover John Culver among them it 
 had given him rare satisfaction to view those boastful 
 knights of the daily tub, the finnikin Englishmen, set in 
 that unsavory revolting milieu. As one of the standard 
 bearers of Teutonic "kultur" into foreign lands it had 
 always been the English more than any other race that 
 had inflamed to burning point his feeling of bitter envy 
 that Neid which is a leading trait of modern Germany.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 TO Veronica the winter seemed interminably long. 
 Especially the days dragged when imagination 
 keyed to suspense waited for news to percolate through 
 the rigorous censorship of telegrams from Europe, and 
 the horizon of life seemed no further away than the 
 nearest roof top. There were drab leaden days when 
 her heart, feeding on torpid hopes, grew sick with un- 
 utterable longing, when the stagnation of all other in- 
 terests clogged energy, and despair dulled mistily every 
 outlook on the future. 
 
 And always there came to torment and excite by turn 
 recollection of Pierre's confidence in a speedy return. 
 She never passed through the bazaars without scanning 
 the passers-by while recalling his words to Nicholas. 
 
 "I guarantee the next time we run across each other 
 as to-day you will pass me without the least recognition. ' ' 
 
 But she would certainly know him under any guise. 
 On that score she had no doubts. Yet there were other 
 ways. At whatever hour through the winter she climbed 
 to the roof terrace to scatter morsels of bread as was her 
 custom, and watched the sea birds, invisible the minute 
 before, instantly descend and fly around, she thought of 
 the French aviators who had flown only a year ago from 
 Nancy to Cairo by way of Asia Minor and Syria. 
 
 For a week in advance Dancourt, the first of the 
 aviators, had been daily expected, news of the famous 
 trial flight having traveled swiftly ahead. When first
 
 148 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 seen on the horizon above the hills she remembered the 
 great cries that had ascended from the watching crowds, 
 and how quickly their wonder and admiration at the 
 sight had turned to silence mixed with terror as the 
 great blue bird, coming, nearing and swooping low with 
 a magnificent curve, seemed momentarily to hover over 
 the thronged roofs before taking fresh flight into the 
 blue. Later in the year a second aviator had appeared, 
 and then a third, all from France. The impression 
 created on the Eastern mind by these miraculous fliers 
 had been indescribable, for they were the first to appear 
 or to be seen at all in that corner of the world. 
 
 Veronica thrilled ever at the memory. To her it had 
 become a symbol of the great love which had come to her 
 from France. She even had wild ideas that perhaps 
 Pierre might return on wings through the air like 
 another Perseus. It would be a real rescue, for Rosen's 
 persistency was getting beyond bounds. Long ago she 
 would have dared the consequences of open rupture but 
 for the caution advised by her mother and insisted upon 
 by Nicholas. Even so the man must have opaque scales 
 on his eyes not to be aware of the repugnance he in- 
 stilled in her for she could not always succeed in hid- 
 ing it. 
 
 At all times Rosen was a barometer showing every; 
 variation of military and naval conflict. If these were 
 of German origin his mood was not only set fair but 
 overwrought. His skeptical attitude was very signifi- 
 cant when questioned upon adverse reports from the 
 Caucasus, of havoc and terror in Palestine, and famine 
 in the Lebanon. That lies and fraud concealed grave 
 trouble, hushed up, yet alive, in many quarters of Turkey 
 in Asia, was proved by secret evidence of travelers, both
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 149 
 
 native and neutral, whose difficulties grew week by week. 
 
 To rumors current in the bazaars and khans of the 
 town, and fairly in touch with actual fact, there was 
 always the insiduous counterblast circulated by Ger- 
 many's native agents. 
 
 ' ' A Russian victory in the Caucasus ! ' ' 
 
 " Armenians helped to win it," buzzed in ominous 
 reply. 
 
 ''The British have cast the Khedive out of Egypt and 
 set up a new sultan. 
 
 "They have done this because Abbas Helmi was a 
 friend of the German Emperor, who is a true father to 
 Islam." 
 
 "What do the Moslem Egyptians say to this strange 
 action?" 
 
 ' ' As the new Sultan is also a son of Mahomet it pleases 
 them to forget that the British have stolen the treasures 
 and rich valleys of Egypt." 
 
 ' ' Allah is good ! The world changes ! ' ' was the pious 
 comment. 
 
 "But to what advantage if free men are in this way 
 to be made the slaves of infidels?" 
 
 To Veronica's relief it was always England and not 
 France that inflamed Rosen's chief animosity. The 
 hoisting of the Union Jack at Basra by British troops 
 from India had been a bitter pill to swallow. Until 
 doubly confirmed he paid no heed to the declared dis- 
 aster to German cruisers off the Falkland Islands. 
 
 ' ' Wait ! " he said, grimly. ' ' Antwerp is ours. It will 
 be London's turn soon. Even now we are preparing 
 another blow at the heart of England, one she little 
 expects." 
 
 Shortly he brought them German newspapers to read,
 
 150 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 revealing the meaning of these mysterious hints. Whole 
 columns were devoted to the coming invasion of Egypt. 
 All was set down in detail. The military preparations 
 at military centers such as Damascus, Aleppo and par- 
 ticularly Jerusalem, into which city were pouring en- 
 thusiastic deputations from all parts of the country. 
 The route across the desert of Sinai, the Bedouin hover- 
 ing like locusts to the east of Suez, all was described. 
 Over against all this was painted the seething anxiety of 
 hard pressed British officials, military and civil. 
 
 "Remarkable! Incredible!" ejaculated Mme. Severin, 
 for once heedless of Rosen's susceptibilities. "Never 
 once have I been in any part of Syria without hearing 
 the praises of the English sung on all sides, and the 
 people's outspoken wish for the same British rule that 
 existed in Egypt. What has brought this change of 
 heart? Is it secret intrigue of Turkey, or your own 
 country?" 
 
 "Intrigue?" he repeated. "Of course! It is the 
 only way. Without intrigue who and what can ever 
 appeal to the Oriental mind? And why, I should like 
 to know, should we abstain from what gained India for 
 England?" 
 
 "It is the preaching of the Jehad alone which has 
 made this possible," she said severely. "It is a terrible 
 weapon to forge." 
 
 Otto Rosen laughed, a laugh for which Veronica's 
 eyes flashed fire at him. 
 
 "The end has not yet come," he said ambiguously, 
 "and scarcely the beginning. Wait till the Holy Flag 
 gets to Jerusalem. It is on its way." 
 
 "The Holy Flag!" exclaimed the listening woman. 
 
 "Yes! To accompany the army to the battlefields of
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 151 
 
 Egypt, the first time for four hundred years," he said, 
 triumphantly. "Is there a Mussulman anywhere that 
 will not be drawn by the magic of that blood red banner 
 to fight in our ranks? Arab, Bedouin, Indian, even 
 Egyptian will all come. The Eastern question is about 
 to be settled once more and forever. We are on the 
 eve of great events." 
 
 But all this fine talk and other endless gossip still kept 
 the actual reality of war at a distance till something sud- 
 denly occurred to drive it home to their very threshold. 
 
 One evening Amina burst in upon the family, weeping, 
 breathless and talking excitedly. 
 
 "Murad is here. He is weary of barracks," she said. 
 
 "Heavens! What does it mean?" exclaimed Mine. 
 Severin, turning to her son. 
 
 "That he has deserted I fear. I will go and see," he 
 .said, hastily, leaving the room. 
 
 So it turned out. Talked to and advised by the whole 
 family in every possible way Murad was at last per- 
 suaded that his best and only chance of pardon lay in 
 giving himself up to the military authorities. He stayed 
 the night in the house and went out early in the morning. 
 
 "Malaish! No matter!" he ejaculated in response to 
 Amina 's tears. 
 
 Later on a soldier contrived to slip round to the 
 hospital to divulge secretly that his comrade was in 
 danger of his life. For there was to be a court martial. 
 So many desertions were taking place all the time. As 
 a rule the men did not return, but joined the gangs of 
 highwaymen infesting the country round. Murad was 
 to provide an example. 
 
 Could he be saved? If so only by urgent action. 
 Nicholas Severin set his teeth determinedly, for to him
 
 152 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 personally no good could come of interference. On the 
 contrary, he might be held responsible for sheltering a 
 deserter for the night under his roof even though an 
 old servant. 
 
 He went to the Wali with whom as a hakim, the most 
 discreet and successful, his intimacy gave him weight. 
 The Wali amiably referred him to Ahmed Pasha as if 
 relieved to shift the affair to other shoulders. 
 
 At the Serai he expected to wait long before obtaining 
 an audience. To his surprise the commandant saw him 
 without any delay, though never had the forecourt, 
 arcades and ante-chamber been more thronged with! 
 officers, soldiers and attendants of all kinds. 
 
 The customary salutations over the Pasha of his own 
 accord graciously alluded to the occasions on which they 
 had met before, in the hospital and again in the moun- 
 tain hotel. 
 
 "What affair is it that brings us together here, 
 cffendi?" he asked. 
 
 "A boon, Excellency," replied Nicholas, proceeding 
 to explain that it was mercy for a truant soldier he 
 begged because the man had been a faithful servant, and 
 if spared might yet become a trusty and valiant fighter 
 for the Sultan. 
 
 "Clemency to a deserter will but incite others to do 
 the same," was the temporizing reply. 
 
 "Excellency, he did not realize his crime nor its 
 penalty until I put both before him. ' ' 
 
 The Pasha spoke rapidly with an officer who sat beside 
 him on the divan, then his strong imperious face looked 
 again upon Nicholas. 
 
 "It is a question of discipline which has to be finally 
 decided in Damascus. This however I will promise re-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 153 
 
 membering your treatment of a valued servant of my 
 own. I myself will send a petition for the life of this 
 man and ask that the answer may come quickly. ' ' 
 
 Severin, almost overcome by the unexpected easy suc- 
 cess of his prayer for mercy, stammered out his gratitude 
 with customary etiquette. Silence had fallen upon the 
 officers sitting and standing round the room, a silence 
 heavy with a hostility felt to the full by the doctor in the 
 very atmosphere. He knew the question that was cir- 
 culating from mind to mind. Why this condescension, 
 this favor to one of the Armenian race even though of 
 the reputable calling of hakim ? One or two men stand- 
 ing in the entrance slipped hurriedly away. 
 
 Ahmed Pasha's gray eyes glanced keenly around and 
 back to Severin, whose attitude though deferential had 
 no trace of servility. 
 
 "Please God I shall be able to grant you this boon, 
 doctor," he said in a clear voice, apparently so that all 
 might hear, touching his forehead and his breast cour- 
 teously as Severin withdrew. 
 
 All the same Nicholas had so little faith in Turkish or 
 any Moslem "Inshallahs" that he was a little suspicious 
 of the promise made by His Excellency the commandant. 
 With reason too it seemed when it leaked out, soon to be 
 talked of excitedly in every cafe of Opella, that the Ger- 
 man officer in joint command with Ahmed Pasha still in- 
 sisted upon a court martial and justice being ad- 
 ministered to the deserter. 
 
 Severin hurried off to Kosen, who flatly refused to in- 
 tervene. "Discipline is discipline, my good doctor," he 
 exclaimed, testily. ' ' No, it is not a question of brutality 
 and intolerance, nothing of the kind. Be careful what 
 you say! It is solely the necessity of making an ex-
 
 154 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 ample. Overlook one and hundreds would take a similar 
 liberty believing they would be condoned." 
 
 To the horror of the Severin family Murad was con- 
 demned to death. Soon it leaked out that a row of eight 
 soldiers had been drawn up to fire at him, while by order 
 of the German C. 0. another row had stood ready to fire 
 at the eight in front should they refuse to shoot. To 
 this extent had German discipline strengthened defiance 
 among the badly treated troops who were already mu- 
 tinous. 
 
 Before sunset that same day a free pardon for poor 
 Murad came through by wire from headquarters at 
 Damascus, where the military prestige of Ahmed Pasha 
 was fully understood. Public opinion was enraged. 
 Nothing was talked about but the brutal behavior of 
 the German officer and the Pasha's anger. Was it pos- 
 sible for both to remain in command together? Evi- 
 dently not for it turned out that just such a martinet 
 was badly needed at Jerusalem, headquarters for the 
 army to operate against Egypt. 
 
 A fresh high officer and staff were quickly sent on 
 from Constantinople to manipulate the German thumb- 
 screws in Opella with more tact than the predecessor. 
 Draft after draft of soldiers were sent south as soon as 
 ready. Soon these were followed by thousands of work- 
 men employed on the Bagdad railway. 
 
 To take the place of these last in making necessary 
 roads and fortifications orders were given for the special 
 formation of battalions of Armenians all of military age. 
 In spite of care taken in the collection of these labor 
 troops a great many young men happily contrived to 
 escape and slip through the net. 
 
 Nicholas Severin kept back much that he heard from
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 155 
 
 his mother, and of what she did not know Veronica was 
 ignorant. The hospital was full to overflowing. Sick- 
 ness was rife among the troops. Many wounded had 
 been brought through, but difficulties of transport raised 
 the question of shifting the whole medical staff wher- 
 ever most needed. A time came when Dr. Severin daily 
 expected marching orders. He had already received 
 orders to hold himself in readiness. 
 
 During days that followed his apprehensions deepened. 
 Not for himself but those whom he would leave alone. 
 If only that foolish girl Veronica had fallen in love with 
 Otto Rosen instead of Marson all would have been well, 
 for whatever Rosen might lack as a brother-in-law, to 
 Veronica he was certainly devoted. 
 
 But since Murad's execution matters were terribly 
 strained. Veronica had called it murder to Rosen 's face 
 and accused him of being as bad as an accomplice. Rosen 
 had turned upon her in fierce resentment and not been 
 near the house since. 
 
 Sinister rumors were afloat. Native raconteurs had 
 wonderful stories to relate, inspired no doubt by German 
 invention. One glaring example was to the effect that 
 England had succeeded in stealing the bones of the 
 Prophet and it was to recover these sacred relics for 
 Islam that Germany had gone to war with her. 
 
 "How the Germans must laugh at their dupes," said 
 Anna Severin, relating this titbit of gossip brought fresh 
 by Amina from a shopping expedition. ''She says she 
 is certain she saw Ali. They came suddenly face to face, 
 but before she could speak or hold him he had slipped be- 
 hind a camel blocking the way. Though muffled to the 
 eyes she was sure it was Ali." 
 
 "He would run a great risk in speaking to her in
 
 156 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 public. If it was Ali he will find a way of coming here, ' ' 
 said Nicholas. "That story is simply circulated to 
 counterbalance the effect of the bad news about the 
 Egyptian expedition." 
 
 For in spite of banquets of rejoicing held to celebrate 
 the success of Turkish arms, and the posters printed in 
 letters of gold giving glowing accounts of a great victory 
 over English arms, of the capture of Suez and Ismailia, 
 and the sinking of British cruisers in the Canal, and all 
 at the cost of very few lives and wounded, the news was 
 slowly coming through even as far north as Opella that 
 there had been a disastrous and definite defeat. 
 
 A day later the official summons anticipated by 
 Nicholas called him away from the hospital. When he 
 returned close upon sunset his dark face, though nor- 
 mally impassive like most men with a tang of the Orient 
 in their blood, showed under the red fez a curiously 
 anxious look. 
 
 As a rule the gateway and forecourt were beset at 
 this hour by a crowd of sick people of the poorest de- 
 scription for whom the doctor daily prescribed. To-day 
 the doorkeeper had packed all off peremptorily, declar- 
 ing that nobody could be seen and nothing done till the 
 morrow. 
 
 One man alone had proved obstinate, stealthily re- 
 turning to squat by the wall every time the doorkeeper 
 withdrew. When Nicholas put his hand to the wicket 
 door of the big gateway this figure suddenly rose beside 
 him. From the folds of an abbai and closely swathed; 
 keffiyeh there emerged a muffled voice. 
 
 "Mercy, el hakim, effendi! A boon!" 
 
 "What! Thou insolent dog! Thou darest still to 
 obtrude when thrice I have bidden thee begone and
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 157 
 
 driven thee forth ! ' ' stormed the doorkeeper, suddenly 
 appearing and fearing a reprimand. 
 
 "No matter, Selim, now I am here. It is better to 
 send him away satisfied than that he should continue to 
 annoy," said the doctor indifferently. Then turning to 
 the Arab he said, ' ' Follow me ! " 
 
 While Selim grumbled angrily to himself by the gate 
 the offender shuffled humbly across the court in the 
 footsteps of his benefactor to a tiled hall under the 
 arcade lined with stone benches. Nicholas turned to 
 scrutinize his patient at close quarters. 
 
 "Well, Ali, you have come at last," he said in a low 
 voice. "With good news or evil! Be on your guard! 
 There are tale-bearers about." 
 
 The man stood silent for a moment looking cautiously 
 around. "Is there an inner room?" he mumbled. 
 
 "Come!" said Nicholas briefly, with a gesture 
 towards a door at the side of the room which opened 
 into a dispensary connecting by a few steps and a second 
 door with the doctor's official private room. These 
 were screened by a wooden partition cutting off the 
 lower end of the dispensary. 
 
 ' * Is that you, Nicholas ? ' ' said a woman 's voice behind 
 the screen. "I have nearly finished making up the last 
 prescription. ' ' 
 
 The Arab started. His stooping figure covered with 
 dust suddenly shot upright as he began to fumble with 
 the folds of his keffiyeh. With a peremptory gesture 
 Nicholas imposed silence and stillness upon his visitor 
 and went for a moment out of sight. 
 
 "Leave it!" he whispered in his sister's ear. "Go 
 at once and wait for me in my room. Quick, Veron- 
 ica!"
 
 158 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 He turned back and again faced the Arab. ''It is not 
 Ali. Who are you?" he said sternly with the suspicion 
 of one who anticipates a snare. 
 
 The Arab glanced at the door behind, fastened it and 
 then showed his face. 
 
 "It is I, my friend, Pierre Marson! Did I not say 
 you would fail to recognize me next time we met?" 
 
 The revelation was a blow for Nicholas. For the 
 moment dismay, apprehension, and his knowledge of 
 pending difficulties made him speechless. He stared 
 at Pierre, loath either to declare him welcome or to de- 
 nounce the reckless hazard of his visit for both of them. 
 He rejoiced that Veronica was out of hearing. 
 
 ' ' I don 't think you are best pleased to see me, doctor, ' ' 
 said Pierre, "and but for personal reasons and intense 
 fear for your family I would have given Opella a wide 
 berth on this secret journey of mine. I have many dis- 
 closures to make. Is this a fitting place in which to 
 discuss them? You must not take risks," he said with 
 an eager intense look towards the screen. 
 
 "I have taken none," said Nicholas, shortly. "Ver- 
 onica has already left by another door. It is certain that 
 you must not stay in the hospital more than a few 
 minutes longer. To avoid any suspicion we must go 
 back to the hall. There I will make a pretense of exam- 
 ining your foot or leg, will give you an ointment and you 
 must leave by the same way you entered, showing your 
 remedy to the gatekeeper as you pass. " 
 
 "But in heaven's name what then, Severin? I am 
 bound to see you again, and what is more I must see 
 Veronica," said Marson, firmly. 
 
 "Come! Muffle your head again. I will explain," 
 said the doctor hastening to the door.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 159 
 
 Marson gave a longing glance towards the screen 
 before he followed. The outer room was still empty. 
 Doctor Severin seated his pseudo-patient in full view of 
 the entrance on one of the stone benches, and raising his 
 foot began to speak in a low rapid voice. 
 
 "You have come at a critical hour. I have only just 
 come back from army medical head-quarters of the dis- 
 trict. This hospital is to be partially closed and then 
 put in charge of native dabblers in medicine. I, myself, 
 with my whole staff am under orders to leave for Mosul 
 in three days." 
 
 "For what object? Did they tell you?" 
 
 "Probably to take charge of a military hospital." 
 
 "I hope so," said Marson, shortly, "but be on your 
 utmost guard. Sinister plans are in the making. 
 Believe nothing, and test everything before running your 
 head into a net. Have you a friend in high quarters 
 who will take you under his special protection?" 
 
 "For myself nothing matters. It is for my family 
 that I am anxious." 
 
 "Naturally! It is impossible for them to remain in 
 Opella without you. ' ' 
 
 "I have decided to send them at once to a relative's 
 house near Antioch, ' ' said Nicholas, curtly. ' ' They will 
 be as safe there as anywhere till the war is ended. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Ended ! It is only just beginning, and the climax is 
 still far ahead. Tell me how and when I can come to 
 your house. ' ' 
 
 Nicholas explained how following the way of the 
 wall outside the gate Marson would turn the corner 
 sharply into a narrow lonely lane. The first small strong 
 door was the back entrance to the doctor's private house, 
 "When dark the door would be opened to him.
 
 160 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 A few minutes later a gratified Arab, to all appear- 
 ance tottering and decrepit, passed through the gate 
 showing his ointment with triumph to the porter, and 
 muttering "Inshallahs" and other blessings for every 
 curse the man called after him. 
 
 Nicholas found Veronica flushed and expectant, sitting 
 stiff and straight in a chair and staring towards the door. 
 She was utterly in the dark as to what had occurred, only 
 knowing that it was something unusual to call up the per- 
 emptory tone and tense look of her brother. 
 
 He explained how an Arab had waylaid him at the 
 gate, and that thinking it was Ali he had brought him in. 
 
 "But I soon discovered it was not Ali at all and hear- 
 ing your voice I took no chance of your being mixed up 
 in any other affair," he said. 
 
 "Then who was it?" she asked quickly, divining a 
 mystery he meant to clear up, "but I know," she con- 
 tinued breathlessly, a great light bursting upon her, 
 "it was Pierre! Where is he? Let me go to him!" 
 she darted to the door. 
 
 He caught her by the hand pulling her to a standstill. 
 
 ' ' He is not there. How right I was to send you away ! 
 You have too little self control. Is that the way to act 
 when his life and freedom are at stake, and who knows 
 how much more?" he said in a low, angered voice. 
 
 Veronica shrank back and dropped into her chair. 
 
 "You are cruel," she gasped. "You have not let 
 him go without once letting us meet? Have you never 
 loved with every breath of your body, and your whole 
 heart and soul? Can't you understand what you make 
 me suffer?" 
 
 "He is coming to the house. Be at ease! You will 
 see him," said Nicholas, "though should the fact creep
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 161 
 
 out it will mean our doom. There, there, little sister, I 
 know all about it. Solely on that account and no other 
 I have taken the risk." 
 
 As he bent over to caress her she flung her arms 
 round his neck and kissed him. 
 
 "I am so happy," she whispered. 
 
 Nicholas was silent though his heart ached for her, 
 and for all he had to make known to his mother before 
 the day was finished. 
 
 "Without further delay he went out of the room to com- 
 plete his duties, while Veronica went home through the 
 garden and broke the news to her mother. This time 
 it was no question of a family meal with their guest. 
 In secret he must enter, and in secret depart. Not 
 even Amina must have an inkling of the Arab's identity 
 beyond knowing he had come with an important message 
 for her master, who must not be disturbed when they 
 were talking together. 
 
 Ainina 's gaze followed the doctor and his humble caller 
 as they passed through the kitchen courtyard into the 
 passage leading to the house. Bitter had been her feel- 
 ings against the powers that ruled in war time since 
 Murad's death. Her loyalty to the Severin family was 
 an ingrained habit of mind. It was merely fear of her 
 loquacity that counseled caution on their part. 
 
 "Still a boon, hakim most benign! Water and a 
 clean kumis of your bounty, gracious one!" mur- 
 mured Pierre. 
 
 "Both needs were foreseen and provided for. You 
 will find them here," said Nicholas, lifting a curtain. 
 
 "A thousand thanks! In ten minutes I shall be 
 ready. ' '
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 ROSEN'S opportunity had come, the opportunity 
 which he had impatiently anticipated. With cun- 
 ning precision he had calculated that the hour of Nicho- 
 las Severin's summons to the fighting zone would render 
 the assurance of his, Rosen's, friendly protection an in- 
 dispensable solvent to the doctor's anxiety about his 
 family. 
 
 This hour had struck. Rosen, certain of a strong posi- 
 tion was in a fever to test its possibilities. Should he 
 wait to be asked the desired favor? It would create a 
 better impression on Veronica if, ignoring her recent 
 outrageous attack on him, he came forward voluntarily 
 with a magnanimous renewal of friendship, and a guar- 
 antee to watch zealously over their interests during the 
 doctor's absence. 
 
 Hope beat a jubilant patter in his breast as he started 
 to carry out his purpose that same night. Amina nearly 
 dropped with fright as, following close upon the jingle 
 of the gate bell, she heard the loud shout of the kawass, 
 ' ' Open to the Consul of Germany ! ' ' 
 
 She ran as for her life into the house and burst without 
 ceremony into the lewan. Finding it empty she darted 
 into the small ante-chamber at the back, then as hastily 
 fell back. She wrung her hands. Here was a mystifica- 
 tion she could not begin to fathom. Her young mistress 
 sat on the divan, while by her side, his arm holding her 
 close, as he whispered into her ear was the master's 
 visitor, the Arab ! What ought she to do ? 
 
 162
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 163 
 
 "Amina! What are you doing there? Come here," 
 called Mme. Severin, appearing at an opposite door of 
 the lewan. ' ' Stay where you are, Zia ! You are not to 
 come out." 
 
 "But yes, Meme, I want to see Uncle John. I know 
 it is Uncle John. I must come, I must, ' ' called the child, 
 still out of sight and, evidently from her voice, in a state 
 of high nervous tension. 
 
 "Hst, Amina! What is it?" asked her mistress anx- 
 iously. 
 
 "The German Consul knocks at the gate. Am I to 
 open?" 
 
 ' ' In the name of heaven, no ! Wait till I come to you 
 and don't let Zia come out of this room," said Mme. 
 Severin, hurrying to the ante-chamber. 
 
 ' ' Veronica ! Rosen is at the gate. Pierre must go at 
 once, ' ' she said in a low voice. 
 
 Veronica rose suddenly in strong agitation. For an 
 instant she put her hand over her eyes, reflecting rapidly. 
 Then she lifted her head, outwardly collected, though her 
 blue eyes were black with the intensity of her feelings. 
 
 ' ' Eeceive him as usual. I will take Pierre to the gate 
 by which he entered. Make any excuse you like for me. 
 I cannot possibly appear to-night." 
 
 "Be cautious, cherie! God guide you, God protect 
 you on your difficult road, my son," said Mme. Severin, 
 holding out her hand, over which Pierre bowed, kissing it. 
 
 "Quick! This way," said Veronica, burning with 
 fear for her lover. 
 
 As the two figures disappeared into a side passage 
 Nicholas Severin hurried into the lewan. He had been 
 holding watch on the veranda and had heard the bell 
 and loud, continued knocking.
 
 164 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "It is all right. He has gone," said his mother, 
 approaching and speaking in a whisper. Then aloud 
 she called, "Amina, you can open the gate. Beg the 
 consul's pardon for keeping him waiting, but mind 
 not a word of what you have seen. ' ' 
 
 "Allah forbid! Am I mejnoun?" retorted Amina 
 warmly. 
 
 For once Rosen waited for admittance with neither im- 
 patience nor suspicion. On the contrary he reflected in- 
 dulgently that the household wheels might well be slack 
 on this day of disconcerting news for the family. He 
 could picture the dismay of the mother, the anxiety 
 of the doctor, and Veronica's disquietude and sym- 
 pathy. 
 
 But all this unrest would be calmed by the faithful, 
 reliable friend who had come to restore confidence to 
 their shaken outlook. He was very pleased with himself 
 and his errand. In fact he felt gay and almost buoyant 
 as he entered the lewan with a smiling face. 
 
 "You find us discomposed, Otto, my friend, as no 
 doubt you can well imagine. This sudden departure of 
 Nicholas is very unsettling," said Mme. Severin, speak- 
 ing rapidly. "A thousand regrets you were kept wait- 
 ing. As you know we have been unable to get anybody 
 yet in Murad's place and Amina cannot always be on the 
 spot to open the gate promptly." 
 
 At once she was conscious that the utterance of 
 Murad's name was a wrong note. As Rosen's face 
 stiffened she could have bitten her tongue out for the 
 slip. 
 
 "It was nothing! Nothing at all, dear Madame," he 
 said, making special effort to speak affably though tact- 
 lessly reminded of Veronica's severity. And where was
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 165 
 
 she, by the by, his look inquired, traveling quickly round 
 the room. 
 
 "Yes, we have much to arrange before I leave," the 
 doctor said gravely, unconsciously giving Rosen the de- 
 sired lead. 
 
 "That is the reason I am here to-night. What can 
 I do for you in your absence ? Command me in any way 
 and I will do my utmost." 
 
 "I know he is there. Uncle John! Uncle John!" 
 cried Zia, bursting into the lewan. Left alone for the 
 moment because feigning sleep she had slipped nimbly 
 out of bed and now stood before them a little figure in 
 white, her curls falling over her face. She caught sight 
 of Rosen and at once stood stockstill, staring at him. 
 
 "You! You! I don't want you," she said, pointing 
 a disdainful finger. "I want my Uncle John. Where 
 is he? Why doesn't he come to me?" 
 
 "Go back to bed this instant, Zia," said her father, 
 sternly. "Your Uncle John has not been in the house 
 for over three months." 
 
 "Then who was it?" she said, obstinately. "I want 
 to see him and ask why my Uncle John does not come and 
 see me." 
 
 Mme. Severin summarily caught her up and carried 
 her crying and protesting away from the lewan. 
 
 "Zia was much attached to her uncle," said Nicholas, 
 shutting the door and producing a box of cigars, "and 
 is always expecting to see him. Had I foreseen the im- 
 pression it would make on her mind to hide the truth 
 I would have disclosed it at the beginning. I feared the 
 effect on her health." 
 
 "Then you mean to say she does not know he was 
 either interned or that he escaped ? ' ' asked Rosen with a
 
 166 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 mocking smile, for he had no belief in what he considered 
 an excuse. 
 
 Then he sat silent, immersed in thought though appar- 
 ently listening to Nicholas. Mechanically he accepted a 
 cigar, set light to it and smoked steadily. 
 
 Detached phrases were forcing themselves to the front 
 of his mind. "He was here just now," and "then who 
 was it ? " There had been somebody there whose identity 
 was not revealed to Zia. She had not been allowed to 
 see him. If not the Englishman, who was it ? Another 
 Armenian relative? And where was Veronica? It was 
 not possible she was still sulking. 
 
 At that moment Veronica stood still and rigid, listen- 
 ing with every nerve alert, just inside the low strong 
 door in the wall she had closed upon Pierre. 
 
 ' ' Courage, bien-aimee ! " he had whispered. This had 
 been his last word when she had clung to him desperately 
 at the last. "Courage!" It should be her watchword 
 from now on to the end. 
 
 What would be that end ? She quivered from head to 
 foot, still listening, overpowered by a sense of unspeak- 
 able loneliness and despair. Hark! Was that a cry in 
 the lane, or merely a call from the town beyond? 
 
 With a mighty effort she dragged herself back to 
 reality and slowly crossed the flags of the little foliage 
 overhung quadrangle. She found her mother seated in 
 the kitchen with Zia in her arms. 
 
 "What is it?" she exclaimed, fearing something sinis- 
 ter. 
 
 Zia herself gasped out the reply, brokenly, self-accus- 
 ingly. 
 
 Veronica stood dumbfounded, her already overstrained 
 senses unable at first to take in the meaning of what
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 167 
 
 had happened. Then of a sudden all that was latent in 
 her of the hot passionate Orient boiled up in anger. 
 With a gleam in the blue of her eyes as of flame she made 
 a swift step forward. 
 
 "Veronica!" called her mother imperatively. 
 
 The girl 's out-stretched hands clenched and dropped to 
 her side. "You little traitor!" she said in a low tense 
 voice, then walked quickly away. 
 
 One idea suddenly developed and filled her mind. 
 How to disarm suspicion from endangering Pierre's 
 chance of getting safely out of the town. There was 
 nothing for it but to batten down the anguish of her 
 heart and act a part for Otto Rosen's benefit. 
 
