Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 2

d.i.c.k was between them. He turned to the major.

"You have both made yourselves ridiculous," he said. "It shall go no further. If you are not ashamed, I am ashamed for you."

"I demand satisfaction!" palpitated Fitts. "I am from Mississippi, and no man can give me an insult and escape without meeting me in a duel."

"The gentleman is quite right," said the soft voice of Aziz Achmet, as the Turk stepped forward. "Under the circ.u.mstances the affair must be settled in a manner that will satisfy his wounded honor. If he needs a friend, I shall take pleasure in representing him."

"Thank yo', suh," said the major. "I accept your generous offer, suh, and appreciate it."

"Wants a duel, does he?" cried Zenas. "Well, he can't frighten me that way! I'll go him!"

"And I shall take great pleasure, suh, in shooting yo' through the heart," declared Fitts. "Yo' will make the eleventh to my credit, suh."

The mooring being completed, a great gang of men swarmed on board and took the steamer by storm. They were a struggling, snarling, shouting pack of Greeks, Armenians, Turks, Jews, and Italians, who literally fell on the bewildered pa.s.sengers, as if seeking to rend them limb from limb.

They raged, and shouted, and pushed, and in this confusion d.i.c.k and Brad managed to hustle the professor away, Fitts and Aziz Achmet being lost in the throng.

"Come now," said d.i.c.k, "let's get on sh.o.r.e in a hurry and see if we can't keep clear of Major Mowbry Fitts, unless you are anxious to get yourself carved up or shot full of lead. He means business, and he really wants to fight you in a duel. You were in a nasty sc.r.a.pe, professor."

"But my honor--" began Zenas.

"Was satisfied when you floored him handsomely before all the pa.s.sengers. Let it go at that."

They found their baggage, and then d.i.c.k selected, amid the howling ma.s.s of human sharks, a fellow with a dirty red fez and a huge hooked nose.

"Do you speak English?" he asked.

"I spik all languages, Italian, Grek, Tergish, Yarman--"

"That will do," said the boy. "Here is our luggage. Look after it and get us into a boat."

In some marvelous manner it was accomplished. They descended a ladder into a swaying boat, and their luggage followed them like magic. Then came the dragoman Merriwell had selected, and soon they were on their way to the sh.o.r.e.

"Thank fortune!" laughed d.i.c.k. "I hope we have seen the last of Aziz Achmet, Major Fitts, and Miss Sarah Ann Ketchum."

CHAPTER II-IN PERSIA

When they reached the pier they found themselves confronted by several Turkish officers, who immediately began questioning them. Their pa.s.sports were scrutinized doubtfully; and it began to appear that there would be a long delay, during which all their luggage would be overhauled and examined piece by piece.

Then Mustapha, the dragoman, whispered a word in d.i.c.k's ear, and directly the boy slipped some money into the hand of one of the officers, whose manner toward them underwent a most surprising change, for he politely a.s.sured them that their baggage would not be opened and that there need not be the slightest delay. They were at liberty to leave the custom house at once and take their belongings with them.

Barely had they pa.s.sed from the custom house when they suddenly found themselves surrounded, as it seemed, by people from all the tribes of the earth. This throng was made up of street venders who were peddling all sorts of goods, sugared figs, sandals, grapes, bread, clothes, and all of them shouting in a babel of tongues that was deafening and bewildering.

"Whoop!" cried Brad. "Talk about an Indian pow-wow! This beats it a mile! You hear me gurgle!"

When these peddlers would have charged on the Americans Mustapha warned them off and held them at bay, shooting violent remarks at them in a dozen different languages. With his aid they succeeded in pa.s.sing through the thick of the throng without suffering physical violence.

"Well, I certain thought I was due to lose my scalp that go!" laughed the Texan. "Pard, you sure did a right good thing when you engaged this gent to pilot us. He knows his biz a plenty."

"Richard," said the professor, "I must compliment you on your ac.u.men and discernment. It has aroused within my innermost depths unspeakable emotions of profound admiration which I am incompetent to adequately express--"

"Hold on, professor!" cried d.i.c.k. "Leave that kind of gas to the lady from Boston, and talk in your usual sensible manner. Up to the present occasion you have been running things, but your encounter with Major Fitts left you in such a condition that I saw something had to be done, and so I tried my hand."

"With flattering success, my boy-with flattering success. Why, young as you are, I believe you could get along anywhere-in any country or clime."

"Thanks, professor. We'll let it go at that."

"What is that chap with the can and wooden mugs selling?" questioned Brad.

"That is a water seller," exclaimed Zenas.

"Water? Wow! Is water so dear on this range that they can peddle it?"

"Water is the beverage of the Turk. He never touches intoxicants.

Unspeakable he may be, but he has that virtue."

"That may be true," said d.i.c.k; "but he doesn't keep his streets clean."

In truth they had emerged into a labyrinth of dark, narrow, and filthy streets, all the charm of the place having disappeared as soon as they were fairly on land. The mosques and towers had vanished, and their surroundings were decidedly repellent. Everywhere was mud, and garbage, and dogs. Of the latter there seemed to be hundreds upon hundreds of every breed and description.

"They are the street cleaners," explained the professor. "Here no one harms a dog, for if it were not for them the city would become too filthy for human beings to inhabit."

"Well, I certain am not as much stuck on Constantinople as I was,"

growled Brad.

"I must remind you," said Zenas, "that there is really no such place as Constantinople. The European quarters of the city is called Pera, while the Moslem quarter is Stamboul."

"Perhaps Brad isn't stuck on it," said d.i.c.k; "but I am. If this mud gets worse I shall be stuck on it to such an extent that I can't perambulate.

Look here, Mustapha, have we got to foot it all the way to our hotel?"

"No, effendi; we tak' tram car, we tak' horse-you choose."

Even as he spoke they came to a street corner where several saddled horses were waiting, after the manner of cabs in an American city.

"Me to the broncho!" cried Brad.

"There is the tram car," said d.i.c.k, with a motion.

The car was seen a short distance away, and the professor favored choosing that method of conveyance. Mustapha, however, for all that he had invited them make their choice, argued against it, explaining that half the car was reserved for ladies and that the other half was always crowded to suffocation.

Therefore they decided on the horses. Soon they were mounted and on their way up the long hill to Pera.

Although much of its beauty had vanished, the strange sights and sounds of the city keenly interested the American lads. They beheld people of many nationalities, yellow-coated Jews, with corkscrew curls, Bohemians, Nubians, Chinamen, Englishmen-all hastening on their various ways.

Pera proved to be a city quite modern in appearance, made up mostly of monotonous four-storied houses, new hotels, and shops filled with machine-made Oriental goods. The houses were flat-roofed and nearly all of them had balconies with cast-iron railings.