第29章 Turk and Tatar(3)

Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks fo. the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He wa. more successful later, for in running through the streets he came upo. a band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Ro. quickly recognized as one of the thieves he was hunting for. Th. Tatars willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of hi. pockets Rob found the Record of Events.

He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine. the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escap. from this barbarous country.

He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dea. body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of th. city. But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for th. first time the boy began to give way to despair.

In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife. warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engagin. the Tatars with great fierceness. The latter had scattered throughou. the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only wer. they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seein. their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usua. courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction. only to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars.

Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center o. the square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickl. surrounded him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and th. Turks feared to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distanc. away and fired volleys at him from their rifles and pistols.

Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure hi. the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd gre. thicker every moment.

Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with th. ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, tha. the Turks had regained the city and driven out or killed the Tata. warriors. He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his ow. position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis.

Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arreste. his attention. A young girl was fastening some article to the wris. of a burly, villainous-looking Turk. The boy saw a glitter tha. reminded him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward th. man and the girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such . way that Rob could see nothing more.

While the couple were apparently examining the strange device, Ro. started to his feet and walked toward them. The crowd fell back a. his approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that the. did not notice him. He was still several paces away when the girl pu. out her finger and touched the indicator on the dial.

To Rob's horror and consternation the big Turk began to rise slowl. into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd. But the bo. made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to i. with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upwar. until they were far above the city of the desert.