 Hastily she ran to her room, splashed water over her 
 face and rubbed it hard to bring color to her cheeks. 
 Then with a fresh ribbon in her hair and a bunch of 
 roses in her belt she went unhesitatingly to make her 
 peace with Rosen. For their last encounter had been 
 one of storm and recrimination. 
 
 Nicholas gave her a keen look as she entered. Was 
 she equal to the task that he instantly divined she was 
 undertaking? But Veronica smiling and beautiful with 
 a warmth in her voice that had failed for months was 
 irresistible. The stubborn monosyllables which had 
 marked Rosen's replies to the doctor expanded into a 
 gracious enquiry. 
 
 "Thank you, my head ached badly. I had to rest for 
 a while, but when Amina told me you were here I made 
 a special effort," she said, curling herself into a corner 
 of the divan as if still fatigued. "You see we are all 
 worried about losing Nicholas, and you can tell us all 
 kinds of things we want to know. You are always better 
 informed than all the bulletins."
 
 168 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "In every way I am at your service, Veronica," he 
 said in his formal way, then with added warmth, "but 
 tell me first, are you sure you are better?" 
 
 "Am not I here? That speaks for itself," she said, 
 smiling. "And if you will only give me one of your 
 very own cigarettes my head will soon be quite cured. 
 You remember my weakness for them. ' ' 
 
 Rosen's face was instantly radiant. Producing his 
 case with alacrity he moved to a seat close to the divan. 
 When Veronica, recklessly encouraging him, leaned 
 forward that he might set light to the cigarette from a 
 match in his hollowed hand the blood surged to his face. 
 With her lapse into the old familiarity his whole being 
 leaped alive. Months had gone by since she had made a 
 similar request. Their eyes met. He fancied he could 
 read remorse in the kindly look she gave him. 
 
 Nicholas Severin took advantage of Eosen 's absorption 
 to slip out of the room. He could delay no longer in 
 giving Zia a sedative, and it was imperative to have a 
 grave consultation with his mother. He groaned in- 
 wardly, thinking how easily his worst apprehensions 
 would disappear had Veronica been able to respond in 
 any shape to the passion of this man. He cursed the day 
 that flung Marson across their path. Without him all 
 would have been well. 
 
 For the ultimate victory of German arms was a fore- 
 gone conclusion of all Opella. Turkey was involved up 
 to the hilt in every aim that moved and inspired the 
 Central Powers. One result alone was possible in spite 
 of local set-backs. The complete defeat of England and 
 France, unless of course Russia surpassed all and every 
 expectation. She was already vigorously pressing the 
 Caucasian campaign. They were close upon Armenia.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 169 
 
 Armenia! That was the word engraved on Nicholas 
 Severin's heart. For or against, would be his people's 
 weighty problem. On their decision would rest the fate, 
 perhaps the doom, of the whole race. 
 
 Noiseless though the doctor's exit, Eosen heard the 
 movement and turned sharply round. A look as of a 
 trapped animal came into Veronica's eyes, but it flashed 
 in and out of them in an instant. She had to play a 
 skillful game with Pierre's safety for stakes. The 
 courage invoked by her lover should not fail ; but he had 
 little thought how soon it would be put to the test, or in 
 what distasteful and intolerable fashion. 
 
 "The very thing," said Rosen, confidentially, "for 
 before I talk finally with Nicholas on matters connected 
 with his absence you and I have something to say to each 
 other." 
 
 "What is it?" asked Veronica, bent on braving the 
 worst. 
 
 "It is perfectly true that I am better informed than 
 the bulletins, and most fortunate it is for all con- 
 cerned," he leaned forward in his chair, lowering his 
 voice. ' ' I have something here to show you, ' ' he tapped 
 his chest, ' ' which has given me great disquietude on your 
 account. It will not be made generally known for a 
 week or more. ' ' 
 
 "My account?" she queried. 
 
 "And your family," he added, hastily. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "In the light of what is bound to come sooner or 
 later there seems only one way of evading all chances of 
 danger. ' ' 
 
 "Danger? What kind of danger? To us at home 
 or to Nicholas?"
 
 i 7 o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "It may not be danger at all, but only serious incon- 
 venience. It all depends, but keep calm, I beg of you, 
 dear Veronica. You have no cause to worry personally. 
 My friends shall go scot free of all likelihood of trouble. 
 That is to say," he paused weightily, "if they allow me 
 the power to act." 
 
 "Speak plainly," she said, "or how on earth can I 
 understand what you mean. ' ' 
 
 "First give me your word that what I disclose in 
 secret you will hold solemnly secret," he said, impres- 
 sively. 
 
 "I promise," she said, perplexed, "but I warn you it 
 would be wiser to make Nicholas your confidant." 
 
 "No!" he said shortly, drawing a leather case from 
 an inside pocket, turning over some papers and extract- 
 ing one. "Read that!" 
 
 She took the paper with a smile that withered on her 
 lips as she began to read. 
 
 "It is impossible to see here," she exclaimed, rising 
 suddenly and crossing to a table underneath the hanging 
 lamp. She sat down to hide the trembling of her hand, 
 flattened the paper on the table before her and read on 
 steadily. It was a typewritten copy of an official dec- 
 laration about to be scattered broadcast for the edifica- 
 tion of neutral nations. 
 
 "Inasmuch as the Armenians are committing acts op- 
 posed to the laws and taking advantage of all occasions 
 to disturb the Government; as they have been found in 
 possession of prohibited arms, bombs, and explosive ma- 
 terials, prepared with the object of internal revolt; as 
 they have killed Moslems in Van and have aided the 
 Russian armies at a time when the Government is in a 
 state of war with England, France and Russia: and in
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 171 
 
 the apprehension that the Armenians may, as is their 
 habit, lend themselves to seditious tumult and revolt ; the 
 Government have decreed that all the Armenians shall be 
 collected and dispatched to the vilayets of Mosul, Syria, 
 and Deir-el-Zur, their persons, goods and honor being 
 safeguarded. The necessary orders have been given for 
 ensuring their comfort, and for their residence in those 
 territories until the termination of the war." 
 
 He watched her narrowly, a fact of which she was 
 conscious, as she strove to keep the succeeding emotions 
 of anger, indignation and fear from appearing in her 
 face. The blow so often dreaded and discussed in antic- 
 ipation had been prepared and was about to fall. 
 
 "Well?" she questioned, deliberately. "Well? Can 
 you hand me a statement like this without expressing 
 your own detestation of such a monstrous crime ? ' ' 
 
 He moved hastily to her side. This was a point of 
 view he had not foreseen. With his usual obtuseness he 
 had calculated upon an appealing display of feminine 
 weakness. 
 
 "Crime? Why it is a most reasonable and tolerant 
 decree," he expostulated. "Of course it is always mel- 
 ancholy that such precautions touch the innocent as well 
 as the guilty ; but note how every one 's comfort is to be 
 ensured, and their stay in the prescribed districts made 
 as easy as possible." 
 
 Veronica's eyes kindled, regarding him steadily as he 
 spoke. 
 
 "What are such promises worth, Herr Rosen? Noth- 
 ing at all, and you know it as well as I do," she said, 
 vehemently. "Take your paper! It is a terrible state- 
 ment. I repeat it is Nicholas who should have been your 
 confidant. ' '
 
 172 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "But it is you above all others I want to shield from 
 difficulties." 
 
 "By trying to scare me? Is that how your women in 
 Germany like to be treated? Do you really think I 
 would seize any advantage that my family could not 
 share?" 
 
 "Exactly what I foresaw. The whole matter lies in 
 your hands. I have planned everything," he said, 
 eagerly. "You have only to consent to our marriage 
 before Nicholas leaves and all can be easily managed. 
 The step has been contemplated so long. Let us take it 
 immediately. ' ' 
 
 Veronica's blood froze under his words. She kept her 
 eyes lowered, her gaze averted, lest he should read in 
 them too readily the horror congealing her heart. 
 
 ' ' This is the urgent reason for my visit here to-night, ' ' 
 he went on. "I want Nicholas to be assured before he 
 leaves that you are all in absolute safety and comfort. 
 For of course Mme. Severin and Zia will move over to the 
 Consulate. There will be room for us all. ' ' 
 
 "Impossible!" shot from Veronica's lips. 
 
 "No, no! Nothing is impossible, above all this most 
 splendid dream of seeing you my wife, ' ' he cried, catch- 
 ing her hand and pressing it between his own hands, not 
 daring a closer caress. "Be persuaded, my beautiful 
 sweetheart! Have no fear! Your Otto will prove the 
 most loving and indulgent husband." 
 
 This time there was no responsive smile on her lips. 
 She could listen no longer. With a jerking movement 
 she got up. 
 
 "I cannot be rushed like this," she said, her voice 
 palpably shaking. "Weddings are out of place in war 
 time. I cannot even contemplate the idea of marriage
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 173 
 
 just now. We must all take our chance and trust in 
 God." 
 
 He stood silent with quickly changed expression, his 
 eyes staring moodily at her. Perhaps after all he had 
 made a mistake not to speak first to Nicholas. United 
 persuasion would have had stronger effect. A new idea 
 sprang to his mind. He took up the paper. 
 
 "At any rate you know what is coming. You are 
 warned," he said with gravity, replacing the decree in 
 his letter case. "I can do no more." 
 
 "But you will show it to Nicholas and Mother," she 
 said with a new flush of alarm. 
 
 "0 dear, no! As you refuse to meet the crisis in the 
 only way possible to relieve your brother's mind and be 
 of service to your mother I shall not dream of needlessly 
 rousing their anxiety in advance. ' ' 
 
 "But you must," she returned earnestly. "It is your 
 duty as a friend." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands 
 in response. A queer light came into his eyes. 
 
 Veronica breathed hard. She turned right and left, 
 started for the door, came back and again confronted 
 him. 
 
 "Wait!" she gasped. "Wait till to-morrow. I must 
 think first. It is all so difficult. ' ' 
 
 There was triumph in the look he gave her. The goal 
 for which he was ever striving seemed very near. 
 
 "Very well! To-morrow I will come again. It will 
 be the last time, Veronica. Remember your word is 
 pledged. Not a word of this," he tapped his breast, 
 "till you see me again." 
 
 Without waiting to see the effect of his words he went 
 off.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 danger for Pierre Marson and their own com- 
 J_ plicity in his hurried escape had been staved off. 
 This was the sum total of their relief of mind when Mme. 
 Severin and Nicholas found that Rosen had left without 
 waiting to see them again. All was well as he meant 
 to return without fail the following day. 
 
 That Veronica could do more than temporize with him 
 was out of the question now she was irretrievably bound 
 to another man. That she was overcome to the point of 
 collapse was also intelligible after the dual strain of fare- 
 well to her lover, and at once coping bravely with a criti- 
 cal situation. 
 
 So Rosen and his visit were dismissed to give place to 
 discussion of plans for the family. It was settled that 
 preparations for shutting up the house should be hurried 
 on, and as soon as complete the family would set out for 
 the village where their relative Kasbarian was pastor to 
 a community of Armenians. 
 
 Veronica, pondering over this step in the light of the 
 ominous declaration, imagined that such a removal would 
 obviate in their case any official enforcement of the dis- 
 patch. If so her silence on the subject constituted no 
 menace to her loved ones. 
 
 Next day came and passed. Rosen did not appear at 
 the house. Perhaps he meant to push Veronica so closely 
 for time that further procrastination would be impos- 
 sible. Trapped into so narrow a corner surrender would 
 be inevitable. 
 
 174
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 175 
 
 Doctor Severin's day of departure came. He was 
 distinctly worried. ''What can I do for you?" Rosen 
 had said amiably. "Command me and I will do my 
 utmost;" but he had neither waited to receive his 
 friend's instructions nor come again as promised. 
 
 Veronica was both relieved and alarmed. Believed 
 that the definite refusal was again postponed. Alarmed 
 because it looked as if Rosen was waiting to gain some 
 fancied advantage which their position without Nicholas 
 might yield to him. 
 
 Though pressed for time Nicholas took the decisive 
 step of calling at the German Consulate. 
 
 1 'You have been long," said his mother on his return, 
 grudging every moment he was out of her sight. 
 
 "It was unavoidable. I had to wait and even then 
 Rosen would not see me." 
 
 "Not see you?" 
 
 "Strange, isn't it? I cannot fathom his game. I 
 waited thinking there was some mistake, and sent in 
 another message. The first time I was told the Consul 
 was engaged. The second reply was a distinct refusal to 
 receive me, though veiled in palaver by the clerk. Im- 
 possible to see me, however urgent my business. ' ' 
 
 ' ' It can have nothing to do with me, ' ' put in Veronica, 
 anxiously. ' ' He must have some other hidden motive. ' ' 
 
 " I at once went to see Mr. Luce the American Consul, ' ' 
 continued Nicholas. "Like the good fellow he is he has 
 promised to help you in any unforeseen difficulty. You 
 are to let him know whenever he can be of the least 
 service. Should he hear of any one going by your route 
 he will let you know so that you might travel together." 
 
 "Then we can dispense with the favors of Herr Otto 
 Rosen," saici Anna Severin.
 
 176 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 ' ' Thank heaven ! Thank heaven ! ' ' cried Veronica. 
 
 "All the same I am dissatisfied," said Nicholas, 
 uneasily. 
 
 "I trust the fellow has nothing disagreeable up his 
 sleeve. ' ' 
 
 "No fear! He simply nurses the delusion that a show 
 of independence and temper will melt Vronka," said 
 Mme. Severin. 
 
 Veronica was perplexed. Did Rosen 's failure to make 
 good his own promise, and his curious refusal to see 
 Nicholas, cancel the secrecy imposed upon her! 
 
 "There is something else," she said, deciding quickly 
 her course. "He pledged me to silence, but his present 
 behavior makes the matter too serious to hide. ' ' 
 
 Her hesitation and doubt once thrown aside she gave 
 a lucid account of her latest duel with Rosen, how he had 
 thrust and she had parried till at last he had held her 
 at his mercy on account of his refusal to show the docu- 
 ment to Nicholas. 
 
 "I was sure you had something else on your mind, 
 cherie," said her mother, tenderly. 
 
 Nicholas paid close attention to the story, weighing all 
 carefully with a contemptuous judgment of the man and 
 his tactics. 
 
 "In any case I should have been compelled to enlist 
 the good offices of Mr. Luce," he said. 
 
 "But the declaration, Nicholas, that is the important 
 matter to consider." 
 
 "It seems to me a mere bogey to coerce Veronica. She 
 says it was only type-written. If it really existed some 
 inkling would have trickled through to me. I am per- 
 fectly easy on that score." 
 
 All too soon Nicholas had gone. Somewhere out in the
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 177 
 
 blue ; that was all they knew, for Mosul after all was only 
 a doubtful goal. The British were worming up the 
 Euphrates from Basra; the Russians were in the Cau- 
 casus. Turkish troops were pouring towards both 
 fronts. The medical unit to which he was attached 
 might be bound for either. Letters? "Who could tell? 
 The field postal service of the Turkish army needed 
 searching reorganization for them to become any but an 
 uncertain and rare quantity. This in spite of the 
 fevered reforms carried by their German over-lords into 
 every branch of military activity. 
 
 Veronica's home anxieties obscured in part the grief 
 and suspense about Pierre which pursued her day and 
 night. If only the implacable silence could be broken 
 was the wish that stabbed her unceasingly to the heart. 
 But her mother, outwardly courageous to the last look 
 of her son, utterly broke down when he was out of her 
 sight and was prostrate for days. 
 
 "I depend upon you, Veronica," Nicholas said im- 
 pressively. "It is my one consolation to feel that you 
 will be eyes and ears for our mother, and cherish my 
 little Zia as if she were your own." 
 
 But Zia, miserable without her father, was not easily 
 comforted and exceedingly captious. Veronica's anger 
 still rankled in the child 's memory. It was to her grand- 
 mother she clung in these days rather than to Aunt 
 Vronka. Mme. Severin responding to the greater pull 
 at her heart strings was called back the sooner to a state 
 of resignation. 
 
 "Helas, it is destiny," she declared. "Nothing we 
 can do of ourselves can possibly change what is already 
 ordained. ' ' 
 
 Rosen still gave no sign of life, but his silence ceased
 
 178 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 to give concern. Other friends came in and out more 
 frequently to sympathize and offer to help in the absence 
 of Nicholas. Tales of the war, of fabulous victories 
 under Turkish and German command colored all the 
 gossip that drifted in. 
 
 Certain of the doctor's gratis patients, chased from 
 the hospital under the new regime, found their way to 
 the back gate of the house. For these Veronica did what 
 she could, but remedies were no longer abundant. The 
 little chest of medicine prepared for her by Nicholas he 
 had charged her to use sparingly. None could be easily 
 renewed. 
 
 "Impossible to treat them all as he did. We should 
 never get done," said Mme. Severin. "The Arab 
 patient is a sponge that would sop up the sea. ' ' 
 
 One day the ragged importunate crowd ceased to 
 collect and did not again appear. Amina brought in 
 word that two soldiers at the end of the lane allowed no 
 one to pass. All kinds of new regulations being now en- 
 forced on the town, those who professed to be in the 
 know predicted that martial law might set in at any 
 moment. 
 
 The military had taken over the railway. Movements 
 of travelers were controlled by passports or special per- 
 mits. All the exasperating restrictions with which the 
 late Sultan had fettered his subjects, especially the 
 Christians, had come back. Armenians, for instance, 
 could no longer travel where they pleased without very 
 special attention to their identification certificates. 
 
 The diligence for the coast ran irregularly these days. 
 It was always crowded and not very safe owing to the 
 raiding bands of deserters who had turned brigand.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 179 
 
 Folk who were lucky traveled in parties, preferably at 
 the same time as the mail, which was protected by an 
 armed guard. Big backsheesh was exacted for this 
 privilege. 
 
 Mme. Severin was prepared to pay, and soon all was 
 ready for the journey. That is to say all but the pass- 
 port, about which there was undue delay. Yet others 
 had been made to wait. There was no doubt the official 
 heads whose signatures were essential had never been so 
 hard worked in their lives. 
 
 The almond trees were in blossom when Nicholas 
 Severin went away. Two weeks later the land around 
 Opella was fragrant with flowering herbs. These the 
 countrywomen collected in great flat baskets and brought 
 for sale into the town on their heads or spread out with 
 vegetables on the backs of the asses. For the ordinary 
 Syrian is never so happy as when he is fingering a nose- 
 gay, or sporting a flower, or inhaling the odor of bruised 
 petals and leaves strewn pell mell over his terraces. 
 
 Veronica, who had come out on a last hurried shopping 
 expedition, stood selecting while Amina bargained with 
 one of these women who had squatted with her burden 
 alongside a wall on their route. 
 
 Oh, the bitter-sweetness of this appeal of spring 
 beauty ! 
 
 Something rebellious rose and beat fiercely in Ver- 
 onica's throat. Why was she made to suffer so cruelly 
 when others lived happily and never knew what it meant 
 to live in hourly apprehension for the fate of the being 
 loved beyond everything upon earth. As if to press back 
 and stifle the heart-ache magnified by the mingled 
 scents and colors she crushed up against her bosom a big
 
 i8o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 armful of anemones, white and lilac, crimson and blue, 
 while she packed into Amina's basket bunch upon bunch 
 of strangely pungent herbs. 
 
 Out of the passers-by a little crowd quickly closed 
 round taking the usual lively interest and share in the 
 transaction. Veronica unused to the veil which her 
 mother insisted upon her wearing these days, had mo- 
 mentarily thrust it aside. Her face, paler and stiller 
 than ordinary, with repression straightening her lips, 
 was grave, almost severe, in profile. 
 
 She was still bending when she felt a decided pull at 
 her mantle, and a low voice whispered in her ear: 
 "Danger! The hunters are out. Take this and go 
 home ! Read it alone ! ' ' 
 
 Instinctively she lowered her hand without looking 
 round. Nothing caused her surprise in the maze of un- 
 realities which had sprung up in her life. In a moment 
 a folded paper cautiously thrust into her hand was 
 secreted. She dared not look up but still fumbled among 
 the flowers while Amina's tongue ran on noisily claiming 
 general attention. 
 
 But Veronica's heart was beating tempestuously. She 
 had received her cue. Who was the messenger? Some 
 one intimate and beloved, or another acting on his behalf, 
 or was it a friend of Nicholas, or one of the many to 
 whom he had been a benefactor? 
 
 ' ' Come Amina, though time is short you know we are 
 obliged to pass by the chemist on our way home," she 
 said in a clear voice meant to be heard by another ear. 
 With a quick movement she turned sharply round, and 
 as she moved away her eyes cast a casual yet sweeping 
 glance over those who stood near. 
 
 "Allah! It is even more necessary to call a,t the
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 181 
 
 pastry cook's, or our little swallow will die for lack of the 
 right food to nourish her, ' ' cried Amina. 
 
 "Hurry then! We can go home through the market 
 place." This was a shorter cut to their own quarter 
 than the way they had come. 
 
 The group of two Moslem women, a beggar or two, a 
 negro sherbet-seller, a dark-robed Jew with side locks 
 dangling under his round fur cap, a Circassian striding 
 away, a few children, threw no light on the identity of 
 the mysterious speaker. 
 
 Disturbed with frantic surmise and by a tumult of 
 chasing emotions, Veronica failed to notice, as she walked 
 away, the behavior of the flower seller. 
 
 "May Satan strangle you and all like you," muttered 
 the woman ferociously, in return for which pleasantry 
 Amina turned with flaming eyes and spat angrily on the 
 ground before her. 
 
 Never had the souks seemed fuller of vivid and varied 
 life. Every one was hurrying. The buzz of tongues 
 seemed on a higher key than ordinary. Some under- 
 current of excitement was working like quicksilver 
 through the blue twilight of the covered streets. 
 
 Veronica's nerves quivered to the unseen influence. 
 All kinds of distressful questions streamed through her 
 mind. 
 
 ' ' What is it ? " she asked herself. ' ' What is it ? " 
 
 Contrary to custom the shopkeepers in no way pressed 
 their goods upon her, and what was stranger still omitted 
 their usual salutation. What was in the air? Who 
 could have warned her? 
 
 Directly Amina had bought what was necessary to 
 whet Zia's dainty appetite Veronica hurried her on. 
 But the narrow street into which they turned to reach
 
 182 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the market place was suddenly invaded by a press of 
 people pouring excitedly through it from several direc- 
 tions. The girl and her maid were drawn into the 
 human torrent. But for certain remarks tossed about 
 in the crowd the nature of the mood which possessed the 
 people might have been that of a gala day. 
 
 "They will be treated the same!" 
 
 "Who can deny that the justice of Allah has come?" 
 
 "God's curse on all unbelievers! They reap only 
 what they have sown." 
 
 Veronica felt that something sinister was afloat. 
 Pressed onward by the surging crowds they suddenly 
 came out on the market place. Here the people were 
 able to spread out and then swarm to a standstill. But 
 the shrill frenzy of chatter in no way abated. 
 
 Here an involuntary -cry escaped from Veronica. Her 
 eyes stared forward with petrified fixity of gaze. She 
 gripped Amina by the arm motioning dumbly to another 
 crowd of human beings massed in the center of the great 
 open space, a crowd of an entirely different character 
 from that to which the two women unwillingly belonged. 
 
 "What can it mean? Who are they?" she exclaimed. 
 
 A cordon of Turkish soldiers were herding this other 
 crowd into the middle of the market place. Many of 
 them were still trudging painfully forward in slow pro- 
 cession from the high road which lay beyond the town 
 on the further side. 
 
 Women, young and old, children of all ages, young 
 boys and aged men, all wan. emaciated, hollow-eyed, 
 covered with dust and sweat were huddled together on 
 the ground, or standing close packed like cattle with 
 down cast heads and bowed shoulders. Those approach-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 183 
 
 ing were like sleep walkers who appeared to see, neither 
 hear anything at all. Like the Gibeonites of old their 
 garments were ragged, and filthy, and few, as if by 
 reason of a very long journey. Those who had no rem- 
 nants of shoes or sandals clouted with rags upon their 
 feet walked bare-footed and bleeding. 
 
 All had the aspect of people sorely hurt and mentally 
 dazed, who had barely escaped with their lives from 
 some great catastrophe of earthquake, fire or famine. 
 Here were heads and eyes bandaged, there arms and 
 legs wound round with blood dyed rags. Many seemed 
 in a fainting condition. One and the other tottered and 
 dropped to their knees, only to be brought staggering to 
 their feet by the prod of a rifle butt end or soldier's 
 bayonet. Little children whimpered continuously, too 
 exhausted to raise a cry. They opened their mouths in- 
 cessantly like starving birds or like fish dying on dry 
 land. 
 
 ' ' Who are they ? What does it mean ? ' ' repeated Ver- 
 onica, automatically, her own mouth and lips parched 
 by the horror and distress which contracted her throat. 
 
 "Come away! Come away! We must go home," 
 said Amina, agitatedly, seizing her by the arm. She 
 had been listening to the talk going on around while 
 Veronica, stupefied, stared with increasing horror at the 
 tragic throng. 
 
 "No, they suffer, they are hungry. They must be 
 succored," she replied. "We must do something for 
 them, seek water and food for them." 
 
 The cruel condition of these people who looked like 
 hard-pressed, wounded fugitives fresh from all the tor- 
 tures of an invaded war zone, filled her with the one idea
 
 184 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 of administering to their needs. It was a scene impos- 
 sible to understand without enlightenment. That it 
 augured disaster for themselves she did not divine. 
 
 Loud commanding shouts penetrated the shrill hubbub 
 of voices resounding on all sides. 
 
 "Dahrak! Out of the way O less than dust! His 
 Excellency is here ! Dahrak ! Clear a way ! Dahrak ! ' ' 
 
 Veronica and Amina clinging closely together were 
 hemmed in anew by waves of movement in the crowd. 
 By magic a passage was cleared, along which rode 
 Ahmed Pasha and a German officer with a small mounted 
 escort. 
 
 "Draw your veil, little sister," whispered a low voice 
 in Veronica's ear. 
 
 She obeyed, rapidly realizing with a start of dismay 
 and pang of fear the fatal remissness that had singled 
 her out ever since the purchase of the flowers, and which 
 had possibly accounted for the remote attitude of the 
 bazaar shopkeepers, who are always in touch with the 
 public mood of the hour. 
 
 Right and left the German officer's small mocking eyes 
 played incessantly over the crowd near him, appraising, 
 searching out and classifying. Soldiers, more soldiers, 
 and still more, they appeared to demand. For an in- 
 stant Veronica had an uneasy impression that the metal- 
 lic glance rested momentarily on herself and Amina, but 
 soon saw that it concerned the man standing at her 
 shoulder, some one of whose identity she was passionately 
 curious. For it was certain that he alone could have 
 spoken to her. 
 
 Apparently he was a Circassian wrapped about in the 
 usual black cloak. All that was visible of his face under 
 the white woolen hood covering his astrakhan cap was
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 185 
 
 bronzed almost to blackness. But though he seemed 
 strong and wiry in build his shoulders were bowed and 
 his beard grizzled, so the German's glance darted wider 
 afield to spy out younger men at this priceless oppor- 
 tunity for searching them out. 
 
 As the riders passed and the people who had formed 
 the lane closed up behind them Veronica was again 
 jostled to and fro, though preserved from stumbling by 
 a firm clutch on her arm. 
 
 The pasha riding slowly round the cordon in the center 
 began to interview the soldiers in charge. His clean- 
 cut thin face was grim and set. He spoke with a com- 
 manding voice. 
 
 "If I hear one man I must hear all and both sides," 
 he called out. "Get back that I may give ear to the 
 complaints in turn. ' ' 
 
 Just then the Circassian, whose eyes dark and luminous 
 under their hooded shelter kept unceasing watch on the 
 surrounding people, saw that every neck was suddenly 
 craned to investigate a new agitation on the edge of the 
 crowd nearest the bazaars. At once he bent his head 
 low over Veronica and spoke into her ear in a muffled 
 voice. 
 
 ' ' This pasha is at least human, but the stone has been 
 set rolling. He cannot stop it." 
 
 "Ah! It is " gasped Veronica, only checking her 
 tongue in time from uttering the name of "John" aloud. 
 
 "Hush!" 
 
 "Not a soul listens," she said under her breath. 
 ' ' See, they are all watching something over there. ' ' 
 
 "It is enough if only one were to see us talking to- 
 gether. Kead the note later. It is important. ' ' 
 
 John Culver, so skillfully disguised as to defy recogni-
 
 i86 
 
 tion unless he chose to give a clew to his real identity, 
 was keenly watching an opportunity to extricate Ver- 
 onica from her dangerous position. Fierce cries rose 
 from behind. Again the press swayed and was forced 
 asunder by a number of men laden with all kinds of 
 household furniture. 
 
 "Now is the moment," whispered John of a sudden. 
 ' ' Come on, close behind me ! " 
 
 Panting, half choked the two women struggled on step 
 by step behind the thrusting elbows of the figure pushing 
 on in front. All around them surged the crowd, shout- 
 ing and jostling. A few interminable minutes of slow 
 progress and then on the edge of the square opened out 
 close at hand a comparatively empty street. 
 
 ' ' That way ! Go slowly, ' ' said John as he turned sud- 
 denly to one side to let them pass and then himself dis- 
 appearing instantly. 
 
 "Allah! Allah!" babbled Amina as she shuffled 
 down the street by Veronica's side. They came to a 
 broad cross street which swarmed right and left with 
 another rabble, struggling shapes which seemed storm- 
 ing the shops and stalls and throwing the contents into 
 the open thoroughfare, and others lading themselves 
 with booty of every description. All were too eagerly 
 absorbed to take any notice of the two women hung up 
 on their way by the horror of the ominous spectacle. 
 
 For they were all Christian shops, and chiefly Ar- 
 menian; wealthy shops filled with the richest commodi- 
 ties, jewelry, and glittering silks, and eastern luxuries 
 of many kinds. A Moslem more audacious than the rest 
 had suddenly pounced upon a valuable article and ex- 
 hibited his prize triumphantly. It was a signal to grasp 
 and whirl away whatever took their fancy. The shop-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 187 
 
 keepers fled in fear of their lives, though murder had 
 not yet mingled in the unbridled game of pillage. 
 
 Veronica breathed hard. Her first thought leaped to 
 her mother. Pictures of a dreadful past edged round 
 by lines of fire flitted through her brain as she walked 
 swiftly, continually urging Amina to hasten her steps. 
 The way they trod was quiet and luckily unfrequented 
 just then. They passed the Turkish Post Office. 
 Twenty yards further the street widened into a small 
 open area where stood several official buildings, and 
 among them the double gates and strong outer wall of 
 the German Consulate. 
 
 With an added shudder Veronica hurried by on the 
 other side. Those iron bars seemed to her agitated mind 
 a trap that might open on the instant to snatch her 
 within. Hardly had she passed than a covered carriage 
 drove quickly by and drew up at a big gate further on 
 where Turkish sentries were posted. 
 
 Suddenly Amina gave a loud exclamation, turned 
 round and stood stock still, refusing to budge. 
 
 ' ' Look, look ! ' ' she said in a scared voice, pulling Ver- 
 onica back with vigor. "The little Zia in that carriage. 
 It was Zia and none other." 
 
 "You are mad, you see dreams," retorted Veronica 
 sternly. "Come on this minute! The least delay may 
 mean harm to both Zia and mother." 
 
 Muttering protests and half weeping the woman fol- 
 lowed obediently after giving another backward glance 
 at the carriage which was already moving away from the 
 gate. 
 
 When they reached the house five minutes later it was 
 to find an atmosphere of distress and confusion. Mme. 
 Severin, absorbed in duties entailed by her early de-
 
 i88 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 parture, had relaxed her watch over Zia's movements. 
 Missing her she called out within doors, and then from 
 the veranda, hut Zia was not to be found anywhere and 
 the garden gate was wide open. 
 
 Never once had she been known to venture alone into 
 the street, her lameness causing a certain timidity. Ver- 
 onica turned to Amina, voiceless with a new dread. 
 
 ""Why has Allah given us eyes to see when he points 
 the way? You would not listen," cried the woman 
 roughly, distracted with fear for her idol after all she 
 had just seen and gone through. "By myself I will go 
 and snatch her from the trap, whatever it is. Inshallah, 
 I shall not return without her." 
 
 She rushed away but came back in quarter of an hour 
 before Veronica, preoccupied in calming her mother, 
 had been able to disclose the tragic picture of the market 
 place, or the history of the pillage of Christian shops. 
 
 "If they kill me for it I care nothing at all, but give 
 me at once of the magic powder which shuts the eye 
 quickly in sleep, and it must be strong," said Amina 
 grimly. "I have not seen her yet, but she is there and 
 calls aloud with tears. By the soul of my mother I shall 
 soon carry her back to her home. Be ready, Sitt, to 
 set out on your journey before they follow and snatch 
 her again from our arms."
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 AMINA returned to the house where the carriage had 
 stopped. That sentries were at the gate was no 
 hindrance to her entry, for at all hours of the day a 
 miscellaneous number of people were allowed to stroll 
 aimlessly in and out of the courtyard. With the air of 
 one bent on a definite errand she crossed to the small 
 room of the coffee hearth presided over by a woman of 
 her own village with whom she was on intimate terms. 
 
 On her first entrance, wary of plunging into the sub- 
 ject vital to her visit, she had fished for information with 
 all the skillful cunning of her race. Quickly she had 
 got in touch with the incident which was exciting cu- 
 riosity, and among the women of the household no small 
 indignation. 
 
 A little girl, daughter of the good clever doctor who 
 had cured so many maladies in the harem of this official 
 of the Turkish Police, had been brought in and conveyed 
 to an ante-chamber removed from the audience hall. 
 She had been heard to call out long and plaintively. 
 
 "In the name of Allah what does it mean, my sister?" 
 whispered the old woman. 
 
 "It is the work of a devil who hates all angels and 
 tries to destroy them, ' ' hissed Amina. ' ' Have you seen 
 her?" 
 
 ' ' Just a glimpse as she passed in. ' Greeting to you, 
 Saida,' she said, shaking her yellow hair over her 
 shoulder. The German effendi close behind hurried her 
 on as if he wanted no one to see her." 
 
 189
 
 i 9 o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "The little delicate one with the heart of a lion has 
 dared to defy him more than once. He wants to punish 
 her without a doubt, ' ' said Amina, her black eyes darting 
 right and left and out into the hall curiously deserted 
 to-day of its ordinary visitors owing to attractions else- 
 where of greater magnitude. All her native ingenuity 
 of intrigue had started furiously to work. Five minutes 
 talk revealed that her friend was itching to go into the 
 town to investigate with her own eyes the truth of the 
 exciting reports brought from outside. 
 
 "I have seen, I know!" exclaimed Amina with ani- 
 mated suggestion of unprecedented happenings. "Go 
 and see for yourself while I boil coffee in your absence. 
 But wait," she added with an illuminating thought 
 flashed by Allah himself into her mind she later declared, 
 "first I must run home to fulfill the errand which 
 brought me out. In the twinkling of an eye I will 
 return." 
 
 And now Amina, outwardly stolid and composed, 
 crouched in solitary charge of the coffee hearth. Her 
 ear was strained to catch every sound, while her eyes 
 were on the watch for the least movement of the revolv- 
 ing cupboard in the wall which communicated with the 
 servants of the Selamlik. 
 
 "0 Saida, mother of coffee, hurry up! "Would you 
 make His Excellency wait?" at last came the summons 
 for which she had made ready. 
 
 With a steady hand she poured out the coffee, put the 
 tray into the hutch and watched it slowly disappear from 
 view. The pewter coffee jug she carefully emptied and 
 at once put a fresh lot on to brew. Then she dropped 
 into a listening pose, but only for a few moments before 
 she stepped to the doorway and looked out cautiously.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 191 
 
 Suddenly she went out and walked quickly through the 
 hall where two or three turbaned old men meditatively 
 fingering their beads looked after her listlessly. The 
 passage of a menial more or less, doubtless a slave, was 
 not a matter to excite interest or curiosity. 
 
 Amina turned into a corridor at the end of the hall, 
 staying her steps deferentially near a portiere where a 
 man servant was on guard. 
 
 ' ' This is the hour I was ordered to come and fetch the 
 child," she said, meekly. "From the hanoum Effendi 
 herself I have taken my orders." 
 
 Doubt glimmered in the glance thrown her by the 
 man as he bent forward to listen before the portiere, but 
 the sounds to which he had listened with callous in- 
 difference for the last half hour had subsided. Truth 
 might lie after all in this woman 's words. He raised the 
 portiere and looked into the room. 
 
 "They sleep!" he exclaimed in a surprised whisper, 
 adding with emphasis, "and must not be disturbed." 
 
 "Bismallah! I am bound to carry off the child. 
 Such are my orders," was the firm reply, and before a 
 protest could be raised Amina had slipped behind the 
 curtain. 
 
 With prompt grip of the situation she acted unhesi- 
 tatingly. Her little love, her ewe-lamb, lying bunched 
 up on the divan in the strained attitude of an injured 
 dog, stared at her with the eyes of one beholding an im- 
 possible vision. Otto Rosen, lounging to one side of her, 
 was sound asleep and breathing heavily, his head awk- 
 wardly propped against the wall. The Turkish official 
 on her other side also slept with a little intermittent 
 snore, his head buried on his breast, his fingers still 
 slackly holding a half fallen chibouk.
 
 i 9 2 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Finger on lip Amina stole to the divan snatching on 
 her way at a dust cloak, evidently Rosen's, flung over a 
 chair. With this in a moment she had enveloped Zia 
 from head to foot cautioning her in a whisper to be per- 
 fectly silent, and then carried her away in her strong 
 arms. The decision of her action, and fear of the 
 hanoum's anger should her orders be thwarted were the 
 magic which paralyzed any opposition on the servant's 
 part. 
 
 But Amina herself, who had weighed her chances with- 
 out fear, only felt she had succeeded in her daring when, 
 without being called back in the court, or arrested in her 
 flight through the street, she had gained the haven of 
 home. 
 
 At the gate stood Mme. Severin and Veronica both in 
 walking garb, having decided to appeal for help to the 
 American Consul if Amina failed to appear. The kid- 
 naping of Zia had precipitated a crisis. In addition 
 John Culver's letter spoke of pressing danger, intelli- 
 gible enough in the light of the tumult prevailing in the 
 town. He urged them to get to the orchard that very 
 day, and after dark a boat would come and convey them 
 to a place of hiding. All the same a safe conduct was 
 essential in case of emergency. For this Herr Rosen 
 might be asked to busy himself without in any way re- 
 vealing their plans to him. 
 
 At any other time John's sudden reappearance under 
 disguise, and his revelations would have been startling 
 enough, but everything paled in significance by the side 
 of Zia's extremity. 
 
 "If it comes to the worst I will ask Mr. Luce to come 
 with me to Ahmed Pasha himself, and demand that the 
 family of a medical officer on active service be protected
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 193 
 
 both in their home and traveling," said Anna Severin, 
 vehemently. 
 
 "You must certainly go to him. He behaved well to 
 Nicholas about poor Murad," said Veronica, who in a 
 fever of wrathful unrest kept running into the road to 
 watch for the first glimpse of Amina. 
 
 "Here she comes," she called at last, starting swiftly 
 to meet the hurrying figure. 
 
 "No, no! Enter and fasten the gate! I alone will 
 take her in," gasped the woman, refusing to halt until, 
 safely indoors, she could place her precious burden care- 
 fully on a couch. 
 
 "Oh, dear Mother of God!" cried Mme. Severin at 
 sight of the waxen little face pressed back on the cushions 
 with a tense appearance of great suffering. "A cordial 
 with brandy in it at once, Veronica." 
 
 ' ' She is already dead, she is dead ! ' ' wailed Amina. 
 
 "She has only fainted. Keep calm, Amina. After 
 being so brave you must not give way now but what is 
 this ? ' ' exclaimed Mme. Severin in horrified tones. ' ' Oh, 
 the devils, the devils! They have been torturing this 
 little saint." 
 
 "Where? "What is it?" asked Veronica, breathlessly, 
 coming to her side with glass and spoon. ' ' Hold up her 
 head and I will feed her. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Give it to me ! Bring olive oil and soft lint at once. 
 Her little hand is cruelly burnt," said Mme. Severin in 
 a strangled voice. ' ' Yes, pretty one, ' ' she said with pas- 
 sionate tenderness as Zia's eyelids flickered and then 
 opened, "you are at home quite safe with Meme and 
 Dadi. Swallow that, little darling! You will soon be 
 better." 
 
 The child, big-eyed and wan, stared mutely from one
 
 194 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 face to the other as she obediently gulped down a few 
 spoonfuls of the cordial. Then she made a sudden effort 
 to sit up and speak, but instead burst into a passion of 
 weeping. By degrees she was calmed and they bound up 
 the badly blistered hand. The tension relieved by her 
 tears, she was able to reply to their questions and relate 
 how she had been enticed away. 
 
 A strange man had come to her in the garden, evidently 
 by way of the hospital as the house gate had been 
 fastened when the others went out earlier. This man 
 had said her Uncle John was waiting to see her. She 
 must come at once and say nothing to her grandmother 
 as it was to be a surprise for her. A carriage was out- 
 side the gate with Herr Rosen in it and he took her away. 
 
 "I did not let him think I was afraid. Besides I 
 thought Uncle John would take care of me," she said, 
 plaintively; "but he was not in that house and I did not 
 see him at all. They told me a lie. ' ' 
 
 "In heaven's name what did they do it for?" cried the 
 grandmother. 
 
 "Pure wickedness and, of course, spite," said Veron- 
 ica, fiercely. ' ' That man would stop at nothing. ' ' 
 
 "They did it because they wanted me to tell them 
 things about father and our visitors and about Monsieur 
 Marson more than any one, ' ' said Zia, excitedly. ' ' They 
 said the Frenchman had visited our house quite lately 
 and I was bound to tell them every word he said. I said 
 it was false. He had not been to the house at all, only 
 to the orchard a long time ago. They did not believe 
 me." 
 
 "Was that why they hurt you, Zia love?" interrupted 
 Veronica, her voice shaking. 
 
 The child nodded agitatedly.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 195 
 
 "The pasha put his pipe on my hand instead of the 
 tray directly he asked me a question. It was burning 
 hot, as hot as Amina's irons, and he squeezed my hand 
 inside his own to make me hold the pipe very tight. 
 'Now tell me,' he said, 'before it burns you badly, tell me 
 quickly,' but I said nothing, only my prayers very fast 
 out loud all the time. I remembered what Meme told me 
 about the saints and the martyrs and bad consequences if 
 I told tales," she went on in her shrill thin voice. "I 
 told them nothing at all. They called me an obstinate 
 little devil. Then they drank coffee and went to sleep, 
 and Dadi came to fetch me. ' ' 
 
 "My lamb ! My little angel !" said Mme. Severin in a 
 deep, thrilled voice as she folded the child closely in her 
 arms. 
 
 "Make ready now, Sitt," said Amina, hurriedly. 
 ' ' When the trick is discovered they will send for us. For 
 myself I do not care if they kill me like Murad for I have 
 saved our Zia, but she must be taken away at once. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, with no delay, to the American Consulate," 
 said Veronica, firmly. "Once there we can make our 
 plans. Mr. Luce will help us." 
 
 "Oh, it is shameful, shameful!" cried Mme. Severin 
 in tones of anguish, "but we must certainly act and 
 lament no longer." 
 
 Just about the time they reached the American Con- 
 sulate in safety Otto Rosen stirred uneasily and opened 
 his eyes. For the moment he could not grasp his bear- 
 ings, but a confused look around was followed by an 
 awakening to conscious remembrance. 
 
 Bewildered he stared at the vacant place beside him, 
 then at the sleeping Turk. The stubborn child had been 
 taken away while somehow he had fallen asleep. Strange
 
 j 9 6 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 that the strain which he had certainly experienced dur- 
 ing Zia's ordeal should have acted like a soporific. He 
 could not understand it. Suspicion began to stir, yet his 
 first feeling was of relief. Checking his impulse of 
 clamoring to the sleeper for an explanation of the child's 
 disappearance he pressed his hands over his eyes, which 
 were still heavy, got up and made for the door. 
 
 The same man still held guard without. He related 
 glibly how the hanoum Effendi had sent one of her 
 women for the child who was now in the harem. 
 
 Rosen looked back undecided at the sleeper but finally 
 walked off. His inner man was dissatisfied with the 
 drastic nature of the scene he had witnessed. Threats 
 or a whipping such as given to unruly children had been 
 his notion in advance of coercing Zia. The methods of 
 the Turks applied individually at close quarters had 
 grated upon him. He had started a remonstrance but 
 then hardened his heart at the sound of Marson's name, 
 anticipating he knew not what useful information 
 through the lips of the tortured child. 
 
 But to his infinite wonder not one incriminating word 
 had escaped her. An involuntary comparison with Ver- 
 onica sprang to his mind. Both had the same obstinate 
 immovable will. Was it an Armenian characteristic? 
 Undoubtedly. Bah! why trouble himself about these 
 matters? There were potent reasons now clear to him 
 why he should detest with all his soul any being, young 
 or old, tainted by that traitorous strain of race. 
 
 All was over between him and Veronica. That was a 
 fixed and settled fact. Only he wanted to punish her, to 
 humiliate, to bring her to her knees to beg mercy from 
 the man she had cajoled and rejected, whom she had
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 197 
 
 lured on to the most beguiling of hopes, only cruelly to 
 cast away with utter disdain. 
 
 To his own gates was but a matter of a few steps. 
 The carriage in which he had fetched Zia was drawn up 
 in the court waiting his return. At sight of it he felt 
 conscious of an impelling need of air and at the same time 
 distraction. The personal note which never ceased to 
 clamor through every activity of his crowded days was 
 more than ever insistent. This time it urged him to view 
 with his own eyes the band of deported Armenians which 
 he had been told were temporarily lodged on the market 
 place on their way to Der-el-Zor. 
 
 He was soon driving in that direction, speculating after 
 what manner the authorities would carry out the declara- 
 tion of the Ottoman government. The town was fairly 
 quiet again now. "With grim intentness not unmixed 
 with approval of what seemed merited retribution for a 
 treacherous far-reaching people he eyed the dolorous 
 herd of refugees. 
 
 The majority lay huddled together prostrate like 
 corpses. Here and there little children stood up munch- 
 ing ravenously nuts and bits of bread flung to them by 
 one or other of the crowd around more human than their 
 fellows. Famine, murder and death were inseparable 
 companions of war, he reflected, and no power on earth 
 could hinder the innocent from suffering with the guilty. 
 
 Ahmed Pasha had left the spot. The German officer 
 was still there talking to a group of well-to-do Christians 
 who had approached with gifts of food and clothing for 
 the beggared and stricken multitude. They were told 
 firmly, frigidly, that the Wali had received orders from 
 head-quarters that no Christians of any class were to be
 
 198 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 allowed to intervene. Such action would only rouse the 
 ire of the populace with worse results. The travelers had 
 all they needed at present. Substantial help awaited 
 them further on their journey. Catching sight of Rosen 
 in his carriage the German officer summarily dismissed 
 the petitioners and rode up to speak with him. 
 
 "Temporary hardships only, quite unavoidable," he 
 remarked. "You know what bungling fools those local 
 officials are at organization, no initiative, and still less 
 decision. That explains this situation, ' ' with a wave of 
 the hand over the square. "However, they mean to see 
 the matter through very thoroughly now, but rely on our 
 solid support. This is only the first lot of deportees to 
 pass this way. Other bigger ones are to follow, and 
 many large bands are en route by other roads. ' ' 
 
 "A hopelessly useless lot to look at," replied Eosen, 
 dryly. "Small purpose to convey them anywhere, it 
 seems to me." 
 
 "Just so, mere riff-raff," assented the voice of steel. 
 "The majority will soon be sifted out and the elimina- 
 tion will be profitable to the survival of the fit. ' ' 
 
 "You mean they will die. Some look dead already." 
 
 ' ' Exactly ! I ought to know after all I went through 
 with those swinish Poles quite recently. These deporta- 
 tions are being carried out on the same lines." 
 
 Rosen made no further comment. Indeed, if so be he 
 had felt any compassion at all he would still have been 
 compelled to hold his hands. Such were his own orders 
 from head-quarters. A passive role was to be his under 
 any circumstances. Notwithstanding he drove away 
 even less satisfied inwardly than before he visited the 
 spot. 
 
 The business of the day was still at high pressure when
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 199 
 
 he reentered the Consulate. "With a brief inquisitorial 
 glance around he walked through the outer and inner 
 offices. Near the furthest door a clerk rose from his 
 desk and spoke to him in a low embarrassed voice. 
 
 Rosen stopped short. "In my private room. That 
 is forbidden," he snapped out. 
 
 "She would take no refusal and said she was positive 
 your excellency expected her. ' ' 
 
 The Consul glared at the speaker, pushed aside the 
 curtain, stared into the room, then dropped the curtain 
 behind and deliberately closed the door. 
 
 For a few seconds he and his visitor stood face to face, 
 silent but with tense hostility in the attitude of each. 
 
 "I might have guessed it was you," he burst out, 
 ' ' though it is the first time Mile. Severin has honored my 
 private office with a visit. What can I do for her ? ' ' 
 
 Veronica drew herself up and her eyes blazed with 
 passion. 
 
 ' ' Your callousness makes the blood boil in my veins, ' ' 
 she said, her voice vibrating with the deep notes of her 
 mother. "Are you a monster that you can stand there 
 with such words in your mouth instead of showing shame 
 or some small degree of compunction for your cruel and 
 pitiless conduct to Zia?" 
 
 "So you know more than I do about the little cat?" 
 he said, coming forward with a low unpleasant laugh. 
 "This shall be inquired into." 
 
 ' ' In order that you may torture me too ? ' ' she flashed 
 back. ' ' I warn you in advance that nothing you or your 
 unspeakable friends the Turks can do to me would ever 
 make me unseal my lips. ' ' 
 
 Every word she uttered was barbed with scorn and 
 bitterness. His breast heaved, an ugly light glowed in
 
 200 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 his eyes. Revenge was dearer to him at the moment than 
 love. 
 
 "What is your business with me?" he asked roughly. 
 "You have not come solely to taunt and defy me. If it 
 is some favor you desire of me you must mend your 
 manners. ' ' 
 
 "Favor of you? Never! I simply claim a right that 
 you took voluntarily upon yourself when you promised 
 Nicholas to protect the interests of his family. You 
 have not yet forsworn your word though you have al- 
 lowed his child to be tortured," she said at white heat. 
 "Whatever else I may have thought of you I never re- 
 garded you as less than a man of honor." 
 
 His lips twitched grimly. "What do you want?" he 
 asked. 
 
 She placed a document on the table before him. 
 
 "Your signature as well as that of the American Con- 
 sul which is there already. He knows your long inti- 
 macy with my family and the weight of German influence 
 in Syria at the present hour. It was he who counseled 
 me to pay you this visit. You know already that during 
 my brother's absence we had arranged to shut up our 
 house and leave Opella." 
 
 "Why should I do at Mr. Luce's request what you do 
 not ask for yourself?" 
 
 "Ah! why indeed! That is a question for your inner 
 conscience to answer, ' ' she said, a sudden access of grief 
 catching her voice. "Will you sign it ? Are you willing 
 to show that you still possess some trace of the humanity 
 Khamil Pasha tried to shake out of you?" 
 
 Her blue eyes fixed steadily upon him looked black 
 against the pallor of her face. Drawn to her full height, 
 the black mantle of the East open and falling in long
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 201 
 
 lines on each side of her figure, her veil thrown back over 
 her hair, she faced him like an avenging angel. 
 
 The sight of her standing there so close to him bodily, 
 yet in everything else immeasurably far away, still had 
 power to move him. In the grip of something greater 
 than his will he took the document in his hand. 
 
 lie read it mechanically while a distracting tumult of 
 ideas fought in his brain. Let her go away from Opella 
 and perhaps from him for all time? Yet if she stayed 
 would she ever be his ? Besides he no longer wanted her. 
 He hated her. Then let her go! It was the only wise 
 course. Yet what about revenge for her duplicity ? At 
 any rate she was definitely separated from the French- 
 man, whom in time she would certainly forget. But then 
 if she went away the personality of Otto Rosen might 
 also fade into oblivion. On the other hand if she re- 
 mained in Opella circumstances would soon drive her to 
 see what a useful and indispensable part he still played 
 in her life, and how he alone would have power to save 
 her from the impending avalanche of disaster. 
 
 Could he, even now that he hated her, endure to see 
 her one of such a throng as that massed on the market 
 place? And if so would not her fate be one of inde- 
 scribable shame and torture ? Could any punishment be 
 worse? Yet yet he looked at her suddenly with 
 hunger in his eyes. 
 
 "I am waiting for your signature," she said, stung 
 into speech by that look of craving and appraisement 
 which made him own brother to the Turk. 
 
 He continued to observe her silently for a moment, 
 making perhaps a final calculation, undergoing a last 
 short struggle of conflicting passions. Then he sat down 
 at his desk, used his pen, carefully blotted what he had
 
 202 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 written, stood up and handed the paper triumphantly 
 to Veronica. 
 
 Without giving it a look she folded it up and read- 
 justed her mantle. 
 
 ' ' Thank you, ' ' she said, coldly, and turned to go. 
 
 "You had better read it first," he said, hurriedly. 
 
 She stopped short regarding him with surprise and 
 suspicion, then with nimble fingers spread open the docu- 
 ment. He watched her furtively and noted with secret 
 satisfaction the sudden flush which dyed her face as 
 her eyes traveled rapidly along the lines. 
 
 "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Oh! I might have expected 
 it of you." 
 
 He had carefully erased her name from the permit, 
 making it available solely for Mme. Severin, Zia and one 
 female servant. 
 
 "You mean me to take my chance?" she asked, looking 
 at him very fixedly. "I have no objection to running 
 the risk." 
 
 "You shall do nothing of the kind," he retorted. "I 
 mean you to stay in Opella. What your mother does is 
 quite immaterial to me." 
 
 "You cannot compel me to stay against my will." 
 
 "If you go have you realized what may happen to 
 you ? Do you know the kind of sight to be viewed to-day 
 on the market square?" 
 
 Veronica blenched. "I do, I have seen it," she said, 
 huskily. ' ' My poor people ! Once again the martyrs of 
 humanity. ' ' 
 
 "Veronica! Veronica!" he cried, getting up and 
 coming near. She put up her hands palms outward as 
 if to ward off his approach. "From all this I mean to 
 safeguard you."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 203 
 
 "I have no need of your protection," she said with 
 dignity, quickly mastering her emotion and again turn- 
 ing to the door. 
 
 Baffled and goaded to the madness of betrayal he called 
 after her. "You need not reckon on another chance 
 encounter with your French lover!" In his voice 
 sounded a note of triumph. 
 
 Swift as a flash Veronica turned on him. "What do 
 you mean?" she said, fiercely. 
 
 "That you will never see him again. I have taken 
 care of that." 
 
 She gave a curious little choked cry and grew deadly 
 pale. Her whole frame shook. She stepped forward to 
 grasp for support the edge of the table. Hosts of ques- 
 tions looked from her eyes, big at last with terror though 
 not for her own danger. Suddenly she drew herself up 
 and advanced, her eyes now ablaze with fury and pas- 
 sionate hatred. 
 
 "If you have hurt him I will kill you," she said in a 
 hard, level voice. 
 
 "Hurt him? Oh dear no, do not trouble yourself, 
 though if he got his deserts he would suffer the death 
 that all the cursed French race merit at our hands." 
 
 She drew in her breath sharply. "What have you 
 done with him?" she demanded. 
 
 "He enjoys a position at the present moment that will 
 ensure to him in years to come the same heroic halo of 
 sanctity enjoyed to-day by the prisoners of Amasia 
 fame. You remember that pretty little story of the 
 newspapers, for we read it together, and how it touched 
 and elevated our souls." 
 
 She looked at him, dazed, dumb, while her mind 
 labored heavily under the effect of the culminating foul
 
 204 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 blow. Pierre was a prisoner somewhere. That was the 
 pivot on which everything else turned. He must have 
 been seen and captured after leaving the house. 
 Vaguely she recalled the cry she had heard when wait- 
 ing at the gate. It had happened then she was certain. 
 Kosen did not know for he was then in the house with 
 Nicholas, but he must have known later, and that ex- 
 plained his continued silence and absence. As she 
 mustered these facts and surmises together her mind 
 cleared, her energy of soul returned. Not only for her 
 mother and Zia's sake had she still to struggle with Otto 
 Eosen, but now more than ever on account of Pierre. 
 
 "Amasia is too far from Opella. You cannot have 
 sent him there, ' ' she said, speaking quietly by a supreme 
 effort of will. 
 
 "There are tombs everywhere in Asiatic Turkey," he 
 said, evasively. 
 
 "Yes, God knows the Turk carries death wherever he 
 rules," was her prompt retort. 
 
 He made no comment, but his eyes watching her 
 closely, held for a brief moment the accusing eyes of the 
 girl. Then their glance shifted. 
 
 "You will be punished," she said, suddenly. "No 
 man can do what you have done and escape retribution. 
 Destiny will take her revenge on you when least ex- 
 pected." 
 
 He got up with a new access of anger, stirred against 
 his will by the prediction. 
 
 "This interview must cease," he said, harshly. "Re- 
 member you will stay on in Opella unless you wish to 
 endanger your mother's safety. Tell her if you like 
 that I will take means to safeguard your house." 
 
 Veronica opened her lips to speak but second thoughts
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 205 
 
 held her silent. She drew the veil over her face, 
 fastened her mantle and left the room. As she crossed 
 the court the kawass of the American consulate came 
 forward from the arcade and followed her out. Mr. 
 Luce had taken no risks.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 HOW silent the house, and void of all that gave forth 
 the home feeling ! Veronica sat in it alone but for 
 an old native woman, pottering over odd jobs, left undone 
 in the hurry of Amina's exodus with her mistress and 
 Zia. A couple of hours had gone by since these had 
 driven through the town gates in the American Consul's 
 carriage, to embark on the way of escape arranged by 
 John Culver. Even the Consul and his wife approved 
 of the plan after hearing with horror of Zia's ordeal 
 and the startling attitude of Herr R6sen. It was cer- 
 tainly more prudent to slip away in a manner unlikely 
 to be suspected than to run open risks through the 
 journey by diligence. 
 
 Veronica had only come back to the house to wind up 
 certain household matters and to gather into as small 
 a compass as possible the personal belongings needful 
 for a visit. For Mrs. Luce had insisted upon her accept- 
 ing the hospitality of the consulate until a safe way of 
 rejoining her family should open out. 
 
 She was ready now to be fetched. Any moment the 
 gate bell might summon her away. This was the first 
 definite pause for reflection since the moment she had 
 left Otto Rosen's office. Of his threats she had told her 
 mother only enough to show valid reason for remaining 
 behind, disliking to add to her anxieties, and fearing 
 that if she knew all no persuasion would have procured 
 her consent to such an arrangement. 
 
 Quite apart from the chance of increased danger for 
 
 206
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 207 
 
 her mother Veronica had wished beyond anything to re- 
 main behind. It was her only chance of discovering 
 anything vital about Pierre. 
 
 Where was he ? A sheltering roof for herself counted 
 nothing against the certainty of the perils through which 
 he had passed and must still be undergoing. The mere 
 thought of that prison tomb of Amasia iced her blood 
 with fear and grief. She seemed overweighted with an 
 unbearable burden from which for the moment there 
 seemed not the smallest hope of release. 
 
 What a dreadful day to look back upon ! Menace 
 from all sides, dangers positive, and apprehensions of 
 worse to come. Thank God, the little mother was mak- 
 ing a bid for safety with Zia and the heroic Amina. 
 That any project engineered by John Culver must con- 
 tain seeds of success for its achievement was guaranteed 
 by the wonderful way in which, so far, he had outwitted 
 the authorities and evaded capture. 
 
 She shivered, feeling forcibly that there was even a 
 craftier brain than his at work, a stronger hand manipu- 
 lating abominable plots to suppress, coerce, and torture 
 all fellow creatures that crossed the workings of its 
 many monstrous and ambitious schemes. 
 
 For she was waking fearfully, though defiantly, to the 
 reality of the ghastly power and trickery of German 
 secret machinations at work through the length and 
 breadth of the Turkish empire. It was a German who 
 had courtmartialed Murad against the commandant's 
 wish ; a German who had tortured Zia after himself kid- 
 naping her by a ruse ; a German who had devised the 
 character of Pierre's prison and gloated over his terrible 
 plight. It was a German who, riding by Ahmed Pasha 's
 
 208 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 side, had gazed unmoved, mockingly, callously, at the 
 misery of those unhappy people on the market square. 
 
 In her eyes these were but types of that vast horde of 
 Germans without heart or soul who were destroying 
 beautiful France in the brutal and barbarous fashion of 
 which Pierre Marson fresh from home had given 
 them a passionately vivid summary, setting their blood 
 on fire. 
 
 If only she had some certainty regarding the true fate 
 of her lover! How to obtain it was a matter in which 
 Mr. Luce might help her. A prisoner was after all an 
 individual to be accounted for. Here Veronica forgot to 
 take into account, herself, that Pierre must have been 
 arrested in the guise of a spy, and that it would be almost 
 a miracle for him to have escaped death. He was not 
 dead, she assured herself, unless Otto Rosen had pur- 
 posely deceived her. 
 
 It was some alleviation to know that her mother would 
 tell John everything ; for she did not doubt but that John 
 himself would be in charge of the fugitives. He would 
 carry them to some safe hiding place, and perhaps before 
 long devise a means of flight for herself. 
 
 Was that the bell? She started up and ran into her 
 own room for a last look round. She carried a small 
 handbag containing the most valuable of her jewels, 
 her money and a few other important details. A thought 
 struck her, and she at once, for greater security, hid it 
 away on her person as she had always done when going 
 on a journey. Then she picked up her traveling bag 
 and sundry small packages and came out to wait in the 
 lewan. 
 
 The door opened suddenly revealing the startled face 
 of the native woman. "There are soldiers at the gate,"
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 209 
 
 she said, breathlessly, in little more than a whisper, her 
 eyes glittering. 
 
 Veronica's courage stood firm in spite of all she had 
 gone through, but while not a muscle moved every drop 
 of blood left her face as for a moment she stared at the 
 door. 
 
 "Allah! They are here close behind me," said the 
 woman in a scared voice. 
 
 Slowly Veronica put down the bag and again turned 
 to the door. As long as Otto Rosen had no part in this 
 new attack of fate she felt she could yet face it with 
 unbroken front. Of this she was soon assured. It was 
 a Turkish officer who entered while the soldiers, four in 
 number, filled the doorway. She looked at the officer 
 with all her keen wits in her eyes. 
 
 ' ' I must trouble you to come with me, mademoiselle, ' ' 
 he said, distantly. ' ' I have brought a carriage for you. 
 It waits at the gate." 
 
 "The carriage of the American Consul should also be 
 waiting for me. There must be some mistake," she said 
 in a slow but steady voice. ' ' I am expected at his house 
 on a visit. It is an engagement I must not break." 
 
 "My orders come from the Pasha himself. It is his 
 wish that you come away now under my escort without 
 inconvenience to yourself." 
 
 ' ' Which Pasha ? And how can I know that you hold 
 his orders?" 
 
 "His Excellency, Ahmed Pasha, our commandant. I 
 advise you to come without resistance, mademoiselle, ' ' he 
 said, significantly. 
 
 "Where are you going to take me?" 
 
 He bowed with a little outward gesture of the hands. 
 "I beg you to come with no further delay," he said.
 
 210 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "I can take these with me of course," she said in a 
 stately manner, indicating the bag and her packages. 
 
 1 ' Certainly, mademoiselle ! Here Hussein, carry these 
 things carefully to the carriage." 
 
 Her mind temporarily at a standstill was utterly un- 
 able to account for this singular and unlooked for twist 
 of affairs. She made her way silently through the gar- 
 den to be overtaken at the gate by a feeling of panic. 
 She drew back suddenly as if she had just discovered a 
 precipice opening at her feet. In a moment she sum- 
 moned up fresh courage and seeing that resistance was 
 hopeless she entered the carriage. The door was closed, 
 she heard the clatter of horses' hoofs, a sharp word of 
 command, and they had started. She was alone, the 
 officer and his escort riding. 
 
 Her heart beat to suffocation. She felt that some un- 
 known climax was at hand. Nothing she could do had 
 power to stop it unless her hand crept into her bosom 
 clutching at something concealed. 
 
 The more she thought of the situation the uglier it 
 seemed. Ahmed Pasha! What had John said? That 
 the pasha knew her well by sight. He had seen her in 
 the summer hotel. She called Rosen to mind and her 
 fatal influence over him, and how Pierre had declared 
 he had loved her at first sight. 
 
 Momentarily she would have scratched and disfigured 
 her own face if that would have made its beauty of no 
 account. For she was no fool to ignore the value of a 
 woman's fair face, or the fact that her own had power 
 to move men in a way of which she possessed ample 
 proof. From the opposite standpoint beauty was an 
 asset in swaying the wills of men, and added to fearless- 
 ness and ready wit conveyed a magnetism which she had
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 211 
 
 more than once found potent to use as oil on angry 
 waters, and to gain her own way. 
 
 ' ' Courage, bien-aimee ! ' ' she crooned under her breath 
 as a charm to soothe her own mental disturbance; and 
 she leaned back folding her arms closely together, as if to 
 brace body and soul, to meet she knew not what fresh 
 ordeal. 
 
 The closely shuttered windows gave back no inkling 
 of the way or its direction, only there seemed more than 
 one sharp turning and the jolting of the latter part of 
 the drive was atrocious. 
 
 The carriage stopped. She heard the voice of the 
 Turkish officer requesting her to alight and follow him. 
 Night had fallen. Though the gate was narrow and low, 
 through which they entered after climbing a steep path- 
 way, a building towered, menacing and massive above 
 her, as a prison. Crossing the flagstones of a small 
 closed courtyard by the light of a lantern she felt that 
 she had in truth entered some jail, so forbidding the 
 shadows, and strong the walls about her. 
 
 A flight of steps brought them out under a colonnade 
 whence they plunged into a vaulted passage. Veronica, 
 at pains in the gloom to keep her footing, had followed 
 her guide with downcast eyes, but just then light falling 
 from an interior diverted her gaze. She half paused, 
 startled by the dart of a sudden suspicion, which steadily 
 grew with every onward step. 
 
 Another steep stairway down which the moonlight 
 strayed to meet her, and this suspicion became a cer- 
 tainty. They had brought her to El Fereidus, the home 
 of the Culvers. Now she came out on the top of the 
 house, on the terrace of the upper room, of the tent, 
 and the flowers and trees.
 
 212 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Familiarity with her surroundings restored a momen- 
 tary calm of spirit. This was before reflection painted 
 the isolation, the helplessness of her position cut off 
 from all means of exit but by way of the stairs. A lamp 
 burned in the upper room where the persiennes were 
 closed. 
 
 "Mademoiselle will be treated in every way as a guest 
 of honor provided she makes no attempt to descend the 
 stairs," said the officer, stiffly. "The guest room is 
 made ready for her use. She has but to express her 
 wishes to the attendant and all in reason shall be al- 
 lowed." 
 
 Several questions hovered on her lips, but only one 
 escaped. "Am I alone on the terrace?" 
 
 ' ' Yes ! You will be undisturbed. You can rest tran- 
 quilly. ' ' He saluted distantly and went down the stairs. 
 
 To Veronica, overwrought in body and mind at the 
 close of an exhausting day, there came reaction in the 
 form of a wave of fierce homesickness. With sudden 
 anguish she thought of her mother to whom she had 
 turned in every trouble right through her life. Directly 
 this tired feeling had passed away she would go to the 
 further terrace and look out over the river. What if 
 by some happy chance she were to see the little boat 
 slipping to safety through the moonlight? 
 
 But not yet, for positively she must rest a while. 
 
 She dropped on a narrow divan near the door and 
 leaned her head listlessly against the low persiennes be- 
 hind, the unhappiness and strain of her eyes hidden 
 under closed lids, her hands locked tightly on her knees. 
 
 Scarcely had the sound of the descending footsteps died 
 away than an old woman made her appearance, bearing a 
 tray with coffee and a variety of cakes and a jar of drink-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 213 
 
 ing water. She saluted Veronica politely, and at once 
 set about serving her, after which she sat cross-legged 
 on the floor, watching with a mixture of curiosity and 
 admiration in her shrewd old eyes. 
 
 After drinking the coffee eagerly, and then quenching 
 her thirst by a long draught of water, Veronica was 
 able to smile at the old woman and to thank her for the 
 attention. 
 
 "Your words are of gold, hanoum effendi," came in 
 obsequious reply. "Remember in your happiness that 
 I am always your faithful servant. I have made ready 
 your bed. In the morning when you are refreshed with 
 sleep I will tie your hair, and make you beautiful for 
 the visit of your lord. Bismallah, you are in luck's 
 way!" 
 
 "I shall not forget your willing services," said Ver- 
 onica, guardedly, her worst suspicions confirmed. "Bet- 
 ter days will come for all when the guns of war have 
 ceased to speak." 
 
 "Ai! Two fighting sons I have given to feed the 
 Sultan's army," cried the woman, diverted instantly to 
 a personal outlook. "Allah grant that I may See them 
 once again before I die. ' ' 
 
 "I, too, will pray that this boon be granted you. In 
 Allah's day Allah will restore them to your arms. 
 Patience triumphs over all misfortunes. ' ' 
 
 The woman caught Veronica's hand and pressed it to 
 her lips and her breast. "I could feel it in my soul to 
 die for you, lady, ' ' she said, earnestly. 
 
 Shortly the old woman withdrew after protesting 
 afresh her devotion to the new mistress. She assured! 
 Veronica by the soul of her mother that she would be 
 left to slumber in peace, that the terrace from end to
 
 214 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 end was at her sole disposal. Orders had come from 
 very high quarters to meet the Sitt Hanoum's desires 
 in all possible ways. 
 
 Left alone Veronica became restless. She was afraid 
 of the lamplight and eyed with deep distrust the orna- 
 mental bed with its Oriental hangings and coverlet of 
 Tyrian blue silk. 
 
 A sudden thought of the Bedouin tent gave her more 
 confidence. Extinguishing the light and taking up 
 her bag she drew aside the curtain over the doorway and 
 stepped into the open. 
 
 The air was mild and perfumed. Moon sheen trans- 
 figured the flowers and trees of the terrace with a fairy- 
 like beauty that was strangely stirring. The sand on 
 the other side of the trellissade glistened like frost in 
 front of the home-like little tent. Through the embra- 
 sure in the wall beyond, the river could be seen, lying like 
 a silver snake in the lap of the moon-swept land. 
 
 She sat down on the parapet with every thought fixed 
 for the moment on what the morrow might bring forth. 
 Dread lay heavy on her shoulders. It was useless to 
 harbor any notion of instant succor, for it might be days 
 if ever it became known what had become of her. 
 In those days, somber and terrifying enough to antici- 
 pate, what evil might not be lying concealed to pounce 
 out and confound her, body and soul? 
 
 There had been another carriage in the lane when she 
 was taken away. Mr. Luce would surely glean from his 
 servants an idea of what had occurred. What could he 
 do to aid a Turkish subject in face of a power like Ahmed 
 Pasha? Appeal to Otto Rosen? 
 
 A shudder convulsed her at the bare suggestion. Yet 
 soon she came back to the idea. Rosen had become a
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 215 
 
 power. Besides he alone could divulge where Pierre 
 Marson was entombed. 
 
 Another point struck her. "Was the old woman vul- 
 nerable like so many of her kind? If so how could she 
 be used? Veronica knew all the strong points of the 
 house and that no chances had been taken by John Cul- 
 ver, and his father before him, regarding the security of 
 the isolated house. It was no more easy to get out than 
 to get in this strongly built dwelling of the rock cliff 
 except by the free will of those in possession. 
 
 To-night she was so tired, so painfully tired, that her 
 mind was only equal to starting ideas and then running 
 them to ground without definite pursuit. She could have 
 wept for very weariness but a something unconquerable 
 within held her from actual collapse. 
 
 Yet she was chilled to the heart with foreboding as 
 again she looked out over the moonlit spaces, thinking of 
 her lover and the other loved ones, all in the gravest 
 jeopardy. 
 
 ' ' They do not know I am here. They will think I am 
 safe under Mr. Luce 's roof. Wait ! wait ! do not leave me 
 here alone, ' ' she murmured to the distant river. 
 
 Then suddenly she clasped her hands and prayed with 
 her whole soul, that the God above who ruled that vast 
 universe of the moon and the stars, would save them one 
 and all from the many and great dangers by which they 
 were surrounded, and that with His help and under His 
 guidance she might yet be able to discover a way of 
 escape for herself. 
 
 Then she approached the little tent, lifted the canvas 
 flaps and peered inside. It cost her an effort to explore 
 the interior. Her surexcited nerves created apprehen- 
 sions which beat about her thick as bats in a forsaken
 
 216 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 vault, but she found silence and the lingering essence of 
 memories to be her sole companions. 
 
 She pulled forward a mattress and cushions and placed 
 them in the entrance, took off her shoes, drew the pins 
 out of her hair and combed it into one long plait. Then 
 conquered by fatigue she lay down and fell asleep. 
 More than once she moaned as if rehearsing in her 
 dreams the struggles of the day, but oblivion soon held 
 her still as one dead. 
 
 The silence and loneliness were profound. A dimness 
 spread over the terrace as the shadow of the high cliff 
 stole stealthily forward. Before the outline of the palm 
 trees became entirely blurred into the rocks behind some- 
 thing black and tall moved away from them, and dropped 
 noiselessly to the ground. Soon there came a light, very 
 light, sound as of an animal moving cautiously. 
 
 Veronica lifted her head suddenly with a quick drawn 
 breath. A flash of intuition had penetrated her sleep- 
 ing senses. 
 
 She strained her ears to listen to a peculiar rustling 
 sound at the side of the tent. In an instant she had 
 sprung lightly to her feet and was listening intently at 
 the canvas wall. All at once she started back with a 
 stifled cry as, just discernible in the dim light, the head 
 and shoulders of a man suddenly thrust themselves under 
 the turned up canvas. 
 
 ' ' Hoosh ! In Allah 's name ! ' ' murmured a voice. ' ' It 
 is none other than your brother, All. ' ' 
 
 The relief was so intense and unexpected that Veron- 
 ica's limbs gave way under her. She dropped in a 
 huddled heap to the floor staring at him speechless. A 
 little sob bursting from her lips broke the spell of stupe- 
 faction.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 217 
 
 "Ali, you have come to save me," she whispered. 
 "Tell me how you have evaded the guard below." 
 
 ' ' I have seen no guards, ' ' he said in a low voice. ' ' No 
 one in the house knows the door by which I came in. ' ' 
 
 She looked anxiously into the open. "If some one 
 were to come now and find you here ! ' ' she said, tremu- 
 lously. 
 
 His white teeth gleamed. "No one will come. They 
 fear the spirits of the house top at night. It is haunted 
 they say." 
 
 Veronica shivered. "It is not true," she whispered. 
 
 ' ' Allah, no ! " he answered quickly. ' ' The mother and 
 child who are said to walk here when it is dark are safe 
 in our tents." 
 
 ' ' Then Zorah and the boy are alive and well ? Heaven 
 be praised!" 
 
 ' ' They are as well as you will be very soon. ' ' 
 
 "How did you find me?" 
 
 "Sitt Anna, your mother, sent me with a message to 
 say that Hanna was with them, and that he would make 
 a plan for you to join them in a short time. I was com- 
 ing to the house when I saw you enter the carriage. It 
 was easy to follow. I knew you would need me. ' ' 
 
 "Have you been all these weeks with Hanna?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, it was our men who planned his escape from the 
 prison. Mashallah! the Beni-Weldeh have powerful 
 friends in Esh Shems," he said, proudly. 
 
 Veronica's mind leaped at once to Pierre. If the 
 Bedouins had engineered John Culver's escape why 
 could they not be induced to find out and free another 
 prisoner ? Was it possible to unite her own escape with 
 a parallel effort to free her lover? Yet first it was es- 
 sential to discover where he was imprisoned.
 
 218 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Listen, Ali, I have much to tell you," she said, ear- 
 nestly. "How long can you dare to stay?" 
 
 "One hour, perhaps two hours, for this night you 
 cannot come away with me. I came to give you con- 
 fiedence in the help of your friends and to bid you to be 
 ready. To-morrow night I will bring a Bedouin dress 
 for you to wear, and before daybreak the next day we 
 shall be so far on our road that none will be able to find 
 or overtake us. ' ' 
 
 "Please God," said Veronica, hopefully, feeling as if a 
 breath of cool fresh air suddenly played on her burning 
 head. At once she began to talk about Pierre Marson 
 and the manner of his imprisonment. 
 
 The tale she unfolded was of the romantic kind in 
 which the Bedouin mind revels. For they are in com- 
 plete sympathy with desperate love affairs, especially 
 those which, following the example of Antar and Leila, 
 involve much fighting and arms and horses, and above all 
 a free exercise of intrigue and cunning to carry them 
 through successfully. 
 
 "By Allah, if he were in Gehenna itself I will have 
 him out," he muttered fiercely. "Tell me only where 
 he is, and a message shall reach him even though he be 
 hidden in the bowels of the earth." 
 
 "That has all to be discovered." 
 
 "Let me track out only the locality and it will be 
 enough," he said, decisively. 
 
 Ali's boldness scattered to the wind whole nightmares 
 of distracting fears. Veronica felt she could now face 
 the morrow with fortitude, trusting to her wits and her 
 courage to bring her safely through the long hours which 
 must intervene before Ali came again. 
 
 She impressed upon him the necessity of going early
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 219 
 
 to the American Consul to tell him secretly what had 
 befallen her. His help and advice would be invaluable. 
 AH had wept a few hours ago in the garden over the evil 
 fate that had overtaken his friends. He was now on fire 
 to work on Veronica's behalf, but had become so keen 
 on nosing out the trail of the Frenchman's disappearance 
 that the peril waiting on the girl's own escape easily 
 became dwarfed. Seeing this she urged him to stronger 
 effort, declaring that her lover's plight far exceeded her 
 own in danger, and that the sooner a plan could be 
 woven to accomplish his deliverance the greater the 
 chances of finding him alive. 
 
 Ali sat on his haunches, his head thrown back, and in 
 his eyes the wild flicker and savor of the chase, pictur- 
 ing the fight in advance. Hitherto there had worked 
 behind him the cautious brain and ingenuity of his 
 English brother-in-law, but Hanna would now be engaged 
 for some days on the anxious task of piloting Mme. 
 Severin and Zia to the home of their relative. To Ali 
 alone would fall the honors of this new enterprise. He 
 gloated on the prospect, scorning the hazard. 
 
 "Be ready when the hour comes," he whispered, rais- 
 ing the hem of her cloak and pressing it to his lips with 
 wild grace upon leaving. "By the soul of my mother 
 I will make you a way of escape. ' ' 
 
 Noiselessly as he had come so he vanished. Too 
 cautious to step into the open and watch him, though 
 intense her longing to ascertain the unknown way of exit, 
 she rearranged the shifted matting where he had entered 
 and again lay down to rest. At first held wakeful by the 
 new strain of excitement and the buzzing of agitated 
 hopes, later, she fell into sound sleep. 
 
 She was awaked by a weird cry, and opening her eyes
 
 220 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 saw the old woman, her jailor, with upraised hands and 
 incredulous eyes standing in the tent entrance. Ver- 
 onica's brows knitted in perplexity. She rose to a sitting 
 posture and looked at her surroundings. 
 
 "Where am I?" she exclaimed. 
 
 ' ' In the house of your lord who will make you happy 
 and be good to you." 
 
 Then Veronica remembered and shivered slightly. 
 
 "Give me food and coffee, I hunger," she said, "and 
 later, water in a big bowl, that I may wash." 
 
 "Joy of my eyes, let me not serve you here," ex- 
 postulated the woman. "Come back to the guest 
 chamber where all is ready. Why did you leave your 
 bed ? What brought you here ? Was it an evil dream ? ' ' 
 
 "I could not sleep so I walked on the terrace to smell 
 the air. There I saw this tent and being weary I rested 
 for a few minutes and fell asleep. ' ' 
 
 "You saw nothing and heard nothing?" 
 
 "The voice of a child seemed to penetrate my dreams, 
 otherwise I slept well," said Veronica, noting with satis- 
 faction the start and furtive side glances of the woman. 
 More than ever now it was probable she would be left in 
 peace to-night on the house top. 
 
 But there were the hours of a whole long day to wade 
 through. 
 
 Breakfast over she allowed the woman to comb out and 
 brush her long hair, but then dismissed her, for the oft 
 repeated suggestions of the high and blissful destiny in 
 store for so much beauty soon became intolerable. Soli- 
 tude was far easier to endure. 
 
 With every hour that passed her impatience waxed. 
 Though she spent all her time on the terrace she was
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 221 
 
 afraid to search for the door by which All came lest 
 some unseen eye should spy upon her. 
 
 The wildest and boldest schemes for procuring liberty 
 for Pierre formed, dispersed and reformed in her active 
 brain. In fancy she followed Ali to the American con- 
 sulate, and conjectured after what fashion the plans for 
 her own escape would be woven. 
 
 Then, in contemplating her own flight, imagination 
 leaped to her mother and to the unthinkable torture of 
 little Zia, then darted aside to painful scenes witnessed 
 on the market place and in the souks, and on to her 
 battle with Otto Kosen. 
 
 Concentration on any one subject was impossible, so 
 stirred to the depths her emotions, so acute the pitch of 
 expectancy to which every nerve was tuned. 
 
 Afternoon crept upon her. Soon she was able to sit in 
 shadow upon the parapet of the break in the walls, and 
 send searching eyes into the distance. The freedom of 
 those open spaces far below, the winding river, and the 
 lavender hills beyond called to her with insistent voice. 
 So strong came the call from the precipice directly 
 beneath that at last she had to close her eyes and press 
 her head back against the wall while mentally she gripped 
 for anchor to the positive hope of the night. 
 
 Yet the whole time in guarding against one danger she 
 had vastly troublous feeling that another more deadly 
 might spring upon her at any moment. 
 
 And then, hearing a sound, she suddenly opened her 
 eyes and saw the tall figure of Ahmed Pasha approach- 
 ing. Though inwardly she had schooled herself to the in- 
 evitable encounter, now taken unawares, in spite of her- 
 self, she flinched.
 
 222 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 With the intentness of one who watches he marked it. 
 His step instantly slackened, and he salaamed courte- 
 ously as if to reassure her. With a glint in his gray eyes 
 he saw, too, the color rush to her face as, looking directly 
 at him, she rose and stood by the parapet. In her atti- 
 tude pride blended with dignity. She waited for him to 
 speak. 
 
 "Be seated," he said gravely. "I have come to see 
 with my own eyes if the needs of my guest have been 
 well supplied, and to ask how my orders have been carried 
 out by my servants." 
 
 "You mean your prisoner," she said, quietly, "and 
 the only boon she expects or asks at the hand of his Ex- 
 cellency is her liberty." 
 
 "The wise are cautious in their demands," he replied. 
 "The liberty you mean would not long be yours if I 
 were to grant it to you this very moment. ' ' 
 
 " I do not understand you. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You were in your own house unprotected, ' ' he began. 
 
 "Temporarily only, for I was invited to stay at the 
 American consulate. ' ' 
 
 "I knew what would be your destiny if left alone in 
 Opella," he continued as if she had not spoken. "Out 
 of regard for the good doctor, your brother, I have 
 assumed the guardianship of his sister. If in return for 
 the gift of liberty in this delightful spot " 
 
 "Your Excellency must know to whom it belongs," she 
 interrupted with decided warmth, "for my brother 
 married the sister of Culver Effendi." 
 
 "You have named the true reason for your presence 
 here. I wished you to be taken to a dwelling that was 
 already familiar, and one you would regard with affec- 
 tion."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 223 
 
 A sigh escaped from her parted lips as involuntarily 
 she threw a glance around, and then to the faraway 
 hills. 
 
 "I want you to be happy," he said in a dangerously 
 gentle voice. Inshallah, you are going to be happy. ' ' 
 
 "That is impossible as long as I am separated from 
 my family and detained against my will in this lonely 
 spot." 
 
 "Happiness is a plant that can spring up and flower 
 in a single day, or even in an hour," he said, moving 
 a step nearer. "To me the repose hidden away on this 
 isolated house terrace has become an oasis, fed by that 
 pearl of the desert, a fountain of living water, that gift 
 of which the soldier dreams in the heat and fury of the 
 battle." 
 
 She remained silent but her figure stiffened and the 
 look she cast on the pasha was more eloquent than words. 
 The oriental imagery was quite easy of interpretation. 
 Quickly she decided to invoke the protection of that 
 reserve ordered by the Khoran towards women who are 
 not of the Moslem faith. Subduing her fear and indig- 
 nation she made a strong effort to speak calmly. 
 
 "Apart from your regard for my brother I was quite 
 sure that from all I heard of Ahmed Pasha he would 
 treat me, his prisoner, with every consideration. Though 
 of another race and religion I always admire the respect 
 shown by the Mussulman for women." 
 
 The pasha bowed with gravity. His gray eyes concen- 
 trated themselves with inner fire on her face as he 
 smiled curiously. 
 
 "A woman though a prisoner the word is yours not 
 mine is never powerless for she has always her tongue 
 to protect her, and yours shines as does the light of a
 
 224 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 star, ' ' he replied, his words scarcely veiling their hidden 
 irony. 
 
 Veronica little knew how less than ever before, so it 
 seemed to him, would it be necessary in her case for him. 
 to observe the letter of the Islamic law. 
 
 "For the sister of the doctor I will do all that it is 
 permitted to a man to do," he went on more earnestly. 
 "Her happiness is precious to me for her own sake. 
 This is not our first meeting, Sitt Veronica. When I saw 
 you with your family in the Lebanon Hotel all eyes were 
 permitted to look upon you. You wore no mantle. It 
 must be irksome to one accustomed to the fashions of 
 France. Allow me to relieve you of it," and he put out 
 his hands. 
 
 ' ' No, never ! ' ' she exclaimed with a break in her voice, 
 wrapping the folds closer around her arms while her 
 eyes fluttered like those of a trapped bird. She read 
 that in his face which turned her faint and sick. "He 
 who lays hand on a woman against her will is a villain 
 and no true man. ' ' 
 
 ' ' All is allowed in the name of war, ' ' he said, harshly, 
 as he laughed a little in a quick grim way. 
 
 "Only to the coward and bully in whose ranks the 
 brave Ahmed Pasha will never be reckoned, ' ' she retorted 
 quickly. "Besides such license in any case could only 
 apply to the enemy. I am a Turkish subject." 
 
 France had been the word that had unnerved Veronica, 
 starting an agonizing thought of her lover, and his fury, 
 could he for an instant divine her peril. Upon a second 
 thought the same word restored her courage. 
 
 "The women of my family follow more than French 
 fashions; they follow the customs of the West," she 
 continued rapidly, and now her voice was steady, "and
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 225 
 
 there is one we value above all others. It is the liberty 
 of choice in accepting or rejecting an offer of marriage. 
 I have already made this choice and but for the war 
 would have been married." 
 
 He started perceptibly but preserved a dead silence, 
 his eyes with a sudden dark look searching her face with 
 piercing directness. 
 
 ''When the man of my choice discovers what has be- 
 come of me " she began again, pursuing her advantage. 
 
 ''Is he of your race?" he asked, abruptly. 
 
 "No, Excellency," she said with a clear look into his 
 face. 
 
 "Kosen Effendi, the German Consul, was one of your 
 party in that hotel. He sat by you at table, he played 
 with you, walked with you, ' ' said Ahmed Pasha, absently, 
 as if mentally marshaling certain points under one head- 
 ing to judge of their relative value. 
 
 "Perfectly true," said Veronica coolly, her cheeks in- 
 stantly aflame lending an involuntary inner meaning 
 to her words, "and it was to him, the responsible repre- 
 sentative of Germany in Opella, that my brother confided 
 the safeguarding of his family in every way." 
 
 ' ' Yet it was to the American not the German consulate 
 you were going, so you told me just now," he said, 
 suspiciously. 
 
 "Your Excellency is pleased to jest. How is it possi- 
 ble for me to stay at the house of Rosen Effendi without 
 my mother ? He has no harem as you know. ' ' 
 
 Again her face flamed under the double pressure of his 
 unblinking look and her own insinuation. It mattered 
 little what he believed or took for granted as long as in 
 suppressing the real facts she could shield Pierre, and 
 free herself from this dangerous and intolerable position.
 
 226 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 At first in Ahmed Pasha's fixed look there had been 
 something of passion mingled with reproach, but grad- 
 ually his eyes became hard and grave. He stepped to 
 the parapet and stared moodily into space, fingering his 
 beads swiftly. Could she have read his thoughts her 
 own would have been greatly eased. 
 
 Just as he was starting out for El Fereidus Eosen 
 Effendi had come to the Serai demanding imperatively 
 an immediate audience. A message of regrets had been 
 sent out to him with a request that he would return 
 next day at an hour more convenient to His Excellency, 
 Ahmed Pasha. Since the Murad affair relations between 
 them had been strained. Ahmed Pasha was now per- 
 suaded that he knew the reason for Rosen Effendi 's 
 urgent demand. This reflection started a whole stream 
 of considerations his position could not allow him to 
 ignore. 
 
 Veronica standing back against the wall watched him 
 with her heart in her throat, and her hand beneath her 
 mantle clutching hard at the little weapon which Pierre 
 had made her promise never to let out of her possession 
 and to keep always about her. She dreaded the pasha's 
 next movement doubting the decisive effect of her revela- 
 tions. 
 
 Yet as she looked at him, alert and watchful, it flashed 
 upon her that here was a man by whose side such a one 
 as Rosen was in comparison but a glimmering rush-light 
 of a man. The pasha was a man of steel and fire who 
 might well capture any heart that was not already im- 
 pressed and sealed with an image that no other could 
 hope to efface. For in Veronica the oriental strain, 
 though partial, swept away the barrier of racial preju- 
 dice.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 227, 
 
 ' ' I have stated my chief reason for bringing you here ; 
 your personal safety for which I felt responsible to your 
 brother the doctor, ' ' he said at last, turning towards her 
 with no visible sign of feeling. Then arrested by the 
 softened expression caught unawares on Veronica's face, 
 he broke off as abruptly as he had begun. His eyes 
 seemed to catch fire. "Rosen Effendi is of no impor- 
 tance, a man of straw only ' ' 
 
 Veronica put up her hand, her face instantly hardened. 
 
 ' ' Excellency, there can be nothing in common between 
 you and me ! " she said, firmly. 
 
 ' ' Except the heart. Inshallah ! The heart could yet 
 bring us together," he said very quietly, watching her 
 intently. 
 
 "My heart belongs wholly to another. It cannot 
 change, ' ' she said, coldly. ' ' Excellency, I ask again for 
 my liberty." 
 
 Ahmed Pasha sighed. It was a sigh of momentary re- 
 nunciation, of unavoidable yielding to fate. Only by 
 winning the heart of the coveted woman could he hope to 
 find a way to defy German meddling in his personal 
 affairs. 
 
 "Mashallah, it is a hard matter to deny one like your- 
 self anything she asks, ' ' he said bowing with the reticence 
 of his first entrance, "and as soon as arrangements can 
 be made your request shall be granted." 
 
 "To-day! I beg of you, Excellency," she pleaded. 
 
 "Not possible," he said suavely, "but, Inshallah, per- 
 haps to-morrow. ' ' 
 
 It required no deep diving beneath the surface to see 
 that he was still hovering at the cross-roads of decision, 
 outwardly acquiescent yet prevaricating in the usual 
 Eastern fashion. His first step would be to test the
 
 228 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 truth of her statement by many wily ways of investiga- 
 tion. Time was all he needed to attain certainty. Time 
 to her was the key to freedom, as long as it provided the 
 few hours respite necessary to this end between night 
 and morning. 
 
 A formal leave-taking followed and Ahmed Pasha went 
 away. Now that Veronica was on the alert she soon 
 caught the speedy stir of movement and voices ascending 
 from the basement, and a few minutes later it seemed 
 an eternity the sound of horses on the road. 
 
 For a short space she remained listening, listening, her 
 pupils dilated, her lips set in tragic lines. Then the 
 nervous force that had sustained her during the inter- 
 view deserted her. She fell on her knees against the 
 parapet, her head cushioned on her arms, her whole frame 
 shaken by the outburst of pent-up feelings. 
 
 Yet no sooner had she given way to these emotions than 
 she at once began to set her will to control them. It was 
 so very important to betray nothing to the old woman 
 who might appear at any moment. 
 
 A short struggle, fierce and rending, and she raised her 
 head, pressed her fingers to her eyes and then lightly 
 lifted the thick swelling of black hair over her brow as 
 if to relieve the dull ache of her throbbing temples. A 
 long sighing breath slipped through her lips, and then 
 she rose up from the ground and was composedly pacing 
 the terrace of the guest chamber when the old woman, 
 curious and talkative, appeared with the first relay of a 
 well cooked meal.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A LI disappeared behind the three palm trees which 
 grew closely together on a ledge of soil and rock at 
 the back of the terrace. The lower face of the cliff at 
 this shadowed corner consisted of vertical layers of rocks 
 overlapping one another in irregular formation. 
 
 To one of these slabs the Bedouin applied his shoulder 
 and pushed sideways, clutching the edge with his hands. 
 As if resting in an oiled groove the slab moved noiselessly 
 behind the overlapping stone. He slipped through the 
 aperture revealed and from within replaced the rock by 
 a similar, though reversed, movement. His next action 
 was to strike a match and set light to a lantern on the 
 ground. 
 
 He was in a narrow passage so low that in places he 
 had to bend his head as he picked his way climbing a 
 more or less winding ascent. Originally a natural tun- 
 nel such as are to be found and often utilized in the 
 gorges of Syria, it had evidently been enlarged and steps 
 cut in the rock at difficult curves in the way. When the 
 improvements had been made was immaterial, but the 
 existence of this hidden exit had been kept a close secret, 
 a wise precaution already proved of rare value to John 
 Culver and his family. Now also it was to be Veronica's 
 outlet to freedom. 
 
 Two hundred or more paces and then a huge stone 
 blocked the passage. Supported on imperceptible hinges 
 it yielded slowly to pressure after the withdrawal of 
 
 229
 
 230 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 strong bolts. This stone outlet was at the extreme end 
 of an old rock tomb, one of several deserted ancient relics 
 scattered among the undergrowth of the hillocky plateau 
 on the cliff above the river. 
 
 Ali closed the turning stone and hid his lantern in a 
 cleft of the rock walls. Then he crouched still as a 
 statue at the entrance of the tomb. When satisfied by 
 stealthy survey of the vicinity that no other human being 
 lurked near to observe his movements he emerged and 
 flitted away like a shadow. 
 
 An hour before daylight he was in the town, slipping 
 along close to the walls through lonely lanes and dark 
 alleys, his eyes on the watch, his ears agog. Drawing his 
 cloak over his head and muffled to the eyes he squatted 
 as if asleep in a vaulted passage opposite the American 
 consulate. 
 
 The first stir of life from within brought him to the 
 gate. By showing a visiting card, on which Veronica 
 had scribbled a few words in the moonlight asking the 
 Consul to admit and speak with the bearer on urgent 
 business, at once he was allowed to enter the court. The 
 rest followed automatically, and very soon Ali had 
 poured out the whole story to the Consul himself. 
 
 Mr. Luce and his wife, already disturbed at Veronica 's 
 disappearance, and horrified at the disclosure of her 
 capture, were yet in grave doubt as to the course which 
 they would take. 
 
 The Consul knew already of the increasing abomina- 
 tions committed under Government license in Armenia 
 and fast spreading to all districts inhabited by Arme- 
 nians. The high authority of Ahmed Pasha presented 
 a stone wall to any ordinary request on his part. Mrs. 
 Luce visualized with feminine intuition the perilous
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 231 
 
 hours which must elapse before the Bedouin's scheme 
 could be set rolling. The situation was complex and 
 needed careful handling. 
 
 Ali's intriguing mind was impatient to start without 
 delay on the development of his own ideas. On the 
 other hand the Consul urged him to spend the day under 
 his roof rather than run the risk of being checked in 
 the town from keeping his pledge to Veronica, for then 
 indeed her plight would be desperate. 
 
 But said Ali, how procure provender, dress, food, with- 
 out awaking suspicion unless he went to work secretly in 
 his own recognized way. There was reason in his point 
 of view and Mrs. Luce began to share it together with his 
 confidence of success. 
 
 Yet both she and her husband felt that the girl in 
 escaping one danger might easily tumble upon a worse, 
 and with only the youth to defend her it would be a 
 miracle if she reached her journey's end unharmed, if 
 at all. 
 
 Some other idea must be evolved, or else Ali's plan 
 must be strengthened by extra securities. "While he was 
 hungrily dispatching a meal, husband and wife busily 
 consulted in private without coming to a definite deci- 
 sion. 
 
 "If only that man were less of a beast," exclaimed 
 Mrs. Luce after futile beating of suggestions that when 
 examined proved utterly useless. 
 
 "What man?" 
 
 "Herr Eosen. I shall never get his brutal treatment 
 of the little girl out of my mind. ' ' 
 
 "He may only have been an unwilling spectator." 
 
 "His complicity was bad enough in all conscience, and 
 if he had protested at all the child would have said so.
 
 232 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Yet unfortunately he is the very man to act in this 
 difficult matter. The Germans have it all their own way 
 in Opella." 
 
 "They are always wire-pullers," said the consul, 
 irritably. "I see no real reason why he could not be 
 called in now. ' ' 
 
 "He is certainly devoted to the girl. Unluckily she 
 detests the sight of him." 
 
 "That means nothing. If she owed her life and 
 honor to his intervention, gratitude migh reverse her 
 feelings. ' ' 
 
 "You forget she is engaged to another man." 
 
 "Whom she may never see again," said Mr. Luce, 
 shortly. 
 
 ' ' Poor fellow, that is true. But we cannot spare pity 
 for him now. The one thing that matters is to get her 
 out of the pasha's grip before anything appalling hap- 
 pens. What if she were forced into his harem! I can 
 imagine no worse fate for the spirited, splendid girl. 
 Once get her free and she will be quite capable of settling 
 her own affairs with Herr Rosen." 
 
 "He must positively be told of her danger," said the 
 consul, decisively. "Out of friendship for Dr. Severin 
 alone the man should surely bestir himself energetically, 
 and in case of necessity get the German commanding 
 officer to interfere." 
 
 "Even that would not move the pasha unless he were 
 given to understand that he had in ignorance abducted 
 Rosen's promised wife." 
 
 ' ' I should advise Rosen to let him think so if that were 
 the sole way of getting the girl safely away. ' ' 
 
 At first Ali demurred vehemently against sharing the 
 honors of rescue with another. Then he secretly re-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 233 
 
 fleeted how the aid suggested would leave him greater 
 freedom to organize the more adventurous rescue of the 
 Frenchman. 
 
 One stipulation he insisted upon before yielding an 
 inch. That not a word should be whispered of the hidden 
 passage. The secret must be held inviolate or his sister 
 and brother would never forgive him. Finally it was 
 agreed to carry out the original plan that night. At 
 daybreak next day he would come again to the consulate 
 to report progress, leaving Veronica in a spot that would 
 be perfectly secure in his absence. 
 
 By then Mr. Luce hoped to have thought out a suitable 
 way of safe-guarding Veronica's journey to her family, 
 though for the moment he could think of nothing better 
 than acquainting Rosen with her danger. His wife 
 urged him not to delay in taking this step. 
 
 Twice the German Consul was out when called upon. 
 The second time his absence was unpardonable as Mr. 
 Luce had left word he would return at a certain hour. 
 The discourtesy was intentional. Rosen could not for- 
 give the American consul for replacing him as family 
 adviser to the Severins. Mr. Luce wrote a note after 
 his second fruitless visit stating that his errand had been 
 of so grave and confidential a nature that no one would 
 regret delay in learning it more than Herr Rosen him- 
 self. 
 
 This note brought Otto Rosen without loss of time to 
 the American consulate; but it was already afternoon. 
 Valuable time had been lost already. More time slipped 
 away in settling what action to take. The effect pro- 
 duced on Rosen by the startling news was such that Mr. 
 Luce knew that all would be done that mortal man could 
 do to avert a tragedy.
 
 234 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 But it would be entirely in his own way. German-like 
 he brooked no other man's dictation. For Ahmed Pasha 
 himself no counter blow should be spared in avenging 
 this unspeakable abduction, but first of all he must be 
 diplomatic. He would go at once to the Serai, see the 
 scoundrel personally, and demand as a right the instant 
 release of Aflle. Severin. 
 
 Mr. Luce expressed doubt as to the result of this high- 
 handed example of diplomacy, and was not surprised 
 when Eosen came back at double quick speed in a tower- 
 ing rage at his failure to obtain the briefest interview 
 with the pasha. 
 
 "Nothing can be done to-day, that is clear," said Mr. 
 Luce. "The original scheme must go through. This 
 clever young Arab seems devoted to the whole Severin 
 family." 
 
 "Gott im Himmel! Run the risk of her being mas- 
 sacred or even worse on the route? Never! A pre- 
 posterous idea, ' ' stormed Rosen. 
 
 "My dear sir, explain yourself." 
 
 "You must know the state of the roads, and how im- 
 possible it will be for them to avoid falling in with one 
 of those miserable convoys of deported Armenians. ' ' 
 
 "Unfortunately I do, and if you would only unite 
 your voice with mine in denouncing " 
 
 "That is a matter we cannot begin to tackle at this 
 critical instant. Let us keep strictly to the vital point 
 of Mile. Severin 's safety. It is impossible to leave her 
 to the slender protection of the Bedouin, however close 
 may be the family tie." 
 
 "What then do you propose? She wishes to join her 
 mother in her retreat near Antioch. ' ' 
 
 Rosen twisted and pulled at his mustache.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 235 
 
 "It seems to me she must have her wish," he said with 
 an air of caution, "though it is difficul' enough to carry- 
 through. ' ' 
 
 "Can you think of a better plan than the one sug- 
 gested?" 
 
 Deeply cogitative Rosen paced up and down the room 
 before turning deliberately to Mr. Luce. 
 
 "Yes, I can," he said, concisely. "I will convey her 
 there myself with a proper armed escort. There shall 
 be no doubt this time about her absolute safety." 
 
 ' ' Will she consent to this arrangement ? ' ' 
 
 There was anger in Rosen 's fiery glance at the speaker. 
 
 "Consent? She will jump at such a chance unless 
 she is an utter fool and that she never was nor could be. 
 Evidently you know Mile. Severin very slightly." 
 
 His tone and look were supercilious, even insulting. 
 Mr. Luce's misgivings multiplied. Had he made a mis- 
 take to mediate at all through such a man ? But several 
 points still had to be weighed and settled. Where and 
 when to meet Mile. Severin, and if a carriage or a horse 
 should be in readiness for the journey. 
 
 "Both shall be provided. She can have her choice," 
 said Rosen, as if determined to do nothing by halves. 
 "Besides I must be prepared to meet any contingency 
 that may arise. When is that Arab fellow coming again ? 
 When did he see Mile. Severin ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' He saw her during this last night. An Arab 's notion 
 of time is never exact, you know. ' ' 
 
 "Lieber Himmel!" muttered Rosen, abnormally nerv- 
 ous of a sudden as he stared at Mr. Luce. He was 
 positively afraid for her. Though he knew nothing of 
 the true state of affairs he was horribly afraid, remem- 
 bering the isolation of the Culvers' home.
 
 236 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "The Arab said she was prepared to wait with perfect 
 confidence for his return. ' ' 
 
 "Ah, she has the courage of a man," said Rosen with 
 gloomy pride, "and is resourceful, as I have reason to 
 know. ' ' 
 
 "You do not think you can win audience with Ahmed 
 Pasha later on to-day? That would be the safest plan." 
 
 "I was told positively he would not return till to- 
 morrow morning. He was away on affairs of pressing 
 importance. ' ' 
 
 Eosen stopped short arrested by a question in the other 
 man's eyes. 
 
 "This suspense is damnable," he fumed in a choked 
 voice. "If the blackguard touches a hair of her head 
 I will strangle him with my own hands if I swing for it. ' ' 
 
 Through the rest of the day though he had business of 
 all sorts and kinds to anticipate while providing for his 
 absence at a critical period, and difficult arrangements 
 to make for the journey, time dragged painfully, for he 
 was in a constant fever of acute dread. Yet for all that 
 lurked the old feeling at the back of his mind that fate 
 was playing into his hands, and that nothing could check 
 him this time from at last winning straight to his heart's 
 desire. 
 
 Sleep was out of the question that night. While he 
 held a restless and occupied vigil dreadful pictures filed 
 through his mind of the horrors and barbarities to which 
 Armenian women of all grades and ages were already 
 being subjected at the hands of Turks, Kurds and 
 Moslems of every class. 
 
 To Veronica midnight came round laboriously enough, 
 her heart within her alternately sinking and hoping to 
 desperation. She stayed in the guest room outwardly
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 237 
 
 content and even gay till the old woman had gone down 
 for the night. Reflecting on Ali's plan for disguise she 
 decided that while adopting it she would underneath re- 
 tain her European clothes, discarding only the Eastern 
 mantle. 
 
 Then she went back to the terrace of the little tent 
 Alarms innumerable besieged her at intervals. Sounds 
 she had not noted on the preceding night ascended from 
 the river, the base of the house and out of the far, far 
 distance. 
 
 But gradually they died down till by the local stillness 
 she felt certain that Ali would soon appear. 
 
 When he did it was unexpected, for gazing through 
 the opening in the wall she had drifted into a deep, 
 trance-like reverie, losing touch with all in the silence but 
 hope of freedom for the man she loved. 
 
 Not a minute was lost, a needless word spoken, nor a 
 sound allowed to drop into the prevailing quiet. They 
 disappeared silently, mysteriously. The only sign left 
 behind of Veronica's recent presence on the terrace was 
 the big mantle dropped purposely in a heap by the wall. 
 Its position there was later to create endless conjecture, 
 for her whole disappearance breathed to the native mind 
 a something uncanny, not to be accounted for in any 
 normal fashion. 
 
 When the fugitives came out of the tunneled passage 
 into the old rock chamber Ali hurriedly produced and 
 unrolled a bundle lying in readiness. 
 
 "Instead of the woman's dress I have brought you a 
 man's cloak," he said in a low voice. "It is safer. 
 Here is the head shawl and the agal to hold it." 
 
 "A wise thought, Ali, but there are my feet to think 
 of. Am I to go bare-footed ? ' '
 
 238 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Allah forbid such a thing ! I have brought red boots 
 like my own but of a smaller size. ' ' 
 
 "Good! Good! May Allah bless your hands," said' 
 Veronica, beginning with speed to adjust her simplified 
 disguise. 
 
 She was soon ready and then Ali hiding her bag under 
 his abbai led the way into the open. The air playing 
 upon her face was sweet and fresh. Through the low- 
 toned transparent atmosphere of the night her slim, tall 
 figure enveloped in the capacious Bedouin cloak looked 
 twin brother to Ali as they dipped into a sandy track 
 winding between brushwood high in places as their 
 heads. 
 
 They picked up the donkey Ali had left hoppled in a 
 leafy covert of the slope. Veronica mounted was more 
 at ease than on foot in the scarlet boots, two sizes at least 
 too large, while Ali 's long stride kept pace at her side. 
 
 Fear of pursuit was out of the question for many hours 
 to come. All the same it was wiser to press on, more 
 especially as Ali had to be in Opella by daybreak. 
 
 He was taking her to the site of their deserted en- 
 campment. She knew it well. Behind some ruins which 
 had flanked the Bedouin tents there was a secret hiding 
 place known only to responsible members of their tribe. 
 It was a well concealed cavern that had served as sanctu- 
 ary for many a fugitive from Turkish justice. Here 
 Veronica was to remain while he went to and from the 
 American consulate, according to the arrangement. 
 
 He tethered the donkey in a secluded recess of the 
 ruins, entered the cave, struck a light and was soon able 
 to pass a flaming brand over the rocky walls. If he 
 could prevent it not even a spider should lurk in hiding 
 to molest his guest. Then he quickly collected a quantity
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 239 
 
 of springy twigs from the brushwood near, and brought 
 them in to form a couch which he covered with a saddle 
 rug. 
 
 Veronica commended his thoughtful energy for her 
 comfort. 
 
 "Yet I wish we could have gone on without this 
 break," she said, wistfully, "or that now I have put on 
 this dress we could search together for the prisoner of 
 the tomb. ' ' 
 
 ' ' By the soul of my mother, no ! Fear for your safety 
 would hamper my feet like a chain. First I must alone 
 discover where he is hidden. A man of the Weldeh 
 possesses many secret keys to fit a locked door, ' ' he said, 
 proudly. 
 
 ' ' Heaven smooth your path, ' ' she said with a catch in 
 her voice, though his confidence was fanning her waning 
 courage to a steady glow. 
 
 "Inshallah!" 
 
 He cautioned her not to stir from her hiding place un- 
 til she heard the cry of a jackal three times repeated. 
 He showed her how to make the exit secure and told her 
 there was food and also water in the saddlebags/ Then 
 he vanished into the night. 
 
 Though Veronica had the feeling of one released from 
 the fetters of an evil spell she was conscious of a sensa- 
 tion of unusual dread. Both feelings remained with her 
 during the hours she spent alone. 
 
 She knew too much about Turkish power in high places 
 to belittle the peril that had threatened her, but to any- 
 body rather than to Otto Rosen she would have preferred 
 to owe her safety. If only she could herself have spoken 
 eye to eye with Mr. Luce or his wife, or have gone boldly 
 with AU in quest of her mother !
 
 240 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Yet everything was so uncertain that personal action 
 seemed paralyzed. All that constituted her world was in 
 the melting pot. Above all griefs bending and breaking 
 her heart was the bitter knowledge of her lover's captiv- 
 ity. 
 
 And here in this cramped rocky interior she was able 
 to taste a measure of the life he was leading. Life? 
 "Why it must be the worst kind of purgatory, a veritable 
 death in life. For she remembered every word of that 
 vivid narrative of the prisoners of Amasia. The black- 
 ness, the loneliness, the dread she had to endure for a 
 brief interval only, while his ordeal was continuous with 
 no respite at all, and practically no hope to sustain him. 
 For he was not to know that his plight had been revealed 
 to any of his friends, above all to the woman he loved. 
 
 She welcomed the thick palpable blackness which em- 
 braced her like a shroud. For so must he often and 
 often sit in darkness for hours, and think and dream of 
 her as she was doing now of him. She drew the beloved 
 face towards her through the intervening spaces which, 
 divided them. Just when the visualization of his suffer- 
 ings culminated in a rush of agonizing misery she lifted 
 her head and saw a bright star looking in like a friendly 
 eye through a chink in the rocks. 
 
 She took heart at the omen. Her inbred fatalism in- 
 tensified by peril was ready to accept the portent. The 
 star shone into the dark places of her soul, drawing up 
 hope from its retreat, and a renewed faith in the mercy 
 of God. Still chasing the thoughts provoked by the 
 silvery gleam she fell asleep. 
 
 When she awoke the sun was up, transforming the 
 blackness of the cave into a gray twilight. 
 
 Had Ali given the signal while she slept, was her first
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 241 
 
 thought. No, for failing a response he would have come 
 to rouse her. Would he come at all she questioned with 
 sudden panic ? Surely, unless dead or captured himself 
 he would never fail her. 
 
 Fortified and controlled by the needful rest she viewed 
 the situation with calmness. She ate a little of the bread 
 and fruit she found in the saddle bag, drank some water, 
 and after freshening her toilette in the best way possible 
 under the restricted conditions, she waited with what 
 patience she could command. 
 
 Suspense growing apace she slipped out of the cave and 
 stood concealed in the long reeds and undergrowth near 
 the exit. In every direction she darted keen glances, 
 not at all sure from which direction to expect Ali. Wild 
 schemes of seeking her own way to safety raced through 
 her mind now that her own personality was effectually 
 hidden by the Bedouin garb. Daylight and the open air 
 had drawn out every trace of apprehension. Her 
 splendid courage rose like a mounting tide in her veins, 
 and shone in her eyes. 
 
 Suddenly Ali stood before her without warning her 
 by the rustling of a leaf. A smile was on his usually im- 
 passive face. 
 
 ' ' Good ! All is good ! " he said. 
 
 She drew a deep breath of relief before saying, "I 
 have longed for your coming. ' ' 
 
 "Good, all is good!" he repeated, still smiling. 
 ' ' There are soldiers, a carriage, the pack mules, and the 
 German consul himself. He will take you without delay 
 to your mother." 
 
 "What do you mean? It is impossible. I cannot 
 trust the German consul. I hate him," she replied, 
 angrily.
 
 242 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Impassivity, the desert's caste mark, returned to Ali's 
 face, cloaking his underlying feelings whether of 
 sympathy or of disagreement. 
 
 "The words you put in my mouth profited nothing. 
 Only the will of the two consuls prevailed. You do not 
 trust the German consul. They lack faith in me. 
 Malaish!" 
 
 "They do not know you as I do. Come, let us run 
 quickly away before they find us." 
 
 "It is now my sister who asks the impossible. Pur- 
 suit of her plan will cast the fate of the Frenchman to 
 the winds." 
 
 Veronica looked helplessly around, once again caught 
 in an eddy of desperate uncertainty. Her troubled wide 
 blue eyes had a hunted look. She had not foreseen com- 
 ing so soon, if ever again, in direct touch with Otto 
 Kosen. The exercise of his influence with Turkish au- 
 thority was the utmost she had calculated upon, and even 
 that would be an obligation she had hated to dwell on. 
 
 A horrifying notion pounced upon her. Did he know 
 by any chance of Ahmed Pasha's assumption to which 
 she had given no denial ? 
 
 One way or the other she must decide at once. For a 
 moment she stood there clenching and unclenching her 
 hands and staring at Ali, then she turned back to the 
 cave. By the hasty way in which she dropped the desert 
 cloak and tore off the keffiyeh he guessed what was in her 
 mind. 
 
 Silently he watched her open her bag, unroll and 
 adjust a broad-rimmed pliable hat with a flowing veil. 
 For an instant she had hesitated between the hat and 
 a lace scarf, then decided that the more European her
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 243 
 
 garb under the altered situation the wiser for all parties. 
 She changed from the red boots back to her own shoes. 
 
 ' ' What shall we do with these Bedouin garments ? ' ' she 
 asked, doubtfully. 
 
 "Wallah ! I will take them for the Frenchman." 
 
 For a moment a light broke over her face. Then the 
 brightness faded and left it white and very quiet. 
 
 ' ' I have decided what to do. In God's name so be it ! " 
 she said, sighing. "I will go with the German consul 
 though only for the express purpose of joining my 
 family. ' ' 
 
 "Allah is your friend. You have chosen well." 
 
 "I rely upon you, Ali, to keep your promise," she 
 said, impressively. ' ' First to discover where the French- 
 man lies hidden, then to snatch him from his prison while 
 he is yet alive. Promise to do your utmost, my brother ! 
 Hanna will help." 
 
 Ali lifted his head. His deep liquid eyes suddenly 
 glinted with a passionate wildness. 
 
 ' ' I swear by my eyes and the soul of my mother I will 
 do for thee and thine whatever is possible and impossi- 
 ble. It is certain that Allah will preserve his life to eat 
 again in the house of his friends," he said in a husky 
 voice. 
 
 "Then lead the way, my brother and friend! I am 
 ready."
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 OTTO ROSEN waited in solitude, watching the thicket 
 into which AH had plunged, some distance away 
 from the deserted camping site, in order to divert atten- 
 tion from the true position of the Bedouin cache. 
 
 Confident as Rosen had been to Mr. Luce of Veron- 
 ica's willingness to accept the protection of his armed 
 escort the half hour of waiting was a time of irritating 
 soul turmoil and difficult suspense. He felt he had 
 never cared so deeply about her as at the present mo- 
 ment, that all the love of the past was a mere nothing 
 compared to his immediate feeling. 
 
 How would she regard him? Would she look at him 
 with the accusing, contemptuous eyes of their last angry 
 combat? Was it possible to stir up confidence and a new 
 love in her breast after all that had gone before ? 
 
 Then suddenly he saw her coming and his heart began 
 to thump like a boy's. 
 
 She walked with a slow, even reluctant step, as if to a 
 difficult encounter. The free, graceful lines of her fine 
 figure were denned through the silken folds of the thin 
 dust cloak she wore instead of the abbai. The mere sight 
 of her, like wine taken after a long abstinence, made him 
 dizzy. His covetous eyes enveloped, dwelt upon her. 
 
 She, too, was alone, having sent Ali back in case of 
 treachery to him. In neither Turk nor German could 
 she ever have faith again. It was solely for her lover's 
 sake she walked deliberately into what for all she could 
 
 244
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 245 
 
 tell was but a new snare. If it were also to entangle All 
 her sacrifice would be purposeless. 
 
 She had schooled herself rigorously for the trial of 
 meeting this man. After the first glimpse she caught of 
 his well-known figure standing expectantly under the 
 trees she fastened her gaze on the ground as if choosing 
 her path. The torture of little Zia flared up between 
 them and she had to hide the antipathy which she could 
 not instantly call to heel. She hated having to dissemble 
 her true feelings, and still more the necessity of seeking 
 safety under the German flag. It was exactly what he 
 had foretold to her mother before Turkey had even 
 entered the war. 
 
 Above all she was horribly nervous lest the pasha's 
 belief of an engagement between them should have come 
 to his ears. 
 
 In fact the whole of life had become a net round her 
 feet. Now as he came hurriedly forward to meet her and 
 she saw the underglow of excitement shining in his eager 
 gaze, she felt the net spreading out and smothering her 
 within its folds. She had vowed in advance she would 
 never clasp his hand again, and the next moment found 
 herself enduring the grasp of his, and even allowing him 
 to kiss her hand. 
 
 "Praise heaven we have found you. Now all will be 
 well, ' ' he said in the voice of a man who has put all aside 
 but a pressing concentrated interest in the person ad- 
 dressed. 
 
 She raised her eyes and looked at him gravely and very 
 fixedly. It flashed across him that she had by no means 
 the air of one who had recently escaped from a great and 
 unusual danger. 
 
 "Thanks to Sheikh AH!" she said.
 
 246 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "To be sure. Where is he ? I want to reward him. ' ' 
 
 ' ' He was obliged to hurry away to other urgent duties. 
 Besides he is very proud. He would be affronted if 
 offered a reward for what he has done for me. It is a 
 matter entirely between his family and mine." 
 
 "All the same if ever I can do him a kindness or pro- 
 cure him a boon of any kind I shall hasten to do it. But 
 you are tired, I am sure. We had better find the car- 
 riage. It is not far to walk." 
 
 "I should like to know the arrangement made by you 
 and Mr. Luce for my journey," she said, glancing un- 
 easily ahead as he led the way. ' ' It should not take me 
 more than a couple of days, or three at the most." 
 
 He hurried to explain that the dangers of traveling 
 increased daily. In order to obtain a strong enough 
 armed escort for his purpose he had been compelled to 
 make the journey a semi-official one. This arrangement 
 would entail a little delay to pay important visits on a 
 few local officials en route. He hoped she would not 
 be annoyed that at least in one case a detour would be 
 necessary, but this was unavoidable. 
 
 "Naturally I regret and dislike the delay," she said 
 with a touch of agitation that bordered on dismay, "but 
 I must be satisfied that you have made the best arrange- 
 ment possible under the difficult circumstances. At any 
 rate I am no longer a prisoner. Of course Mr. Luce 
 knows these plans?" 
 
 "Gewiss! He approves in every way and his wife has 
 sent one of the women of her household to be your per- 
 sonal attendant. You see all travelers to-day do their 
 utmost to attach themselves to an armed guard," he 
 spoke in apologetic tones, uneasy at her air of increasing 
 aloofness. "The addition of the carriage to our party
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 247 
 
 is nothing unusual. If you can only bring yourself to 
 put up with the inconvenience of delay a perfectly safe 
 journey is assured." 
 
 "Mrs. Luce is always the kindest and most thoughtful 
 of friends," was Veronica's comment, as privately she 
 determined that this woman, whoever she might be, 
 should always be with her by night and by day. 
 
 And as soon as she saw the mounted armed guard, the 
 beasts of burden laden with all the paraphernalia of a 
 camp, the attendants and muleteers, she knew that Rosen 
 had not deceived her on this occasion. He was taking 
 no risks, though his precautions might well be as much 
 for the safety of his own skin as for hers. If Ahmed 
 Pasha through his ubiquitous spies came to know she 
 was traveling under Rosen's protection his suspicions 
 would be confirmed. Surely he would make no fresh 
 attack on her liberty. 
 
 This reflection braced her to the passive endurance of 
 a situation that could only be revolting under any con- 
 ditions. For she had to suffer his presence in the car- 
 riage. But as long as the familiar face of the woman 
 remained opposite to her it would be impossible' for him 
 to renew his importunities of other days, those days 
 which already seemed a century away. 
 
 However, for once Otto Rosen displayed in his words 
 and manner through the whole of the day a tactful cere- 
 mony which surprised and relieved her. The dignity 
 and reticence which marked her own bearing towards him 
 he considered intelligible enough, also becoming to the 
 situation. 
 
 What an effort his restraint cost him Veronica had no 
 idea, nor of the constant watch he had to keep upon 
 himself. He had set himself the task of earning her un-
 
 248 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 qualified gratitude which even now he was confident 
 would merge step by step into a warmer and deeper 
 emotion. 
 
 His scheme for increasing the number of days in forci- 
 bly close companionship with Veronica had marched 
 ahead of his wildest hopes. He believed firmly that all 
 suspicions had quieted in her mind. He could read no 
 distrust in her eyes, only a lurking shadow in their blue 
 depths which he hoped soon to chase away. In fact the 
 girl succeeded so well in masking her soul that Rosen was 
 amazed at her calmness after all she had gone through. 
 
 At first their road passed over long gentle slopes and 
 low bare hills, with corn land between, and here and there 
 a shallow valley fruitful with pistachio and other trees. 
 The undulating country was thickly set with villages and 
 ruins of all kinds. But for all that Veronica either cared 
 or noticed they might have been passing through a 
 desert. 
 
 With great tact Rosen arranged that the first night of 
 the journey should be spent under the roof of a con- 
 sular agent in a busy little place tilled and befriended 
 industriously by German KuUur. In advance of their 
 arrival Rosen had advised her to keep silence on the 
 object and goal of their journey. Though there was 
 little or nothing to fear under the aegis of the German 
 flag, he said, it would be as well to avoid leaving the 
 least trail for Ahmed Pasha to brood over. 
 
 Veronica agreed with gravity, and accepted his ex- 
 planation for their halt in a spot east and not west of 
 Opella for similar reasons. The deflection was prudent. 
 In a day or two he promised to double by a new track 
 entirely, and make up for delay by quicker traveling. 
 
 At night she could really rest secure from apprehen-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 249 
 
 sion, stretch her tired limbs, close her throbbing eyes. 
 By the morning she was physically refreshed, and had 
 regained much of her latent energy. 
 
 Yet though used as long as her memory went back to 
 this mode of getting about the country it was most 
 fatiguing. She endured solely as a means to an end both 
 the journey and the companionship of Rosen with dull 
 patience, and the feeling of one who marks time in a 
 dream. 
 
 Their next lodging was in a large khan where the chief 
 guest room was reserved for Veronica and her attendant. 
 Here, too, the feeling of security acted as a sedative. 
 Her last look before falling asleep fell on the woman 
 slumbering on a mat laid across the barred entrance. 
 She remembered nothing else till morning. 
 
 Rosen in both places had seen nothing of Veronica 
 after their arrival. Pleading fatigue as an excuse she 
 had remained invisible and unapproachable. He re- 
 flected moodily over the whole situation. How to con- 
 quer her aloofness was his chief concern. Plan after 
 plan cropped up in his mind as that second night he 
 spread out his detailed map of the vilayet and brooded 
 over it for a couple of hours. 
 
 He was getting desperate. The pursuit of Veronica's 
 love possessed him like a monomania. He was prepared 
 to go to any lengths to gain the end he coveted. 
 
 "Ende gut, alles gut! She told me so herself," he 
 muttered, at last folding up his map. "To-morrow we 
 will try a change of tactics." 
 
 The movement, noise, and hurry of setting out next 
 morning was in full swing, and Veronica already seated 
 in the carriage before the consul made his appearance. 
 She was looking at a beautiful Arab mare pawing im-
 
 250 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 patiently in the care of a groom. Rosen's eyes sud- 
 denly gleamed as he noted her interest. 
 
 "I am going to ride to-day," he said, casually, after 
 inquiring if she had slept well and felt equal to con- 
 tinuing the journey at once. "It will give you more 
 room in the carriage and I shall appreciate the change. ' ' 
 
 "I envy you," she said with sudden impulse. 
 
 "Is that true? It would be easy to arrange for you 
 to do likewise. If not to-day then certainly to-morrow. " 
 
 Veronica made no immediate reply. Not a word was 
 addressed to her by Rosen that she did not weigh and 
 figuratively twist and turn inside out. 
 
 "I should be very pleased," she said at last, speaking 
 slowly, "though I am quite content to remain in the 
 carriage. ' ' 
 
 Yet strange to say her first feeling of relief at being 
 rid of his presence was succeeded by another of restless- 
 ness. She looked around more than once to be sure 
 he was somewhere in sight. A curious dread stole upon 
 her. She glanced at the driver. Was he to be trusted ? 
 And that quartette of armed riders ahead, how was she 
 to know they were not in Ahmed Pasha's secret pay? 
 
 Rosen missed no twist of her head. He guessed with 
 a quick rapture of heart something of what was passing 
 through her mind. She missed him, verily and truly. 
 She needed him. He tried the experiment of lagging 
 behind till again he detected the seeking movement of the 
 beloved head. Then he put on a sudden spurt, rode to 
 the side of the carriage and bent sideways to talk to her. 
 
 Relief was actually clear in her beautiful eyes as she 
 looked up at him. For months past the mental dis- 
 tance between them had steadily increased. Now he 
 felt that m a moment, at one spring, this distance was
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 251 
 
 bridged and they were again in touch. He had to 
 exercise stringent control to preserve the friendly atti- 
 tude he had diplomatically imposed upon himself. 
 
 ' ' I have been thinking over the matter of a mount for 
 you," he said. "As it happens nothing could be more 
 opportune if you would really prefer to ride. I will 
 explain more fully at lunch time." 
 
 He had given her food for reflection. When they sat 
 down under the little open tent for a meal her mind wai 
 receptive to any new ideas put before her. 
 
 He reminded her with a grave demeanor that caution 
 must be the chief guide of all travelers of to-day. Vari- 
 ous reports of the state of the high road, especially 
 beyond the stage they were upon had been brought to 
 him. Forewarned was to be forearmed. On the mor- 
 row therefore he proposed to strike into a route not 
 generally used but certainly safer. One drawback he 
 had been considering. The track was impracticable for 
 a carriage. 
 
 "As far as I am concerned it does not matter in the 
 least," said Veronica. "I shall be delighted to ride. 
 Perhaps I could hire a suitable horse at our resting place 
 to-night, and a strong ass for the woman." 
 
 "She can easily find a seat on one of the pack mules. 
 If you are willing to ride you shall have the mare I am 
 riding to-day. That was my chief reason for taking her 
 in hand myself to-day. I brought her and a second one 
 with me to hold in reserve in case of an accident over- 
 taking the carriage, or to be ready in any other emer- 
 gency." 
 
 "You have shown great forethought," she said, while 
 again searching uneasily for the secret motive which she 
 never ceased to suspect.
 
 252 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Any moment that she began to feel the least inclined 
 to regard him with leniency quick remembrance hardened 
 her heart. She set her teeth with a savage intensity as 
 later on in the day she sat back white and stern in the 
 carriage, brooding over his brutal share in the terrible 
 captivity of Pierre. 
 
 It was not till she was actually in the saddle next day 
 that she lost the fierce depression that had suddenly en- 
 compassed her like a thick cloud with bitter wrath hidden 
 at the heart of it. The first fresh taste of freedom she 
 had experienced for many a day came to her directly she 
 sat the mare provided for her use. 
 
 By magic her spirits lifted in the clear morning air. 
 Hope fluttered ahead of her, winged with all sorts of new 
 possibilities. 
 
 And Pierre seemed very near the whole time. A 
 strange expectation tingled in her veins. His face was 
 ever before her. She could almost hear his voice, ardent, 
 masterful, vibrant with love. 
 
 Perhaps Ali had already found him. Perhaps he was 
 free! 
 
 Rosen's confidence had fallen to zero in contemplating 
 her unconcealed melancholy of yesterday. To-day it 
 rose swiftly as he watched the dreams gathering in her 
 eyes and took them to himself. His heart leaped for joy. 
 
 With the myopic mental vision which is known nowa- 
 days to be something thoroughly German, he firmly be- 
 lieved that the present and future had power completely 
 to smother the past. He forgot his foul wrongs against 
 her in the past the barbarous torture of a child, the 
 despicable mandate which led to her desperate plight, 
 and above all the ruthless incarceration of her lover in 
 the tomb. Ignoring these deeds of darkness as though
 
 they had never been he plumed himself on his circum- 
 spection, his foresight, his excellent arrangements. 
 
 Veronica would forget everything else. For her there 
 would be no Past, only a glorious, unending to-day. 
 
 Already they had left the ordinary highway to sur- 
 mount a ridge from which the track dropped into a nar- 
 row valley sparsely overrun with live oak and aromatic 
 scrub. When the full glare of the day shone down on 
 the riders a halt was called. The herbage between the 
 rocks was scanty. Puffs of heat gave back from the 
 stone-ridden earth. 
 
 Veronica asked if they were at last approaching the end 
 of the journey. Kosen gave an answer meant to be re- 
 assuring. It was decidedly evasive. "While they pur- 
 sued their way in the afternoon on a rugged path between 
 wide expanses of fields already ripe for the Syrian har- 
 vest, she dwelt distrustfully on his words. Looking 
 ahead and around she could find no trace as yet of the 
 more luscious vegetation of the fertile littoral for which 
 they were bound. Nor were they traveling with the sun, 
 as at this time of day they should. 
 
 Yet fear of personal danger had dried up within her 
 as completely as an eastern brook in summer. Only she 
 wanted to get on. The intervals of rest were too long to 
 please her. They were irksome, when like a homing 
 pigeon the bent of her whole desire was towards the goal 
 ahead. 
 
 Then to her dismay and infinite annoyance came an- 
 other unexpected halt. Sunset was still an hour away. 
 
 The guide had been stopped by a man on a donkey 
 coming to meet them. At once the advance escort drew 
 rein and gathered round. Rosen called out angrily and 
 then rode forward.
 
 254 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "You had better wait till I see what they are stopping 
 for," he called to Veronica. 
 
 She pulled up her mare and sat back in her saddle 
 waiting. Otto Rosen dismounted and talked energet- 
 ically with his kawass. The man seemed excited. He 
 gesticulated in the suggestive manner of an Arabic story- 
 teller. 
 
 Veronica's curiosity was stirred as she studied the 
 whole group. Suddenly Rosen looked back, caught her 
 questioning look, moved further away and again stood in 
 close confab with the kawass. 
 
 In a few minutes he turned slowly back, walking 
 deliberately with an absorbed air and pulling at 
 his mustache. The kawass followed him, leading the 
 mare. 
 
 "What is wrong?" she called anxiously, bending for- 
 ward with an eager look. 
 
 "Nothing of real consequence except that there is no 
 accommodation of any description in the village further 
 on where we meant to put up to-night. It is too late to 
 ride on to the next suitable place. In addition no one 
 seems to know much about it. If you have no objection 
 we will camp out to-night. ' ' 
 
 "I should much prefer to continue our journey. 
 Every hour is of consequence to me," she said, pro- 
 testingly. 
 
 "We are bound to rest the animals and also pitch tents 
 in a suitable spot. This will be found a good mile 
 further on. I have ordered the mules to go ahead." 
 
 "You seem to have finished your official visits so why 
 can't we go straight on and finish with this tedious 
 journey v " she said, with a touch of her old petulance 
 towards hint
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 255 
 
 "Only have confidence in me, Veronica," he said, 
 quietly, his eyes searching her face which looked at the 
 moment worn and eager. "All our plans are arranged 
 entirely for your safety and greater comfort." 
 
 She knitted her brows looking darkly over his head 
 while she gathered up the slackened reins. 
 
 "At any rate now we can ride on I suppose," she said, 
 coldly, "if those men will only clear out of the way." 
 
 "Certainly," he said, shortly, turning with a frown to 
 his horse. They rode on to the camping ground without 
 exchanging further words. 
 
 She reflected it was impolitic to anger him gratuitously 
 much as it eased her own feelings towards him. For 
 in that case he was quite capable of thwarting and delay- 
 ing her on purpose. She would have preferred to remain 
 in her tent but again prudence prevailed in drawing her 
 to sit out of doors for the evening meal, and later to 
 recline in one of the folding chairs placed for their 
 greater ease in the door of the dinner tent. 
 
 She accepted a cigarette but remained obviously dis- 
 inclined for conversation. Rosen watched her uneasily 
 while he also smoked. Her silence was meditative rather 
 than resentful he felt. 
 
 He wondered how best he could meet her mood, or 
 indeed rouse her out of it. After making a few remarks 
 to which she barely replied, he got up suddenly and went 
 into his tent. In a few moments he came out carrying 
 his violin. 
 
 Veronica's eyes were closed when he took his seat. 
 She did not move till the sweet long drawn out notes of 
 a favorite melody dropped into the silence of the evening 
 air. With a jerking shuddering movement as if jarred 
 in every nerve of her body she sat up.
 
 256 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Stop!" she gasped. "I cannot bear it. It is heart- 
 less of you. ' ' 
 
 "But I thought I hoped " he stammered, com- 
 pletely dumbfounded. 
 
 "You have no right to think or to dare to hope I could 
 endure it," she said in a low and tense voice, clenching 
 her hands. "How can it possibly cause me anything but 
 horror and grief to listen to your music when I am here 
 torn from everything and everybody I love and care for. 
 It makes me suffer intolerably and you ought to know it. ' ' 
 
 She vanished into her tent. He remained motionless 
 still hugging his beloved instrument while his bow re- 
 mained suspended in his hand. Beneath the immobility, 
 jealousy still smoldering in his heart flared up again 
 wildly, though outwardly it showed not at all. 
 
 By degrees he seemed to come to himself. He retired 
 to his tent and stayed in it a little while. He was in an 
 evil mood when presently he came out. He summoned 
 his kawass at once, gave a few short orders to the head 
 camp attendants, mounted his horse and rode off with a 
 guard of soldiers. 
 
 The village a mile or two to the north was his goal. 
 He wished to verify the reports about a large caravan of 
 Armenians with which the local khans were stated to be 
 packed. He had some inquiries to make of another 
 nature, and more than one important visit to pay. 
 
 At the khans he was confronted with scenes of un- 
 speakable and pitiful misery. Every room, the roofs, 
 the colonnades and terraces were crowded with the un- 
 happy deported people, chiefly women, children and a 
 few old men. The Turkish gendarmes had given them 
 a day's rest on account of the large number of sick. 
 Many of these had already died.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 257 
 
 Here Rosen had planned to pass the night, but he had 
 spared Veronica the pain of these harrowing sights. 
 Did she realize, or in any way appreciate his overwhelm- 
 ing consideration? 
 
 Not in the least. Nor would she ever do so unless in 
 some way he could contrive to bring some such drastic 
 facts as these before her notice, and demonstrate by 
 actual contrast the intolerable fate from which he alone 
 had power and the will to snatch her away. 
 
 Before he left the village he had discovered all he 
 wanted to know and paid his visits. In accordance with 
 his information he made his plans for the next day. It 
 would not be as long nor as tiring as usual though for his 
 secret purpose it would be all that was required. 
 
 A curious glow of exultation was in his eyes when he 
 came back to the camp and turned in for the night. It 
 was the look of mingled malice and satisfaction summed 
 up in the expressive double-barreled word, "Schaden- 
 freude."
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 ROSEN had told Veronica the truth about her lover. 
 The Frenchman, he feared as a rival and hated as 
 his enemy, had been shut up at his instigation in an 
 isolated tower tomb. It was one of several remnants of 
 an ancient necropolis on a bluff above the important vil- 
 lage of El Marasch. 
 
 That stifled cry in the lane had been no fancy of Ver- 
 onica's brain. Pierre Marson had been waylaid. Armed 
 men had fallen upon him like hounds upon a fox, bound 
 and carried him off all in a few seconds. His first 
 coherent thought, after the surprise, was of glad relief 
 that it had not occurred before he had been able to warn 
 the Severin family of many impending serious dangers, 
 and to give Veronica grave injunctions, together with a 
 small automatic revolver he had brought with him from 
 France for that purpose. 
 
 Kahoum Pasha, pleased to prove the superiority of 
 Oriental prescience over the crude methods of a German 
 consul, had lost no time in acquainting Rosen with his 
 capture. 
 
 The two enemies brought face to face, the one so indis- 
 putably at the mercy of the other, stared fixedly at each 
 other. Pierre Marson 's eyes, cold and profound as jet, 
 showed no signal of fear or agitation. The malevolence 
 of Rosen's gaze had a something in it at once exulting 
 and calculating. 
 
 "What do you mean to do with this cursed son of a 
 dog?" he asked the pasha with a harsh laugh. 
 
 258
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 259 
 
 "He will be examined and then courtmartialed. " 
 
 "I can tell you a better way of punishing a French 
 spy. Do you know the story of the prisoners of 
 Amasia ? ' ' 
 
 "Maybe, but it has slipped from my mind. Unfold 
 it, effendi, whose life Allah preserve!" 
 
 The narrative related with spiteful and facetious 
 humor by Rosen at once tickled the fancy of Turkish offi- 
 cialdom, which revels in the discovery of new shades 
 of inhumanity to vary its administration of justice. 
 
 Kahoum Pasha, to whom the German's mind was an 
 open book, personally overflowed with an ironical amuse- 
 ment that induced him to enter with alacrity into the 
 pleasantry of renewing an episode similar to that of 
 a century ago. 
 
 "The tale that is past shall live again. Inshallah, it 
 shall be told in the ears of children yet unborn," he de- 
 clared. 
 
 Pierre Marson kept rigid silence. Not a muscle be- 
 trayed that he either understood or cared what that igno- 
 ble German related. After all, he told himself, it was 
 but another example of the loathsome methods which the 
 Huns were carrying out wholesale wherever they fought 
 and foregathered. Coarse badinage and gibe of the help- 
 less was one of their favorite pastimes. If so many 
 others had to endure it, and did so with a stoicism that 
 was heroic, he also could stand anything and everything. 
 
 Above all, he vowed inwardly, the cur should not be 
 gratified by seeing him flinch or display the smallest con- 
 cern. 
 
 Only one sentence pierced him secretly he will ~be ex- 
 amined for by that he understood Kahoum Pasha to 
 mean the various torturing methods by which Turkish
 
 260 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 justice removes the lock of silence from a prisoner's lips. 
 Not in all cases to release the unvarnished truth for, more 
 often than not, the hapless victim will babble in his agony 
 any mortal thing, whether truth or falsehood, that will 
 gratify the demands of his torturers. 
 
 A week went by before Marson was taken at night out 
 of the city, aching and maltreated in every part of his 
 body. He doubted if he would ever be able to use his 
 right foot or left arm again, so severely had they been 
 "questioned" in the press. That is to say, he considered 
 ruefully, if fate still reserved any opportunity in store 
 for him to exercise their functions in the future. 
 
 He was fully aware of the kind of captivity that 
 awaited him. He knew that his enemies alone would 
 know where he was hidden away ; that deprivation would 
 weaken him still more; and that the agony and strain 
 of solitary confinement would prey insiduously upon him, 
 body and soul. 
 
 Still he had no intention of renouncing hope. There 
 was a remedy for every evil under the sun. The wisest 
 of men had said so. He was an Oriental and ought to 
 know ! Prisoners of the Bastille had once never dreamed 
 of liberty. Martyrs of Russian autocracy had escaped 
 from their prisons after appalling experiences to work 
 out a new existence in a foreign land. 
 
 He hated to reflect though, that things would have been 
 worse for him but for the intervention of the German 
 consul, who had been present at the latest cross-examina- 
 tion. 
 
 "This Frenchman has the obstinacy of a thousand 
 mules," Kahoum Pasha had said. "Now we will see 
 what the cord will press out of him." 
 
 And the merciless cord tied round his head had been
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 261 
 
 slowly tightened till the whole framework of his skull 
 had seemed to be crushing together like a squeezed egg 
 shell. His eyes had bulged horribly and felt ready to 
 drop from their sockets. 
 
 Even in his agony Pierre had seen the face of Rosen 
 watching him with a something crafty and devilish in its 
 expression. How the man hated him ! 
 
 Yet it was Rosen who^had called a halt to the torture. 
 A speedy death was not the death he desired to mete out 
 to his enemy, but the continuous purgatory of just such 
 a living death as that of the prisoners of Amasia. 
 Obsessed with the resolve to force Pierre Marson to the 
 torments of a like ordeal, he also burned with an evil im- 
 patience for the durance to begin. 
 
 "It is enough, Excellency! I have already asked his 
 life as a favor to myself, ' ' Rosen had said, dreading that 
 the Frenchman would expire under their eyes. 
 
 "Pish! The fellow is a fool. He deserves to die," 
 but all the same the pasha had given a signal that put an 
 end to the torture. 
 
 Kahoum had once been Mudir of El Marasch and dis- 
 trict. Turning over in his mind likely places to meet 
 the curious fancy of the German consul, and wishing to 
 choose one not too near Opella, he came to the conclusion 
 that one of the old tower tombs on the hill above El 
 Marasch would exactly suit the purpose. Amasia itself, 
 two or three hundred miles away, was out of the question, 
 but a distance of twenty miles was a bagatelle to arrange. 
 
 So it was to El Marasch that Pierre was brought. And 
 that he should have no knowledge of the way by which 
 he had come or the position of his prison, he was blind- 
 folded before reaching the village. A few yards from 
 the tomb the bandage was removed from his eyes.
 
 262 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 He stood before a curious little tower of which die 
 summit was tumbling in ruins while the substructure was 
 still massive, unbroken and strong. A great pile of 
 stones to one side of the narrow doorway showed that this 
 had recently been cleared. 
 
 The guard of men in whose charge he had ridden the 
 twenty miles were not altogether bad fellows. His fluent 
 Arabic had made a bridge between them. He had con- 
 trived to hide some of his money during the terrible week 
 just gone by. By a discreet use of backsheesh he man- 
 aged on the way to secure a precious little store of tobacco 
 and matches that were to bring him unutterable solace 
 in some of the darkest hours to come. 
 
 But arrived at the journey's end all amenities ceased 
 abruptly. The charge of the prisoner was handed over to 
 local authority. Under pain of direst penalty there was 
 to be no remittance in the strict and constant guard upon 
 this living inmate of the tomb. Day and night the spot 
 had to be watched. The prisoner was one of high and 
 particular importance. He was to be supplied with 
 food and drink, frugally, plainly, once only during every 
 twenty-four hours. 
 
 Pierre cast a lingering look at the sky. Then he gave 
 a sweeping glance over the rock-strewn plateau noting 
 that there were other towers, bigger and smaller than his, 
 scattered about. 
 
 With a flash of grim humor he wondered if per- 
 chance German "tender mercy" and Turkish devilry 
 had between them evolved the notion of converting this 
 ancient burial ground into an internment camp for others 
 of the living. As far as he could see there was no human 
 habitation of to-day anywhere in the vicinity. 
 
 Suddenly he was given to understand he must enter
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 263 
 
 the tower at once without any ado. He shrugged his 
 shoulders with the air of one who knows it is useless to 
 resist. 
 
 "Le vin est tire. II faut le boire," he muttered, and 
 without another word he stepped inside. 
 
 The moment had come for giving in to fate. But not 
 blindly, stupidly. He would know the exact nature and 
 extent of his prison, and be quite sure that he was not to 
 share it with snakes or scorpions or other vermin of the 
 kind. While the pile of stones was being noisily re- 
 placed in the entrance he closely investigated floor and 
 ceiling of the interior, together with the narrow stone 
 shelves which had once been resting places for the dead. 
 
 An interval of suspense when he watched, his spirits at 
 zero, fearing that every scrap of daylight was to be 
 walled out. He knew better than to express his own 
 views on the matter. 
 
 Then came the reaction which by contrast was akin to 
 rejoicing. The devils had left him an oblong aperture 
 at the top of the doorway. A peep of the sky, the vitaliz- 
 ing air of heaven were yet to be his priceless possessions. 
 
 "Why, he was in clover compared with a poilu in a 
 water-logged dug-out ! His first rapid thought cemented 
 into a resolve to cherish the fancy that he was acting 
 lonely sentry in an advance outpost, and that his com- 
 rades, though out of sight, were not far distant. 
 
 En garde! always and unceasingly. Never to lose 
 grip of his will or of his tortured mind. To keep both 
 fixed stubbornly on the hope however remote of some 
 respite, or change, or release. 
 
 This was the hard almost impossible task Pierre Marson 
 imposed upon his soul. And the chances were that he 
 might emerge triumphantly for he was made of sterner
 
 264 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 and more virile stuff than many men. For it was not 
 the body that would conquer in this unnatural setting of 
 existence, but the something intangible of the spirit, that 
 works invisibly, that spark which feeds with its immortal 
 fire its tenement of clay, however hard pressed, to the 
 very verge of dissolution. 
 
 And he was glad, inexpressibly, even rapturously glad, 
 that not once had he been tempted to let a message slip 
 secretly through to the Severin family. Not a syllable of 
 vital importance had his torturers gleaned for all the 
 pains of their inquisitorial inquiries. What was serious 
 in contemplating possible chances of escape was the 
 danger of engulfing friends who might help, into as deep 
 a pit as he had dug for himself. 
 
 For this reason he had not ventured on the least effort 
 to acquaint Veronica with his plight. He hugged the 
 notion to himself that nothing could or would arise to 
 harm her in any way. That the German consul would 
 be a menace to people who were his friends he had failed 
 utterly to grasp. The special malice to himself he at- 
 tributed to the microbe of hate sedulously cultivated by 
 the Hun for his enemy. 
 
 By now, he considered, Veronica would be far enough 
 away from Opella, in comparative safety. Prayers of 
 thankfulness filled his soul that she would have no idea 
 at all of the calamity that had overtaken him. His 
 silence she would naturally expect, though he divined 
 more than ever by his own emotions the measure of the 
 grief which had followed their leave-taking. 
 
 He had the power of calling up the image of his love, 
 vividly, realistically ; the blue, fathomless eyes and above 
 them the black of her glorious hair, then the sweeping 
 brows, the sweet firm lips with their ravishing curves.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 265 
 
 It was a magic he indulged in through many still and 
 wakeful hours. These, by the very hopelessness of the 
 vision, were followed invariably by days when he was 
 only conscious of a steady mist of pain, and a sea of 
 dumb depression. 
 
 For in such hours he mourned for the black agony of 
 France, and his powerlessness to continue and fulfill the 
 service for which he had braved every peril that meets 
 and pursues both the military and civilian secret agent 
 in time of war. For his particular task, intricate, and, 
 if successful, to prove of infinite value to the Foreign 
 Office, a man of his linguistic abilities and thoroughly 
 in touch with Oriental mentality had been essential. 
 
 He also had the mortification to brood over, that but 
 for his turning aside from his prearranged scheme of 
 action to what was in truth a personal affair he might 
 still have been a free man. For he had no inkling of 
 how Kahoum Pasha's agents had marked down and fol- 
 lowed him from the moment of his disembarkation on 
 Asiatic soil from a little Greek steamer. 
 
 Constantly brooding and thrown back upon the re- 
 sources of his own mind, thoughts of war in the ab- 
 stract would come to him again and again. He reflected 
 how often it happens that the price of war is injustice, 
 because it does not always settle what is right. And 
 why? Because war simply proves that might is right, 
 in a word settles which combatant is the stronger, and 
 not whether his cause be just or unjust. History records 
 time and again how the just cause has often been lost 
 in war, and the unjust has triumphed. 
 
 Then if might be the ruling force of this earth, are 
 we not all blind creatures of fate, he would ask himself, 
 or do we make or mar our own destiny? It seemed
 
 266 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 strange to him that men should fear anything at all. 
 Death would come when it had a mind to come and not a 
 second sooner or later. 
 
 And then as if chased by a thousand invisible devils 
 he would start up and limp incessantly up and down and 
 round his cage of stone, hailing the persistent ache of 
 his foot as a door which shut out his thoughts. He 
 would count his steps, and measure them mentally in 
 centimetres, metres, kilometres. He ticked off the days 
 one by one by scratching with a stone on a slab of rock. 
 
 Times came when he tried not to think at all but to 
 blot out everything by singing lustily, songs of war and 
 "la Patrie," to be followed by operatic snatches, and 
 often a thrilling and tender love song. 
 
 "Allah has certainly taken his wits," one watchman 
 said to the other significantly the first time they heard 
 these songs. 
 
 "Wallah! He is mad majnun," assented the other, 
 at once starting a wailing chant on his own account. 
 
 Thus the days went by, and the weeks, and still Pierre 
 kept his reason, and never did he so far lose grip of his 
 will as to sink in spirit to the bedrock of despair. 
 
 Not once but a score of times he conned over every 
 instance he could recollect in fact and fiction of men 
 who had made good their escape from prisons far harder 
 to break than his own. He nursed the notion that with 
 time there would come a slackening in supervision, or 
 that other watchmen might be placed on duty who would 
 be amenable to a bribe. But for both these possibilities 
 he must hold his soul in patience. Premature action 
 would but prove a foregone disaster. 
 Yet so prone is a captive to hope or to dread that he
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 267 
 
 seeks a mystery in the slightest unusual sound he hears. 
 So that it happened one evening when Pierre watched 
 the strip of sky he called his window suddenly take on 
 the gloom of night, his sharpened ears caught a sound 
 of footsteps walking upon stony ground. 
 
 "Was he going to be freed? This was his first swift 
 thought. 
 
 Cool reason took its place. He smiled bitterly at his 
 own folly, recalling the isolation of his prison and the 
 remote probability that any one likely to procure his re- 
 lease would ever be able to find him out. 
 
 Yet footsteps certainly approached. It was not the 
 hour for his dole of food and drink. Should he hazard 
 a cry before the unknown pedestrians passed on without 
 knowing a fellow creature was immured in this tomb ? 
 
 Still another thought ! He laid a shaking hand on his 
 damp forehead. Perhaps they were coming to kill him 
 as once those prisoners of Amasia were killed. Mur- 
 derers choosing to veil their crime in the shade of night. 
 
 Now the footsteps stopped, though further away he 
 still heard a curious shuffling as of native slippers over 
 the stones. Yes, there was no doubt of it. Out of reach 
 of all aid, like a rat in a trap, he was to die. 
 
 He braced himself for the inevitable, expecting every 
 instant to hear an attack on the barricade of the door- 
 way. 
 
 Was it delusion, or had some one called him by name ? 
 He stood up suddenly. 
 
 "Marson! Are you there?" asked a voice in guttural 
 French. 
 
 "Who speaks?" said Pierre, after a small pause. 
 
 "Rosen, the German consul! I am in camp outside
 
 268 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the village. It may interest you to hear that Mademoi- 
 selle Severin is in camp with me." 
 
 A pause again as if a sharp wind had caught the 
 breath of the listener within. Then 
 
 ' ' You lie ! " shot fiercely into the night. 
 
 "It is the plain truth. She is in camp with me. We 
 have been traveling together for a week. We shall be 
 married in a few days." 
 
 "Liar!" 
 
 "Listen well to what I say! The French army is at 
 its last gasp. The English have evacuated Gallipoli. 
 The Central Powers are smashing the damned Entente 
 hand over fist. ' ' 
 
 "You devil! You cur!" Pierre's voice was hoarse, 
 horribly hoarse. 
 
 "Au revoir!" 
 
 Otto Rosen had not purposely made tracks for El 
 Marasch. It was one of the suitable rest places that came 
 into the cross-country itinerary he had planned. 
 
 When he had realized the fact at an earlier hour of 
 the journey he had glowed inwardly. Not that he had 
 meant Veronica to glean the slightest suspicion that 
 might unsettle her mind through commiseration. But 
 he had promised himself, as far as the detestable French- 
 man was concerned, a revengeful stroke full of the 
 vicious humor which, being a German at war, was as 
 manna to his mean soul. 
 
 Somehow during the later stage of the journey his 
 desire had spluttered out. But for Veronica's angry 
 attack upon his violin they would have passed harmlessly 
 on their way. He would not have visited El Marasch 
 at all. Well would it have been for him if he had 
 refrained. Fate has a way of letting the cunning at
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 269 
 
 times overreach and trip themselves in, the meshes of 
 the snare they lay for others. 
 
 Sweat poured from Pierre Marson's forehead when he 
 was left alone. By daylight his face would have been 
 seen to be knotted with harsh deep wrinkles and twists. 
 He was breathing hard. 
 
 The bare innuendo that his Veronica was in the power 
 of such a villain started a chill through every vein, 
 and then immediately filled him with a rage so violent 
 that he could have shouted and screamed at the top of 
 his voice. 
 
 But give the taunting monster a chance to gibe again ? 
 Not likely ! He knew it was a lie, a diabolic lie, he told 
 himself; but if there were the smallest substratum of 
 truth in the horrible statement it would be certain she 
 was there, a captive against her will. 
 
 At this point he started to curse in a low level voice. 
 It was an outlet that saved him from losing his senses, 
 though for the moment he had certainly come to the end 
 of hope. 
 
 "Courage!" was suddenly uttered in his own tongue, 
 in a low penetrating whisper through the aperture of the 
 doorway. 
 
 Pierre jumped to his feet and rushed like a bull at the 
 barricade of stones. He thought that Rosen was still 
 there, listening to the effect of his disclosures, and now 
 piling a degrading insult upon the foul blow he had al- 
 ready dealt. 
 
 "Patience and hope for a few days, perhaps a week," 
 said the same low voice. ' ' I dare not stay. A bientot ! ' ' 
 
 A small package came flying through the aperture and 
 dropped at Pierre's feet. He picked it up with the feel- 
 ing of one who dreams and dreads to waken. He listened
 
 270 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 to the soft stealthy footsteps moving away, and the 
 sound of them growing fainter and fainter upon the 
 silence of the night. 
 
 Then suddenly he heard the guards talking again.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE second morning after Veronica's resentful out- 
 burst she opened her eyes with a singular feeling of 
 refreshment. She had felt languid and inexpressibly 
 weary the whole of the previous day after a white night 
 in which she had tossed from side to side, haunted hour 
 after hour by a despondency that was own twin to 
 despair. 
 
 But this last night, just over, she had slept so well that 
 she did not once open her eyes till the pale light of 
 dawn was peering through the canvas walls. 
 
 She got up noiselessly so as not to awaken the woman, 
 dressed swiftly, unfastened the flap of the tent and 
 slipped through its uncovered mouth. Once in the open 
 she drew in the air of the young morning as though a 
 draught of spring water were at her lips. 
 
 Then she looked around. Not a creature was yet 
 astir. The group of tents sheltered by a clump of trees 
 seemed asleep. Behind these stretched the black line 
 of tethered horses and mules. Further away, round the 
 dead embers of the camp fire slumbered the soldiers and 
 mukaris, huddled in their Eastern cloaks. Even the 
 sentry had squatted down, over-powered by sleep, his 
 face hidden between his arms. 
 
 While Veronica dressed, the notion had come to her 
 she would like to dip her face in the stream of which, last 
 evening, she had caught a glimpse, through the reeds 
 and bushes of its banks, before riding into camp. She 
 
 271
 
 272 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 could now trace its course about a mile away at the foot 
 of a long slope, descending from the high ground where 
 the camp was pitched. 
 
 Quickly and apparently unobserved she hurried over 
 the scrub strewn ground. Perhaps, while all was still 
 and deserted, she might even bathe in the little river as 
 so often she had done in holiday time in the sheltered 
 pools of Lebanon. 
 
 Dawn was painting the eastern sky above the distant 
 ridge across the valley in crimson and gold, with great 
 flaming splashes, and streamers of the color of blood. 
 
 A strange desolate feeling stole to meet her through 
 the cool loneliness of the morn. As she drew near to 
 the hidden stream, through openings in the thicket, she 
 was able to glimpse the water beyond. The color of the 
 water was red, the blood-red color of the eastern sky. 
 
 The reflection of that gorgeous sunrise, she told her- 
 self, yet her step lingered in approach, and a sudden 
 look of fear darkened her eyes. Some premonition urged 
 her to turn back at once, but like a magnet the lure of 
 the river prevailed. 
 
 Now she was near enough to push a way through the 
 thin line of tamarisks and willows, but she stopped of 
 a sudden with uplifted head. A smell was in her nostrils 
 that she could not mistake the unspeakable stench of 
 death. 
 
 Again she moved forward, like one mesmerized, but 
 now at a creeping pace. She shuddered, her teeth 
 chattered, as cowering close to the water edge she peered 
 through the bushes. Her brain reeled at the sight re- 
 vealed to her stupefied gaze. 
 
 Great Christ ! Was she herself alive and awake ? Or 
 was she in the bonds of as frightful a nightmare as was
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 273 
 
 ever conceived by human imagination ? In all the world 
 it seemed to her she was the only being left alive. 
 
 For death and only death confronted her in its most 
 ghastly form. Corpses by the hundred lay thick as 
 fallen leaves everywhere her sight could reach, on the 
 rocks, up and down the banks, among the bushes on the 
 river brink, and choking the stream. Corpses of men 
 pierced by bullet and sword; of women mangled and 
 stripped of all covering but their trailing hair ; of little 
 children slaughtered like sheep, lying naked and huddled 
 together by their mothers' side. 
 
 It was a blood curdling spectacle. And, though Ver- 
 onica did not know it, such sights were of daily occur- 
 rence. Innocent Armenians of all ages were being mas- 
 sacred in tens of thousands in the most devilish and tor- 
 turing fashion that the brutality of Turk and Kurd 
 could devise. Not a finger was lifted by Germany to 
 stop it, nor as yet a protest by any neutral nation to com- 
 pel Turkey to stay her hand. 
 
 Beads of water broke out on Veronica's temples. An 
 irrepressible cry of anguish was wrung from her dried 
 lips. 
 
 "0 my God, give me strength!" burst from her. 
 "Strength for vengeance vengeance!" 
 
 But were they all dead ? Might there not be one fellow 
 being she could save and drag back to life? One of 
 those babes perhaps, or that young girl lying with out- 
 stretched arms by the water edge ? 
 
 But not a movement was perceptible, except in the 
 stream where the current rocked the crowded bodies to 
 and fro with a ghastly rhythmic regularity. 
 
 Suddenly she pressed her hands to her ears with a dis- 
 tracted gesture, her head bending low and forward with
 
 274 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 partially closed eyelids. She had come to the border 
 line of sanity. A deadly paralyzing fear had penetrated 
 -at last to the very core of her brave soul. All reality 
 had dropped out of life. She was alone among the dead 
 of the universe, in the power of unlimited fear, herself 
 a shadowless ghost in the land of nowhere. 
 
 A touch, a warm living touch stung her to life. 
 
 She screamed, and the next instant was struggling with 
 all the strength lent by ungovernable terror. For a 
 man 's arm was around her, pulling her away with might. 
 
 ' ' Come away ! You shall not stay here. It is not a fit 
 place for you to be in. Come, my Veronica! Come! 
 You are safe with me. Nothing shall harm you. Come 
 away!" 
 
 It was Rosen. His voice was agitated, his face livid, 
 his eyes strained. The experience was even more drastic 
 that he had anticipated. He had seen Veronica flit 
 away from the tent and followed her through the under- 
 growth, where he had sat in ambush to spy upon her 
 unseen. He had planned that she should see this grue- 
 some sight, but of a sudden as he watched he had feared 
 for her reason and promptly intervened. 
 
 With rapid revulsion from panic to unmitigated re- 
 lief her resistance to him stopped dead. Though she 
 could hardly hear his voice for the blood that sang in 
 her ears, she turned and clung to him tightly like a 
 deadly frightened child. 
 
 He was alive. He was a bit of the old normal life from 
 which she seemed to have been separated for a million 
 years. A great trembling came over her like an ague 
 attack. 
 
 "Have no fear, meine Geliebte," he whispered 
 hoarsely, holding her close. ""We will go far away at
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 275 
 
 once. It was an error that made us halt so near this 
 terrible spot. I did not guess. ' ' 
 
 The He was well told. Veronica had no suspicion of 
 this latest trap to fling her a willing captive into his arms. 
 She moaned dully and frequently, like one in great 
 mental distress, as she allowed him to support and guide 
 her back to the camp. 
 
 The attendant was standing perplexed and anxious 
 before the tent. She saw them coming and ran to meet 
 them. 
 
 "The Svtt is tired and not very well. Bring coffee 
 without delay," he ordered. 
 
 He put Veronica in a low canvas chair in the tent 
 entrance. When the coffee came he dosed it with cognac 
 and made her drink it at once. Obediently she gulped 
 it down. 
 
 Then with the air of an elder brother he gave direc- 
 tions for the prompt packing of the traveling bag. 
 Veronica paid no attention beyond following the 
 woman's movements with stupefied gaze. She had the 
 look of one who has been drugged. 
 
 Rosen doubted if she had strength left to sit her mare 
 for the day, and longed for the carriage he had dis- 
 patched to Opella. Still, now his object was attained 
 beyond his wildest anticipations, he meant to make a 
 bee-line for the railroad, and join the train to complete 
 the journey he had planned before leaving home. 
 
 He vowed inwardly that atonement for this latest 
 ordeal should be of a kind that would later erase its 
 entire remembrance from Veronica's life. He con- 
 doned the infamy of his diabolic plot by reflecting that 
 only an ocular demonstration of the alternative fate 
 awaiting her could have broken her stubborn resistance.
 
 276 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 After starting on their way he kept closely by Ver- 
 onica's side on the constant watch for any relapse, but 
 always an expert rider, she rode mechanically without 
 any conscious effort. 
 
 As soon as they were well away from the ominous 
 place of death he called a halt. Cushions and a rug 
 were spread for Veronica under a tree screened by 
 some wayside bushes. She submitted to be lifted from 
 her saddle. A meal was quickly ready, and when he 
 pressed food upon her she began to eat with the obedient 
 action of an automaton. Some spring of her mind 
 seemed to have run down. She did nothing of her own 
 volition. 
 
 Rosen could not keep his eyes away from her. Closely 
 and incredulously he gazed at her like a man who dreams, 
 feeling that at last after a fearful struggle she was his 
 very own. 
 
 Nothing could or should part them now. The future 
 rose up before him, rose-pink as a summer dawn. And 
 he was in a fever to be up and away. Suppose she were 
 to fall ill while they were still out of reach of help and 
 remedies to nurse her back to health? When he had 
 held her hands chafing them in the tent they had felt like 
 dead things, nerveless and limp, yet instead of being cold 
 they had been dry and burning to the touch. 
 
 His heart grew big with anxiety as he sat looking at 
 her with intensity. Such was his obsession that it shut 
 out all and every recollection of the horrors that had 
 worked the cruel change in Veronica. 
 
 Besides he was worried about another vital matter : the 
 fidelity of his escort. As a rule such guards were keen 
 on traveling thus, for it meant regular daily payment 
 from the personage they protected, whereas the payment
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 277 
 
 in the Sultan 's army was ever a long deferred and doubt- 
 ful quantity. To-day there was disaffection in many 
 ranks of the army, and these men looking ahead would 
 see nothing at the journey's end but active service with 
 little or no pay. 
 
 Of the personal attendants and muleteers Rosen had no 
 doubts, but more than once he had noticed the soldiers 
 talking apart from the rest, in the stealthy way, with 
 furtive side glances, of those who fear to be overheard. 
 He suspected they were plotting to desert, as so many 
 of their comrades had already done. 
 
 The railway was another day 's journey ahead. There 
 was still a night to be spent in camp. Anyhow Rosen 
 felt he could not do better than try to cover the ground 
 quickly as possible. Provided of course that Veronica 
 could stand being hurried. 
 
 "Are you rested enough?" he asked, considerately. 
 "Do you feel able to start again now?" 
 
 She looked at him, after he repeated the question, with 
 motionless eyes and a droop at the corners of her mouth. 
 
 "Whenever you like I am ready," she said, in a voice 
 as colorless as her face. 
 
 "At noon we will rest again," he said, encourag- 
 ingly. 
 
 She shook her head. 
 
 "We will see later," he said, anxiously. 
 
 Up to the present Veronica's manner had been curi- 
 ously calm, but now she got up in a hurry. It was her 
 first voluntary action since the great shock. 
 
 ' ' I prefer to go straight on to the end of the journey 
 without stopping anywhere else," she said with the 
 same toneless drag in her voice. 
 
 He called out to the nearest attendant, who ran off to
 
 278 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 carry out the imperative orders. Soon they were again 
 in the saddle following the baggage mules, which had 
 caught them up and gone on escorted by half the guard 
 as usual. 
 
 Until that little rest had come by the wayside every 
 emotion, but the instinctive horror which had numbed 
 her, had forsaken Veronica. Now by slow degrees her 
 brain began to recover its thinking power, though only 
 spasmodically. And her first coherent thoughts envel- 
 oped the distant figure of her mother. A craving was 
 upon her clamoring to be gratified. That she should ride 
 on faster and faster without slackening rein until called 
 and gathered, like a chicken under the sheltering wings, 
 she could run and hide her face in the sure refuge of 
 her mother's arms. Then all would be well. 
 
 Momentarily she was oblivious of that other love whose 
 image up to this moment had been to the fore of all 
 others, and for whose sake she found herself in this des- 
 perate situation. Her eyes dived unceasingly into the 
 distance, dazed yet shining, as her mind held on to the 
 one and only besetting idea that seemed able to clear 
 the road to reason. 
 
 To the man riding near her she paid no heed nor gave 
 any thought at all. Yet even at that moment he was 
 secretly evolving plans for an immediate marriage. 
 Nursing the delusion of his final conquest over Veronica 's 
 will he was more than ever confident that she would fly 
 joyfully, and without a backward look, to the security 
 assured by his love and name. 
 
 Excitement grew upon him as he mused incessantly 
 over his starved passion. His anxiety sank to zero. The 
 fevered light of Veronica 's forward gaze only encouraged 
 him the more to belief in her rapid recovery. Soon, very
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 279 
 
 soon, would she be confessing in his arms what a dreadful 
 mistake she had made, and how for the first time she 
 had come to know the true inner meaning of love. 
 
 While on the quicksands of delusion he built up the 
 baseless fabric of his fool's paradise the wheels of Fate 
 were turning fast. The Nemesis that waits in secret 
 ready to strike at the predestined moment was rushing 
 up swiftly to meet him. 
 
 Just then they were pushing on over rough yet fairly 
 level ground at a smart pace. Rosen began to wonder 
 how it was the. pack mules had forged so far ahead. 
 They were quite out of sight. It was possible they had 
 just dipped behind the rocky ridge towards which their 
 guide was steadily advancing. 
 
 Rosen looked back and was equally surprised to find 
 how far ahead he was of the rest of the escort. It was 
 necessary the whole party should be solid in these un- 
 frequented byways. 
 
 Angrily he called out to the kawass, who rode behind, 
 bidding him turn back at once and hurry up the lag- 
 gards. 
 
 The plain though rough was inclined to be swampy 
 except near the tamarisk bushes which bordered the 
 track. And now they started to climb the slope by a 
 path so narrow and stony that they had to ride single 
 file. 
 
 Rosen on his chestnut mare led the way, preceding Ver- 
 onica by several yards. 
 
 "Have a care!" he called back. "There is a sharp 
 bend in the way and the path is slippery." 
 
 Low scrub and stumpy pine trees were scattered over 
 the hillside. The two riders were quite alone on the 
 rough ascent when of a sudden the bark of a rifle broke
 
 28o LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 into the silence. All at once a bullet whizzed through the 
 trees and hit a solid mark close at hand. 
 
 Abruptly the guide turned his horse sideways and 
 stared back. The next instant he was spurring up the 
 track at breakneck speed, solely concerned in the safety 
 of his own skin. 
 
 "Heaven! What was that?" exclaimed Veronica, 
 awakened on the instant, as she reined in her startled 
 mare. 
 
 Kosen instead of replying reeled in his saddle, sway- 
 ing from side to side. Suddenly he fell heavily to the 
 ground. 
 
 His mare reared and snorted. As with a prolonged 
 frightened whinny she started briskly up the hill the 
 black figure of a Bedouin, with head and chin closely 
 muffled, sprang down the bank. He seized the bridle, 
 pulling her up sharply, then turned her round. 
 
 Veronica staring in stupefaction at Eosen paid no at- 
 tention to what was happening further up the track nor 
 on the plain. Suddenly she swung herself out of the 
 saddle and ran up to the fallen man. 
 
 He was lying huddled under the bank, so that she was 
 able in a moment to prop him against the rock. With 
 shuddering of heart while raising his head and shoulders 
 she saw a thread of blood trickling from the hole made 
 by the bullet behind the ear. The wound was mortal. 
 He had been shot at close range by some one concealed 
 in the trees. 
 
 From the plain below came the rapid crackling of fire- 
 arms, to the accompaniment of fierce loud cries. A party 
 of Bedouin ambushed in the tamarisk thicket appeared 
 to have waited for the signal of the shot on the hillside 
 and then rushed out upon the guard. In a very short
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 281 
 
 time these were overcome, and their horses taken from 
 them. One or two soldiers lay with outspread arms face 
 to earth, but the others were running away as fast as 
 their legs could carry them, thankful to escape with their 
 lives. 
 
 "My God! What shall I do?" murmured Veronica 
 still kneeling by Rosen as she tried to staunch the blood, 
 using her handkerchief as a swab. With all her might 
 she tried to recall what was the right thing to do for a 
 wound of the kind, but something had dried up in her 
 brain. She could not think. 
 
 She seemed to have knelt there for ages looking at the 
 man's graying face. In reality scarcely a moment had 
 passed before a voice sounded close behind her. 
 
 "Leave him alone!" it said sternly. "He has met 
 with his just deserts. Get up my girl! There isn't a 
 moment to lose. Here is your mare." 
 
 She turned her head, caught sight of the Bedouin garb 
 and sprang to her feet. Her fingers moved nimbly be- 
 neath her cloak. The next instant she was pointing her 
 revolver at the man standing before her and would have 
 shot him but his hand quicker than hers darted forward 
 and clutched her by the wrist. 
 
 "Are you mad? Would you shoot a friend, Veron- 
 ica?" he said, slipping down the folds of his kerchief 
 and showing his face. 
 
 "John Culver, you?" she stammered, agitatedly. 
 "You have shot the man who was doing his best to help 
 and bring me to safety." 
 
 "I would do it a second time if I had the chance. 
 Has he deluded you by a lie as he did my little Zia? 
 He who hides his evil that evil will kill him." 
 
 " No ! He was taking me to her and to mother. ' '
 
 All the fight had again dropped out of her voice. It 
 seemed to him that she was speaking with the air of one 
 who had been badly cowed. 
 
 "Taking you to your mother? Do you really believe 
 that? Tell me where is the sun? Over there, west at 
 this hour. In which direction were you going? Due 
 south. He had no intention of taking you to your 
 mother. You shall tell me presently how you came to be 
 in his clutches. Come now, into the saddle at once ! ' ' 
 
 "We cannot leave him there alone," she protested, 
 dully, hanging back. 
 
 ' ' Come ! He will be found soon enough, but as surely 
 as we stay here he will have cause to jeer at us more in 
 death than ever he did in life. ' ' 
 
 "Is he really dead?" 
 
 "Dead as a nail," asserted the Englishman grimly, 
 "beyond repentance and not deserving of a tear. He 
 has met .a death that is a thousand times too humane for 
 him. For it is such as he who are egging on and daring 
 the Turks to their worst atrocities. He should have 
 been tortured like our innocent Zia, or worse like 
 Zohrab and Vartakis." 
 
 "What do you mean?" Her voice spoke fear and 
 horror for she knew the names well. 
 
 "They have been murdered by Enver's butchers 
 brutally, foully murdered, two of the finest and bravest 
 men in the Ottoman empire. Dikran Ghilighian, your 
 famous writer, has met the same fate. There are count- 
 less others. I tell you, Veronica, the land throbs with 
 danger of all kinds. It is rife with death." 
 
 "I know I have seen hundreds, this morning," she 
 gasped, covering her eyes with, her hand. 
 
 "No wonder you can hardly grasp what I tell you,"
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 283 
 
 he said more gently, as he drew her towards the mare. 
 "By hook or crook you must all get out of it as many as 
 possible. I have set myself the task of saving all I can. 
 By Allah's help I will myself snatch many a victim from 
 the shameful sacrifice." 
 
 ' ' John ! I will help you, ' ' she said with a little spasm 
 of her native spirit as he lifted her to the saddle. 
 
 His heart contracted as he looked at her. She was 
 deadly pale, her eyes big and tragic, not from the im- 
 mediate panic but that other merciless terror which had 
 gone before. But this was not the moment for sympathy 
 or inquiry. They must be off though there were a hun- 
 dred questions he wanted to put to her. 
 
 She had not made one inquiry herself about her own 
 family, nor about Zorah and the boy. It was so unlike 
 Veronica. And the name of Pierre Marson had not 
 passed her lips, though John knew from her mother 
 what the girl had suffered through Rosen 's brutal revela- 
 tion. He was positive that more had happened to Ver- 
 onica since then than he had any idea of. It would all 
 come out later. 
 
 And he had news, great news, to tell her about her 
 lover. That must also wait. He was sure she could 
 stand neither the excitement nor the suspense which 
 would certainly follow his disclosures. 
 
 "We have a good two hours' steady riding before us, 
 and we may have to get further away by morning. It all 
 depends, ' ' he said. ' ' One thing I am forgetting, though. 
 This villain is probably carrying important documents 
 on his person. We must have them all. ' ' 
 
 In a moment he had emptied the contents of the dead 
 man's pockets into the saddle bag. Then, reflecting that 
 the finding of the body would be delayed if removed from
 
 284 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the track, he carried it into the long undergrowth close 
 by. 
 
 After this he led both horses to the foot of the hill 
 and there gave a curious bird-like cry which rallied the 
 Bedouin riders on the plain. There followed a brief 
 excited passage of mutual congratulation and of friendly 
 greeting to the relative of Hanna, by no means a stranger. 
 Then they closed round him and Veronica, and, leading 
 the captured mares, rode off towards the descending sun, 
 a strong compact little party, taking advantage of broken 
 tracks which snaked warily through deserted country, 
 and losing no time by the way. 
 
 "How did you find me, John?" she asked as they 
 climbed a steep bit of the way in a maze of low hill. 
 John had dismounted and was leading his horse by her 
 side. 
 
 "Pure luck, or thanks to some blessed providence, for 
 I thought till two days ago you were safely housed under 
 the American flag," he replied, once more speaking in 
 his old quiet way. "Pastor Kasbarian was in great 
 trouble when we reached his house. News had just come 
 through that his daughter-in-law and children who had 
 been visiting her family in Killiz had been collected and 
 carried off with a large party of deported Armenians to 
 Opella on the road to Deir-el-Zor. ' ' 
 
 "Is it possible they were on the market square that 
 day?" she said with a start. 
 
 "Quite possible. I rested a day at Halat and then 
 went back to Opella. I had promised the pastor to do 
 all in my power to find and bring his relatives back to 
 safety. I traced the party, in which I thought the 
 family was most likely to be found, as far as El 
 Marasch. ' '
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 285 
 
 "Why, that was the village which had no room for us 
 two nights ago." 
 
 "Yes, because it was packed full of these unhappy 
 exiles. I was making inquiries among them at one of 
 the khans when I caught sight of the German consul 
 standing outside." 
 
 She uttered a little low sound. 
 
 ' ' That was the fine way in which he was doing his best 
 for you," said John Culver, significantly. "His escort 
 got talking in the cafe when he was paying a visit on the 
 Mudir. I was infuriated at what I gathered. I could 
 never have looked Nicholas or your mother in the face 
 if I had not moved heaven and earth to smash the evil 
 he had taken in hand. Besides, there was Zia! The 
 crime against one of God's helpless little ones," the sup- 
 pressed heat of his voice scorched like a flame. "I was 
 only waiting the right moment to vindicate that atrocity. 
 These friends and kinsmen of mine were near. We are 
 always in close touch and they know every yard of the 
 country. There was only one way to act so as to get 
 you clear away, and then cover our tracks violence a 
 outrance! But we had to wait the right locality, the 
 psychological moment. We were very near your camp 
 last night and rode on ahead before daybreak. You see 
 the guide was a friend of ours." 
 
 "I have been cruelly deceived right through," she 
 muttered. 
 
 "Deception is far too mild a word for such deliberate 
 villainy. Do you know where Kosen was taking you? 
 Even those soldiers knew. To the railway half way 
 between Aleppo and Hamah. Where was he going then ? 
 Ah, the evil of that secret is hidden in the breast of the 
 dead. The English say, 'all is fair in love and war,'
 
 286 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 but there are base artifices no man can use to gain his 
 ends in either unless he possesses the mind of a skunk, 
 Boche is the French term for the German, but a real live 
 swine is a clean beast and a gentleman compared with 
 such a type as Otto Bosen." 
 
 "John, I owe you more than life. If it had not been 
 for you " she wished to say more but her voice trailed 
 off. Though the accumulation of the past still weighed 
 with leaden pressure on nerve and brain, the look she 
 turned on him spoke plainly of all that had begun to 
 surge afresh in her heart. 
 
 "There is no need to worry now, Veronica," he said, 
 soothingly. "All you want is the opportunity to rest. 
 After a good night you will feel more like your real self." 
 
 "Inshallah!" she murmured. 
 
 They came to more level ground. John mounted his 
 horse and they rode on in silence till suddenly the fore- 
 most rider turned aside into a thicket of sweet smelling 
 shrubs and scattered trees. The copse looked impene- 
 trable to any but the initiated, so tortuous and invisible 
 the track, till it fell steeply away into a deep wadi hidden 
 within the folds of the hills. 
 
 Close under the overhanging rocks couched the low 
 black tents of the Bedouins. For carpet a strip of ver- 
 dure edged the tiny stream which was overhung by wil- 
 lows and clustering oleander bushes. Down the gully 
 were tethered a large number of camels and mares, graz- 
 ing on a scanty herbage of flowers and grass. 
 
 Two or three dogs barked. Then women and children 
 ran to greet the home comers who at once became the 
 center of a babbling crowd. 
 
 John lifted Veronica from her mare and led her 
 towards the large central tent where in the entrance sat
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 287 
 
 a grizzle-bearded man of proud and dignified bearing. 
 He caught sight of them and keen observation flashed 
 from his eyes. 
 
 "Here is certainly something too hard for the teeth 
 to bite, ' ' he muttered under his breath. 
 
 "Peace be unto you, Sheikh Mabruk," called John. 
 "Behold, Allah has given us safe return with a guest 
 for our tents." 
 
 "And to you be peace and kinship, my son," said 
 Sheikh Mabruk, rising at once to give the salaam cere- 
 moniously, ' ' and welcome to the stranger you bring with 
 you!" 
 
 As they entered the tent a blue-draped figure with a 
 little child hanging on to her robe, glided from the inner 
 tent. Two great velvety eyes stared bewildered from 
 John to Veronica and back again. 
 
 "Stranger, you say, my father? No, for by my soul it 
 is our sister Veronica and none other. Friend of my 
 eyes! My happiness so welcome," she exclaimed joy- 
 fully, extending her arms. 
 
 Veronica lifted her head with the gesture of one who 
 sitting in darkness suddenly sees light through an opened 
 shutter. She felt as if she had on the moment awakened 
 from a long delirious dream. 
 
 "Oh, Zorah darling, is it really you? Now I can 
 breathe again," she said, agitatedly. 
 
 "Hanna! Hold her! She is falling," called Zorah, 
 quickly, as Veronica with a little fluttering sigh dropped 
 between their hands into a dead faint.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 LISTEN!" said Anna Severin as the shrill notes of a 
 crier's voice rose from the street to the cool vaulted 
 terrace where she sat with Pastor Kasbarian. 
 
 They had been talking despondently with sinking 
 hearts. No news had come yet of Veronica or the miss- 
 ing daughter-in-law and her family. The experiences 
 brought by escaped refugees from districts already 
 cleared of luckless Armenians were terrifying. On top 
 of acute apprehension for the absent, Anna Severin had 
 been expending her whole energies on nursing Zia 
 through a bad malarial attack, which had left the child 
 in a very weak state. 
 
 This responsibility for the youngest treasure of the 
 family had naturally, for the time being, shut out all 
 other cares. It was only now when the child was con- 
 valescent, and could be left occasionally entirely to 
 Amina 's care, that the incubus of fear for both Veronica 
 and Nicholas pressed upon the mother-heart with ever 
 increasing weight. 
 
 Pastor Kasbarian got up and leaned over the breast- 
 work of the terrace the better to hear. He looked 
 grimmer and had aged since his visit to Opella. 
 
 The crier was proclaiming the government order 
 Talaat Bey's "regrettable but very humane measure and 
 military necessity" to the townlet of Halat that all the 
 Armenian residents without exception were to start under 
 armed escort in six days' time for some nameless un- 
 known destination.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 289 
 
 "It has actually come. Now what are we all going to 
 do, I should like to know," exclaimed Mme. Severin. "I 
 warned you to fashion some plan in advance. There is 
 no time to lose now. We must act at once." 
 
 "Above all, with complete secrecy," assented Pastor 
 Kasbarian. He went out immediately to consult pri- 
 vately with his flock. That same night the chief mem- 
 bers of the Halat community met under his roof to re- 
 view their position and make some definite decision. 
 
 Eesistance or non-resistance was the crucial point to 
 consider after ventilating their general dismay and anger. 
 Resistance seemed at first blush a foolhardy proceeding, 
 but the alternative of setting out submissively on an aim- 
 less journey, toiling on foot for three to eight weeks, 
 according to the goal, in some malarial or barren 
 desert of Anatolia or Mesopotamia was still blacker 
 prospect. 
 
 The gorge of the majority revolted against their ter- 
 rible fate, though a few bending their heads with fatal- 
 istic obedience seemed ready to follow the line of least 
 resistance. 
 
 "What is the use of opposition? We shall but court 
 disaster of a worse nature," said one of these. 
 
 "Yet to submit blindly means certain disaster, and a 
 probable death of torture," retorted a refugee, warmly, 
 "The hardships of the way are such that the strongest 
 collapse at the end of one day's journey, by night the 
 Arabs and the Kurds steal the asses and mules. They 
 as well as the guards and muleteers plunder all the 
 travelers and violate the women, young and old. All 
 can scarcely set one foot before the other by reason of the 
 blisters on their swollen and bleeding feet. They are 
 devoured by thirst and not allowed to drink. Many die
 
 290 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 by the wayside both of hunger and thirst, and those who 
 survive exhaustion are murdered by the Kurds." 
 
 He spoke with savage intensity as though the brutal 
 truth of fearful facts had branded his soul as by fire. 
 A dumb silence followed his speech, a silence that ex- 
 pressed deeper things than words. 
 
 "We have heard from other sources that the tortures of 
 these forced journeys are far worse than massacre," said 
 Pastor Kasbarian. "A massacre is quickly done with as 
 I know very well. This newly evolved kind of misery 
 augments daily and yet has only one end to it, a lingering 
 death." 
 
 A shuddering breath shook the whole circle. There 
 were those present who feared like their pastor for the 
 safety of loved ones already breasting the waves of that 
 accumulating misery. 
 
 " There is no one to protect us but God," declared a 
 desperate voice. 
 
 "God is not here at all, my friend," came tragically 
 from another. "We can say like the prophet of old, He 
 is asleep, or He is gone on a journey, visiting one of his 
 distant worlds, forgetting the sorrows of earth." 
 
 ' ' Those who help themselves God will surely help how- 
 ever distant He may be, ' ' Anna Severin said suddenly in 
 a firm deep voice. "It is always so. What are the 
 Armenian people doing to resist these abominations? 
 Practically nothing. Let us resist with every power at 
 our disposal. In the end we are bound to prevail. Else 
 " she raised her hands expressively. 
 
 "Let us resist!" was the instant response. One or 
 two voices were strong, some hesitating, but the majority 
 agreed. 
 
 "How can we?"
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 291 
 
 "It is impossible. We have no arms." 
 
 "Not a needle is left to us to-day, and yet we ought 
 to draw the sword, they say, ' ' quoted a gloomy voice. 
 
 "We have more resources than you think," came in 
 quick disclaimer from the hopeful members. 
 
 The toss to and fro of excited repartee continued a 
 few minutes. Pastor Kasbarian, silent and reflective, 
 gazed steadily through the window. He started when of 
 a sudden a voice appealed directly to him. 
 
 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence 
 cometh my help, ' ' he replied, unexpectedly, indicating by 
 a gesture the view through the window of the mountain 
 ridge, and its bold promontory striding out into a mar- 
 velously blue sea. 
 
 "The hills!" An illuminating thought for some, to 
 others a counsel of despair. 
 
 "I have that in my mind to say that I have dwelt 
 upon for days past, ' ' said the pastor drawing a book from 
 his pocket. "Listen, and I will tell you how the people 
 of Israel acted when subjected to massacre under the 
 invasion of Holofernes. They were newly returned 
 from captivity and had a strong desire to retain their 
 freedom. ' ' 
 
 He read aloud impressively a few verses from the 
 book of Judith showing how the people of many villages 
 and towns "possessed themselves of the tops of the high 
 mountains, and fortified those villages that were in them 
 and laid up victuals for the provision of war: for their 
 fields were of late reaped." And how by choosing their 
 positions well they were able to keep the passages of the 
 hill country and repulse all who tried to come up. 
 
 With concentrated attention they all listened. Confi- 
 dence, elation, resolution sparkled suddenly in every eye
 
 292 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 as the drift of the pastor's meaning was grasped first 
 by one and then the other of his rapt audience. 
 
 "The hills have already been my hiding place," said 
 a man who remembered the massacres of '95 when all 
 his family had been killed and he alone, a mere lad, had 
 escaped barefoot to the mountain. "Welcome to our 
 pastor's timely counsel! Let us at once deliberate in 
 what way we can best carry it into execution. Our 
 brothers of Zeitoun and Sassoun have before to-day re- 
 tired to the hills and defended themselves successfully. 
 For all we know they may be doing the same this very 
 hour." 
 
 "It is madness. An impossible undertaking," de- 
 clared a small minority who submitted later, meekly, 
 to deportation, and were never heard of again. 
 
 "Submission is even a greater madness," replied 
 Anna Severin, her eyes flashing. "Whatever the danger 
 we shall all share it. Eemember when the bed breaks 
 we must be satisfied to lie on the floor." 
 
 Prompt organization of all resources was started skill- 
 fully by the able Armenian brains. Envoys were sent 
 to other places of the vicinity. From the lovely little 
 town of Yoghonolok came the encouraging news to Pas- 
 tor Kasbarian that the Armenian inhabitants were al- 
 ready speeding up plans for a similar retirement to the 
 hills behind, under the leadership of a pastor lately re- 
 turned to that his native place as a refugee from Zeitoun. 
 
 With secrecy and dispatch the Halat families pushed 
 on their own preparations, having decided to join forces 
 with the other villages for a general exodus. Every re- 
 source of food and arms possible to transport was mus- 
 tered by the organizing heads; grain and cattle, goats 
 and fowls, family stores of flour, coffee, nuts, figs, dates,
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 293 
 
 oil, and vegetable produce. Tents, bedding, cooking 
 utensils, all had to be taken into account. 
 
 Of weapons they had but 120 up-to-date guns, about 
 400 of an antiquated design, a few old pistols, and, for 
 all these scanty enough ammunition. But every man 
 and boy had their big girdle knives, and there were not 
 a few lances, and serviceable clubs. 
 
 Spasms of bitter weeping did not fail among the 
 women, heartbroken for the tragic loss of their homes. 
 Children ran in and out as usual, alternately helping and 
 hindering, bursting with the excitement of coming 
 change, the whole business being to them a glorified pic- 
 nic to which camping-out was to lend its perennial 
 glamour. 
 
 Always brought up to dread the enemy at their gate, 
 these preparations were but the evil dream come true 
 to the adults as a mass. The grim faces and set faces 
 of the men formed a plain index to their stiffened re- 
 solve to hold out to the "edge of doom." Never again 
 would these at any rate submit afresh to a bootless and 
 merciless tyranny. 
 
 "My Veronica! Would to God I could be certain that 
 all was well with her," exclaimed Mme. Severin on the 
 second day of strenuous work. "What if she were to 
 reach Halat after we had all left. Such a possibility 
 terrifies me." 
 
 "Banish that fear utterly. She is in no danger, none 
 whatever," replied the pastor. "No one will know bet- 
 ter than your American friends the state of the roads 
 for traveling. They will not allow her to stir from 
 Opella. Besides our secret courier starts to-night to 
 beg the consul's intervention on our behalf. A special 
 message can go at the same time about Veronica."
 
 294 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 His confidence brought a measure of relief to Anna 
 Severin, but she could not rid her mind of presentiment. 
 Tales of fearful happenings were constantly rolling in to 
 add to her anxiety. As well she yearned for the moral 
 support of her girl's companionship, more even than for 
 her skillful handling of complicated arrangements. 
 
 The special task acting as safety valve for her emo- 
 tions, that she had taken up conjointly with the pastor's 
 wife, was the accumulation from all quarters of soft and 
 old linen to form bandages for the wounded and sick 
 during the days lying inevitably ahead. 
 
 Very early next morning when she was sorting some 
 of the various stores sent in, pondering sadly the while 
 on Veronica, Amina burst into the room. 
 
 "Allah! The young Sitt is come. She is even now 
 at the door. Behold, it is she herself who stands before 
 your eyes!" 
 
 The startled face, suddenly grown white as milk, and 
 the quick movement of her hand to her heart, betrayed 
 the unwisdom of fresh shocks for Mme. Severin 's strained 
 nerves. 
 
 For one breathless instant the slim Bedouin-clad figure 
 of Veronica paused in the doorway to fling off the dis- 
 guising abbai and head shawl. 
 
 "Don't be frightened, mamouschkal It is really and 
 truly your own Veronica," she called out, and then, 
 springing forward she caught her mother in her arms 
 and kissed her till the pale cheeks tingled with warm 
 color. 
 
 The wonder, the joy, the relief, worked like a strong 
 tonic upon Mme. Severin. Burdens which had seemed 
 intolerable, responsibilities beyond her capacities, all fell
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 295 
 
 miraculously away. Nothing could fail or go wrong now 
 Veronica was again at her side. 
 
 "How did you come? Who has brought you? What 
 dangers you must have braved! God is very good," 
 she gasped at last. 
 
 "John Culver brought me safely through everything. 
 He is with Zia, who is beside herself with happiness. 
 Yes, dearest mother, dangers have been thick and tragic 
 since we parted, and the way most difficult, but all is 
 surmounted, thanks to John. I cannot begin to tell you 
 what he has done for me." 
 
 "Dear, good soul!" 
 
 "Yes, he is a dear soul and a noble man. You will 
 hear everything soon. All I can think of this moment is 
 how good it is to be with you again." 
 
 "At a grave moment, cherie. We are all on the eve 
 of leaving Halat for the summit of Jebel Moussa. ' ' 
 
 "Is it possible ? But I can guess why. It is to avoid 
 deportation and worse ! ' ' 
 
 "Yes, the whole village is to be voluntarily evacuated, 
 and several others. All have agreed to combine in order 
 to make a strong resistance to the Turks. ' ' 
 
 "How I rejoice!" cried Veronica. 
 
 "Look, you can help me," said Mme. Severin pointing 
 to the rolls of linen. "There will be wounded to tend, 
 and no doubt sick women and children. Thank God we 
 know what to do and shall be able to work together." 
 
 "Yes, though I shall not be satisfied unless in between 
 the nursing I can shoot some of the murderers myself, 
 and make them pay," said the girl, with a look in her 
 eyes that was new to the mother. "When are we to 
 start?"
 
 296 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Towards sunset, to-morrow. There is still much to 
 get ready, but you must first rest after your journey." 
 
 "No, I am not tired. I am quite prepared now to 
 take on the lion's share of all you have arranged to do," 
 she asserted stoutly, once more courageously confident to 
 face the worst that might befall. 
 
 All at once she clasped her arms again round her 
 mother's neck and looked deep into her eyes. 
 
 "You must be glad with me," she whispered trem- 
 ulously. "Pierre has been found, and again it was en- 
 tirely owing to John. By now he is certainly free. John 
 would not let me wait on the chance of seeing him. 
 There were terrible reasons that made it impossible and 
 perilous for us to linger where we were. But Pierre will 
 come to us, perhaps very soon. John will arrange that. 
 Do you quite understand, darling mother? Pierre is 
 found! He is alive! We shall meet again." 
 
 For a moment her voice though low had the thrill and 
 music of a happy singing bird. Mme. Severin swallowed 
 a sob. She longed to weep to weep for pity for the 
 girl's dream of love hovering like a mirage in a wilder- 
 ness of woe ; to weep for wrath at the monstrous deprav- 
 ity which was odiously destroying a myriad hearths and 
 homes as well as the dreams of every lover in the land. 
 
 "Dousckka moya," said Mme. Severin, tenderly, laps- 
 ing as always in moments of deep emotion into the 
 tongue of her childhood, "remember we are all in God's 
 hands. We can be sure of nothing but what has already 
 come to pass." 
 
 "You must not say that," said Veronica with a sud- 
 den catch in her voice. ' ' I would rather think now that 
 he was dead than be led to expect to see him and then 
 find later I had lost him forever."
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 297 
 
 "Only God knows the future and He has not forbid- 
 den us to hope. Hope with a stout heart for the ful- 
 fillment of your hope, and who knows that it may not 
 help to bring it to pass? And now come, we must seek 
 out John. My gratitude to him is again mountain high, 
 and no doubt he has a great deal to talk over and ar- 
 range afresh. Tell me has he found any trace of the 
 young Kasbarian family?" 
 
 "Not any at all. We fear the worst has happened, 
 for I have seen things with my own eyes to make angels 
 weep, and the dead writhe and groan in their graves." 
 
 Mme. Severin was profoundly moved. During the 
 whole of the girl's life her mother had not hidden the 
 tragedies of past years from her, but with the knowledge 
 she had always inculcated the hope and faith that they 
 would never recur. And now a worse fate had fallen 
 upon her father's race than had ever yet overtaken it. 
 The sons and daughters of all those who had suffered in 
 the past had to expiate, not the sins of their fathers but 
 the heritage of their loyalty, their liberalism, their higher 
 intellect and superior business ability. All the qualities 
 in fact which made them the cornerstone of the Ottoman 
 Empire, but also a formidable rival to German penetra- 
 tion, commercially and politically, in Turkey in Asia. 
 
 John Culver's disclosures of the convoys of Armenians 
 he had seen personally and their horrible sufferings, of 
 the ignoble part played by German silence and, callous 
 aloofness, of Rosen's despicable conduct and merited 
 fate, acted like a spur to the energies of the Kasbarian 
 household, and to others who shared their confidence. 
 
 "He will not be able to attempt the cross-country 
 journey at once," he said, speaking privately to Mme. 
 Severin when she questioned him about Pierre Marson.
 
 298 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "All was to undertake the rescue. It was really simple 
 enough and is possibly safely accomplished by now. The 
 two guards were to be surprised and overpowered by 
 night. After freeing Marson, Ali and his companions 
 were to rebuild the wall so as to delay discovery of the 
 escape. I feel sure the Mudir will hush up the whole 
 affair for fear of his own skin. He will pretend for a 
 time the prisoner is still there, and then eventually re- 
 port he is dead." 
 
 "How well you read the native mind!" 
 
 "It is easy when one has lived practically all one's life 
 up against it. As I told you, Zorah was very wishful to 
 keep Veronica with her, but it was wiser to come to you. 
 You needed a daughter's help, and she was in desperate 
 need of mother-care and sympathy." 
 
 Anna Severin's eyes suffused with warm tears, having 
 heard already what Veronica had come through. She 
 pressed John's hand expressively. 
 
 "Besides the Beni-Weldeh intend soon to trek into 
 the desert, as far as possible from the smell of war," he 
 added. 
 
 "Are you going with them?" 
 
 "I shall only follow when I have done all that is pos- 
 sible in this crisis. Above all I must be certain of your 
 safety. I feel responsible for it to Nicholas. I cannot 
 see real light ahead on the upshot of the struggle that 
 is sure to come on Jebel Moussa. It all depends upon 
 what action the Turks will take." 
 
 "We shall prevail," said Anna Severin, confidently. 
 "I have no fear of the result. In any case prospects are 
 better than if we stayed here. About Zia I want your 
 candid opinion. How do you think she is looking?"
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 299 
 
 "Sadly," he said gravely. Mme. Severin started, her 
 brows puckered sorrowfully. "I am amazed she ever 
 survived that brutal treatment. I wish I could ade- 
 quately reward that faithful Amina." 
 
 "She asks for nothing but the love of the child, and 
 that she has more than ever before. How thankful I 
 am you are here to aid and guide our removal. It is 
 like having my own dear son," and she leaned over and 
 embraced him. 
 
 The day passed excitedly and anxiously as also the 
 next, and both all too soon. Every one was feverishly 
 intent on taking away all that was possible to transport, 
 or carry on their persons. For not a soul entertained 
 the smallest hope of ever seeing their homes again. 
 
 The actual hour of departure rushed on. Long pro- 
 cessions of families on foot, in carts, on donkeys and 
 mules, all heavily laden, began to trail across the plain, 
 and up from the roots of the hill by paths all converging 
 steadily upon the same goal, the summit of Jebel Moussa. 
 
 The gravity of the hour calling upon every scrap of 
 feminine energy and ingenuity in marshaling their fam- 
 ilies and goods soon dried the women's tears, though the 
 lump in their throats grew bigger. And then Nature 
 showed a curious willingness to take up and carry on 
 the lament. Clouds from the sea dimmed the sunset 
 and came swiftly to the land. They enveloped the moun- 
 tain and dissolved with night into dripping rain. 
 
 No less than 4,200 fugitives, shepherded in their sep- 
 arate villages, camped out in the rain on the hill top. 
 The majority of them were soaked to the skin before tents 
 could be pitched or sheltering booths of any kind 
 erected. The first and chief attention had to be given
 
 300 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 to the guns. Powder and other ammunition had to be 
 kept dry. All else was of secondary importance. 
 
 But the sun rose bright and cloudless after the rain. 
 The tragic hours of the night were forgotten under its 
 drying penetrating heat. For her own, and the Kas- 
 barian family, Amina conjured up hot coffee, and for 
 Zia a big bowl of new goat's milk. 
 
 Veronica slept late, tired out after the strain of the 
 night, and helping John to put up a shelter for the 
 family. John, himself, after snatching a couple of 
 hours' sleep towards morning, had since disappeared to 
 share in the deliberations of the men about the military 
 defense of the mountain. 
 
 "A committee of defense has been elected by vote," 
 he explained later. "Trenches are already being con- 
 structed at the strategical points of ascent. The de- 
 fense is being thoroughly well organized, and before the 
 Turks attack all will be ready for their reception. It 
 will be a warm one." 
 
 Their whole site had been wonderfully selected on the 
 flattened shoulder of the mountain, thrusting seawards 
 to plunge precipitously into the waves. On the land 
 side there were steep descents thick with rocks, chap- 
 arral and trees, lending themselves readily to skilled 
 defense of the position. On the summit there were open 
 spaces between trees and the shelter of bushes. Above 
 all there was water, accessible and pure. Between the 
 camps and the other part of the ridge yawned a deep 
 ravine, its steep slopes overhung with brushwood and 
 trees. 
 
 John stayed with them all day working indefatigably 
 to evoke order out of chaos for other families as well as 
 the Severins. Sorely divided in the pursuit of the mani-
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 301 
 
 fold duties he had imposed upon himself it was hard to 
 decide whether to remain as a fighting unit on the hill 
 top, or to continue his rescues and then return to his wife 
 and child who could not be left indefinitely.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 PIERRE MARSON had reached the pitch of believing 
 that liberty would never be more than a word to 
 him. For the encouraging hope whispered mysteriously 
 into his prison after the unutterable passage with the 
 German consul had borne no fruition. 
 
 He suffered more than if he had been forbidden to 
 hope. In that case sheer defiance would have stiffened 
 his will still stubbornly to hold out. The cigarettes and 
 matches contained in the package flung through the air 
 hole had been a timely solace, supporting him right 
 buoyantly through the first days of anticipation. 
 
 But as one day followed another and nothing changed, 
 and then a whole week of days went by with no sign at all 
 of the hinted rescue, dread clutched hold of him that the 
 voice of hope had been a delusion, and the tobacco a 
 sop administered secretly by some humane companion 
 of the German consul. 
 
 As soon as these ideas began to work in his mind he 
 seemed to himself like a man who had staked his all and 
 lost it. Like one who has been robbed of his last hope 
 his soul became gradually numbed, though at first he 
 fought hard to elude the appalling onslaught of fore- 
 bodings. Then as the hours and days still crawled by, 
 and nothing was altered, a stillness as of death dropped 
 upon him, mentally and physically. 
 
 He came to a state of feeling nothing at all, neither 
 
 302
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 303 
 
 hunger nor sorrow, fear nor hope. He ate and drank 
 mechanically and slept at intervals like a drugged man. 
 Just as he had brought nothing into the world so now 
 he seemed to be waiting to pass out of life stripped bare 
 of all he had ever possessed and treasured. The need to 
 live had withdrawn to some deep recess of being. 
 
 It is a desperate situation when the heart of a brave 
 man fails him. That Pierre had held out even so long 
 without reaching this climax spoke volumes for his 
 capacity for endurance. Undoubtedly his love for Ver- 
 onica had been the chief saving factor so far, combined 
 with the secret vital belief that some unexpected volte- 
 face of fortune might yet enable him to carry on and 
 complete the errand for which he had been dispatched 
 from France. 
 
 But now if he gave a thought to his mission at all it 
 was only to tell himself with shuddering humiliation that 
 success from the first had been hopeless. From the 
 outset doomed to failure he had risked his life and his 
 love to no purpose but to rot to his death in a filthy tomb, 
 forgotten of God and his own kind. That he did not 
 attempt to take his own life was due simply to the iner- 
 tia which now bound his whole being. 
 
 Yet at rare intervals a glimmering ray would suddenly 
 pierce the blackness of his mood. 
 
 "My Veronica!" he would murmur, and be at once 
 conscious of a slight uplift of the deathly gloom. It was 
 almost as if for a fleeting second an invisible bridge had 
 swung in midair across the gulf which separated the lov- 
 ers. And who shall deny that the prayers and yearning 
 heart of the distant girl had created the tremulous light- 
 ray which had shot through space and touched into mo- 
 mentary life the tortured soul of the man she loved.
 
 304 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Ah, n'en doutons pas! a travers les temps et les 
 espaces, les ames ont quelquefois des correspondences 
 mysteriouses. En vain le monde reel eleve ses barrieres 
 entre deux etres qui s 'aiment ; habitans de la vie ideale, 
 ils s' apparaissent dans 1'absence, ils s' unissent dans la 
 mort." 
 
 Before dawn comes the blackest hour of the night. 
 The plans of rescue had to be spun with the utmost cau- 
 tion. To attempt it directly after the catastrophe over- 
 taking the German consul would be to hazard its success. 
 But as time went on and no connecting link was sug- 
 gested between the attack upon his party and his visit 
 to the prisoner of the tomb, the plans ripened for his 
 deliverance. 
 
 It was on the tenth night after John Culver's risky 
 visit to the tomb that a small Bedouin party with Ali as 
 their leader fell silently upon the two watchmen. The 
 men, first clubbed to unconsciousness, were then gagged 
 and blindfolded with their own head shawls, and their 
 feet and hands bound. 
 
 Quickly the stone barrier was demolished. At the first 
 sound from without Pierre Marson started up as if 
 waked from a frightful dream. 
 
 "Mort de Dieu!" he whispered in a hoarse voice. "Is 
 it possible ? Has it come at last ? And which will it be 
 life or death!" 
 
 "Hoosh! In the name of Allah are you there, 
 prisoner of the tomb?" said a cautious voice. "Come 
 forth if you can stand upon your feet." 
 
 "Dieu ! Dieu !" muttered Marson, stumbling forward 
 like a drunken man till he stood in the cleared entrance. 
 He was shaking with excitement, and overcome by an 
 extraordinary weakness that he had never felt through
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 305 
 
 the whole of his imprisonment. The revulsion from de- 
 spair to joy had been too much for his exhausted body. 
 
 He took deep inhalations and looked up at the sky, 
 strength and hope streaming into him as he breathed. 
 
 "Water! Give me water, and bread if you have it," 
 were his first words. He was given bread/ and to drink 
 out of a small flask of weak aniseed and water specially 
 provided to fortify him. 
 
 While alternately he ate and drank, and lifting his 
 face to the sky continued to breathe in deeply the over- 
 powering, priceless air of freedom, AH and his friends 
 carried the bound men into the tomb, then tumbled the 
 stones and rocks pell mell into the doorway. 
 
 "Come my brother," said Ali in a low voice. "We 
 must ride far before sunrise." 
 
 "You have horses? Good, for I am still very lame." 
 
 "Lame? Have you always been lame?" said Ali, 
 amazed. 
 
 "No, they tortured me." 
 
 "They tortured him," repeated one to the other, 
 breathlessly. "Hanna knew nothing of this." 
 
 Not without difficulty and help was Marson able to 
 reach the tethered beasts on the off-side of the hill. Once 
 in the saddle he was a new man. As they rode forward 
 together he felt very near to safety, and yet only safe as 
 long as the darkness endured. Yet the confident bearing 
 of the Bedouins did not alter with the daylight, and with 
 every hour that passed he was conscious that the danger 
 of any pursuit diminished. 
 
 Veronica would have had pains to recognize Pierre 
 had they suddenly come face to face. A thick black 
 beard straggled over his chest, his hair was long and un- 
 kempt. His cheeks were hollowed and the clear bronzed
 
 306 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 skin of his face had paled to the sickly hue of those long 
 shut out from the sunshine. And his eyes once so keen 
 and bright shone with a curiously disturbing light, the 
 look of one who had faced under terrible odds both mental 
 and physical torture. 
 
 Yet, wrapped in an abbai, and his head muffled by a 
 keffiyeh, he differed in outward appearance scarcely a 
 jot from his companions. 
 
 By degrees he learnt the story of all that had happened 
 to the Severin family since his arrest in the lane. Pierre 
 could scarcely contain himself upon hearing of Veron- 
 ica's constant great peril, and the events leading to her 
 rescue. 
 
 "Then that devil incarnate told me the naked truth," 
 he ruminated. "My precious girl was at that moment 
 in his clutches. If I had known neither stones nor mor- 
 tar could have held me back from flying at his throat." 
 
 One instant he exulted in the fact of Kosen's swift 
 retribution, the next he would be savage at being balked 
 of his share the biggest share of vengeance. 
 
 Best and secure shelter came to him in the Bedouin 
 camp. In a day or two he neither felt nor looked like 
 the same man. It was like a real resurrection from the 
 tomb. 
 
 John Culver came back in another two days with the 
 great news of the encampment on Jebel Moussa, and bear- 
 ing a little letter from Veronica, who had never doubted 
 of her lover's rescue. The warm throbbing heart with 
 which she had written was revealed in every line. 
 Pierre read and re-read the letter a few dozen times for- 
 getting all the torments of his captivity. Every detail 
 that John Culver could relate he asked him to repeat a 
 score of times over.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 307 
 
 There was no course for him to take but that of se- 
 cretly making his way to Jebel Moussa. Yet first, said 
 John Culver, his strength must be recuperated. He 
 must go there to be a support, not an added anxiety. 
 
 By the time Pierre, with Ali for guide, was ready to 
 start for the hill of refuge, Veronica had settled down 
 to a routine of hourly excitement, and the hardest work 
 of her life. The fight between Turk and Armenian had 
 begun in earnest, 
 
 At first the Turks under their usual impression that a 
 mere handful of regular troops are enough to hold hun- 
 dreds of Kurds or Armenians in check, attacked disdain- 
 fully with but a hundred troops. These were easily re- 
 pulsed. They returned in greater numbers and this 
 time with a gun. 
 
 The first intimation of this danger was when a shell 
 tore screaming overhead and exploded in a corner of the 
 encampment. Then another and still another worked 
 cruel ravage. 
 
 "Come quickly! come quickly," gasped a woman 
 rushing up to Veronica who was helping skillfully to 
 tend and bandage the injured in the improvised ambu- 
 lance shelter. "The good mother has been cruelly hurt 
 in trying to save the little one." 
 
 Veronica's heart leaped and then seemed to stop beat- 
 ing, but she kept her presence of mind, quietly summon- 
 ing another helper to continue her task. 
 
 "My mother is hurt. I am bound to go to her," she 
 explained while hastily putting together bandages and 
 other appliances she might need. 
 
 Once outside the shelter she ran as if pursued over the 
 ground separating her from their own tent. A group at 
 the entrance divided to let her pass through.
 
 308 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 "Zia has not even a scratch," said a voice, reassur- 
 ingly. All these people enduring and resisting heroically 
 in common were drawn in sympathy together by the same 
 cords of feeling. What affected one member touched 
 many. 
 
 In a moment Veronica was kneeling by the stricken 
 form of her mother. 
 
 "Light! Give me more light," she called back 
 agitatedly to those who darkened the entrance. 
 
 "Keep a brave heart, cherie! I am in no pain," 
 whispered Anna Severin, opening her eyes for a moment. 
 Her chest and shoulder were soaked in blood. It seemed 
 to Veronica's horrified eyes there was blood everywhere. 
 
 "Tell Amina to come here," she said, looking round 
 again, and then at once with deft tender touch setting 
 to work to examine the nature of the wounds. 
 
 "Let me alone, dear heart! You can do nothing. 
 This is the end. I always knew the Turks would one day 
 cause my death," said Anna, slowly. "I leave my Zia 
 to your charge. You will be a mother to her. ' ' 
 
 "All my life," said Veronica, firmly, "but I entreat 
 you to let me try and ease you my precious mother." 
 She tried hard to control her voice, but paused, overcome 
 for a second. Again she asked for Amina with a sharp 
 new note of fear in her accent. 
 
 Nobody gave any answer at all, then an old woman 
 entered and came up to her. 
 
 ' ' I will be your servant. Amina has been struck down 
 like her mistress. Ai ! The poor soul is quite done for. 
 She was going to fetch you and her doom met her on the 
 way." 
 
 "Where is the child?" asked Veronica, hoarsely. 
 
 "Safe!"
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 309 
 
 "Yes, the good God be thanked, I was able to preserve 
 her from harm/' murmured Mme. Severin. "My poor 
 faithful Amina! She is not suffering." 
 
 Just then Pastor Kasbarian entered the tent. 
 
 "My daughter, we are all in God's hands," he said 
 with a break in his harsh voice. He stood over his cousin 
 speechless at first, then getting down upon his knees he 
 began solemnly to recite the appropriate prayers of his 
 church. 
 
 Veronica, after doing all that was possible at this 
 juncture, held her mother's hand, looking fixedly into 
 her face. The shadows already growing there were un- 
 mistakable. Mme. Severin was sinking rapidly. 
 
 "Break the news gently to Nicholas," she said with 
 difficulty. "He has always been the best son in the 
 world." 
 
 Veronica's head bent low to hide the quick onrush of 
 scalding tears. She kissed her mother's hands. 
 
 ' ' And my Vronka ! No mother has been more blessed 
 in her children, ' ' murmured the failing voice. 
 
 The din of firing had suddenly ceased. Only the 
 shouts of distant voices, and the confused hubbub of 
 sounds that arise from a multitude compressed into a 
 small area, came to the ear. 
 
 The camp defenders at their wits' end to check the 
 ravages of the gun had resorted to strategy. A clever 
 sharp shooter among them had stolen undetected through 
 the brushwood until he was so near he could hear the 
 Turkish gunners talking. From his hiding place he shot 
 down one of them, and very soon with five bullets had 
 laid low four more. 
 
 Vainly the Turks beat the bushes to discover the enemy 
 marksman. In a fury at their failure the captain gave
 
 310 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 the order to withdraw the gun to a distance. The camp 
 was left in peace that day and several days to come. 
 
 Suddenly Pastor Kasbarian was called for from with- 
 out the tent. He got up not knowing what fresh urgent 
 appeal of duty was upon him. A stir of voices followed 
 his exit and then a new silence. 
 
 Shortly he reentered the tent followed by two men. 
 The one who had bared his head was Pierre Marson. 
 The other, Ali, his guide and companion, was weeping 
 unrestrainedly for the new calamity that had befallen 
 his friends. 
 
 Veronica, her whole soul engrossed in her mother alone, 
 at one moment moistening the parched lips, and the next 
 tenderly wiping the death dew from the pallid brow, 
 neither stirred nor looked round. Pastor Kasbarian 
 bent over her whispering in her ear. Pierre then knelt 
 without a word close beside her, put his arm round her 
 waist and held her closely. 
 
 For an instant she turned her head with an unfathom- 
 able look of anguish in her eyes and leaning heavily 
 against the encircling arm seemed on the point of col- 
 lapse. Then forcibly controlling herself her whole figure 
 stiffened, her face sank to her mother and she kissed her 
 with all her soul. 
 
 The deep set eyes of Anna Severin suddenly opened 
 wide, and shone with peculiar luster as they looked from 
 Pierre to Veronica. 
 
 "Now I can die in peace," she said in a clear voice. 
 She took their hands and put them one in the other. 
 1 ' Thus united you must always be, and love and care for 
 each other as long as your hearts beat. ' ' 
 
 "To eternity," said Pierre, fervently, bending over 
 her hand.
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 311 
 
 "Do not let my Zia see me like this. She is so sensi- 
 tive. The memory would cling to her. ' ' 
 
 "Zia shall always be our first care," said Pierre. 
 "Till Nicholas claims her she shall be like my own 
 daughter. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Keep a brave heart, ' ' she whispered again. ' ' Escape 
 is assured. You will all win freedom and go back to our 
 dear France. A little longer yet. It is ordained I can 
 see it plainly." Her voice was still fainter. As the 
 light faded out of her eyes they took on the look of one 
 who sees dimly into a mystic distance, hidden from those 
 still on earth. 
 
 Again she smiled at them all, and pressed Veronica's 
 hand. "Andreas, my husband!" she called suddenly. 
 "He is here." 
 
 Then, stirring lightly she passed out of this life of 
 strife with the gentle sigh of one tired and gladly falling 
 upon sleep. 
 
 The brave Armenian fighters on that mountain top not 
 only successfully defied the Turkish army but kept it at 
 bay for weeks. After the bombardment had failed the 
 enemy prepared an attack in force by three thousand 
 regular troops. They forced a passage to the summit of 
 the ridge, where they pushed along until only a deep 
 ravine separated them from the refugee camp. 
 
 Night fell too soon for them to complete their victory. 
 The Turks with their usual fatalism and procrastination 
 ceased their advance never dreaming that the Christians 
 would be courageous enough to attack them before day- 
 break. 
 
 The lights of the Armenian camps were all ex- 
 tinguished while the leaders hastily constructed a dar-
 
 312 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 ing plan to confound the foe. This was to surround the 
 Turks while they slept, startle them with a rapid dis- 
 charge of musketry, and then fall upon them in a fierce 
 man to man conflict. 
 
 Every rock, stone and by-path of Jebel Moussa was 
 familiar to the Armenians. They scaled the hill on all 
 sides without awakening the least alarm. A signal 
 started the firing. Nothing at all was haphazard for 
 they could not afford to lose a single cartridge. Every 
 bullet had to find its mark. In quick space of time 
 that ravine was filled with terror to the Turkish soldiers 
 as with the energy lent by desperation every man sprang 
 upon the foe. 
 
 Vainly the officers rallied their troops. The mischief 
 was done. Disordered and demoralized they scrambled 
 into safety as best they could. Before the dawn the 
 woods were empty but for the corpses of two hundred 
 Turks and a large harvest of ammunition badly needed 
 by the Armenians. 
 
 When the Turks came back after the lapse of several 
 days it was with a large body of many more thousand 
 than before, but it was not to fight this time, only to 
 surround the hill and starve the insurgents into sur- 
 render. 
 
 "A cordon is formed. They are blockading us," was 
 the first notice brought into the camp by one of the 
 scouts. "They want to see us starved to the point at 
 which they will be certain of an easy walk-over," said 
 one of the leaders. "They wish to save their own skins 
 whatever the result to us. We will beat them by the 
 might of God's own justice." 
 
 A true prophecy, for the story of their gallant struggle 
 against such terrible odds with their backs to the sea
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 313 
 
 has become history to be recorded to all ages as one of the 
 most heroic achievements of a brave, much enduring race. 
 To relate all the details would fill another book. 
 
 A month passed by. Through husbanding their pro- 
 visions they had all managed to subsist. They calculated 
 that with care they might still carry on for another 
 fortnight, but after that starvation lurked ahead. 
 
 It was particularly at that time they began to look 
 to the sea as a means of escape. The outlook over the 
 Mediterranean had from the outset suggested possibili- 
 ties of freedom, instilling courage into the souls of not -a 
 few. 
 
 "There is hope in the sea but no hope in the grave," 
 said one to the other, though many an old person of the 
 multitude had never before clapped eyes on the sea. 
 For their closer comfort they held stoutly to the ancient 
 Armenian proverb, "In every city of the East I find a 
 home. ' ' 
 
 Confident in the hope of escaping by the sea they pre- 
 pared three copies of an appeal to the captain of any 
 passing vessel. It was a veritable S.O.S. appeal ad- 
 dressed to any English, French, Italian, or Kussian ad- 
 miral or captain, in the name of God and of human 
 brotherhood. It described how the people of six villages, 
 some five thousand souls in all, in escaping from Turkish 
 barbarity had resisted week by week the attacks and 
 blockade of a large army. They begged to be trans- 
 ported to Cyprus or elsewhere, declaring that wherever 
 they were taken they would never be idle but work hard 
 for their bread. The appeal was signed by the 
 Protestant pastor of Zeitoun, Dikran Andreassian. 
 
 To three of the best swimmers of the camp was given 
 the task of watching the sea with the object of at once
 
 3 H LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 plunging through the breakers and doing their best to 
 gain the side of the first ship that went by. 
 
 But many days went by and no ship came into sight. 
 Then at the pastor 's advice the women made two immense 
 flags. They were white, and on one was painted in 
 great black letters, "Christians in distress! Help!" 
 while the other was decorated with a large red cross. 
 
 Food and ammunition dwindled fearsomdy. The 
 Turks clamored for their surrender. The days were all 
 heavy with anxiety and the nights very long. 
 
 For Veronica and Pierre they were wonderful andi 
 memorable days. Not days for softness and the dallying 
 of lovers at all, but for mutual support of strong hearts 
 and a boundless trust through hours of unmitigated 
 stress. A passionate zest marked their every action. 
 Busied with one sufferer and the other, as well as per- 
 forming the part of a true mother to little Zia, Veronica 
 was swept along by the energy of a divine altruism that 
 focussed every impulse and passion of her loyal soul. 
 
 More and more Pierre Marson grew to appreciate at its 
 highest worth the magnificent pluck that had kept her 
 spirit living and unafraid under trials, peril, and a great 
 bereavement that would have crushed to annihilation 
 many a weaker soul. Always he hoped that to a French 
 ship would come the honor and the glory of rescuing this 
 remnant of his sweetheart's brave, hard driven race. It 
 was a happiness that actually materialized for him on 
 the 53rd day of the siege. 
 
 The French cruiser Guichen perceiving the signals of 
 the S.O.S. flags and at once understanding their mean- 
 ing, drew near enough to the shore for the swimmers to 
 approach with their appeal. A wireless to the admiral 
 of the fleet brought other men of war to the spot. The
 
 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 315 
 
 Turks were bombarded till they fled far from the moun- 
 tain and rescue could begin. 
 
 Under conditions of stupendous difficulties and danger 
 for the sea was very rough the people were conveyed 
 to the ships on rafts that had to be specially constructed. 
 Prodigies of valor and resourcefulness were displayed 
 by the French sailors. From morning till late into the 
 night the embarkations continued until the wonder was 
 performed of shipping old men, women and children 
 without a single accident. 
 
 At last the strand was emptied. Only the men re- 
 mained on the hill top fighting to hold the enemy at a 
 distance. Of these one may be sure that Pierre Marson 
 was not the least daring and valiant. What the women, 
 in safety themselves, suffered during that night, their 
 hearts sick with this latest suspense of waiting for the 
 final rescues, is not easily described. Uncertainty and 
 dread combined with the knowledge of her own helpless- 
 ness to avert any new stroke of a pitiless destiny com- 
 pletely prostrated Veronica. 
 
 However, at last the night passed away and with the 
 dawn came courage and hope. The ship guns swept the 
 heights with their fire while on the beach below, divided 
 into groups of twenty, the last of the men were success- 
 fully embarked. 
 
 They had prepared a huge pile of wood on which every- 
 thing had been placed that they were unable to carry 
 away. The last to leave set fire to the wood. The giant 
 bonfire was flaming and smoking like a funeral pyre 
 while the French warships steamed away towards Egypt 
 with their living cargo all saved by the grace of God. 
 
 A few days after landing at Alexandria Veronica and
 
 316 LOVE AND THE CRESCENT 
 
 Pierre were married, first at the French Consulate, and 
 then by Pastor Kasbarian at the Armenian church. 
 Later they embarked for France on one of the first 
 steamers that carried refugees to Marseilles. Little Zia 
 of course went with them. Deprived at one blow of the 
 love of her grandmother and nurse she had soon re- 
 sponded unreservedly to Veronica's devoted care, giving 
 her unstinted affection, and growing steadily stronger 
 in health. 
 
 It was not until a year later that Nicholas Severin, 
 taken prisoner on the Palestine Front by the British, 
 was able to get into touch with his family, and hear the 
 sad news of his mother's tragic death. 
 
 That his share, and also that of Veronica and Pierre, 
 in the great War was not over then is understood. With 
 natures such as theirs one solemn obligation but paves 
 the road to others. With eyes fixed unswervingly on the 
 ultimate triumph of freedom and liberty and justice they 
 never ceased to contribute all in their power to help on 
 the great work with the whole of their native pluck and 
 endurance. 
 
 THE END
 
 Ill 
 
 A 000040396 4