Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 35

"Quite so," agreed the tall man.

"Who are you?" questioned the first.

"Your name," demanded the second.

The stranger made a graceful gesture.

"My name matters little to you. I will not speak it at present. Those rascals are wholly unaware that I am here. I do not care to have them discover it just now. Listen! The mob clamors again. The doors will be beaten down soon, and then nothing can save us. If you know these people here, lose no time in informing them of the real cause of this riot.

Tell them that the guilty ones are sheltered beneath this roof. Propose to them that the three scoundrels be surrendered, for it is better that three such common wretches should be slain than that a whole hotel full of innocent people should die."

"Quite right!" exclaimed the small man.

"Perfectly right," agreed the tall man.

CHAPTER XVIII-IN A DEADLY TRAP

d.i.c.k returned to his friends.

"Where have you been, pard?" asked Buckhart.

"Just outside," was the answer. "Wanted to see what was going on in the hotel."

"I opine the whole bunch is some frightened."

"Without doubt. They have good reason to be-- Something doing!"

This final exclamation was caused by the clear, ringing sound of a bugle, coming from the streets below.

d.i.c.k rushed to the window, followed by the others.

Looking out, they saw a body of mounted soldiers coming swiftly down a street leading to the front of the hotel. They were riding at a gallop, the hoofs of their horses clattering rhythmically. An officer with drawn sword was leading them.

"The sultan's soldiers!" exclaimed d.i.c.k. "At last the governor has awakened. Without doubt he remembers Ahmad Pasha, and he does not care about losing his own head."

"Oh, the soldiers are coming to drive the mob away!" exclaimed Nadia, in relief.

"Perhaps so," muttered Brad. "I sure hope so."

"Why, is there any other reason why they should come?"

"I don't know."

Deep down in his heart, however, the Texan feared the troops were coming for quite another purpose. He feared the ruling Pasha had ordered them to proceed to the hotel and take possession of the ones suspected as having had a hand in the killing of Hafsa Pasha. If this were true, although the troops might keep them from the vengeance of the mob, it was likely that in the end they would be punished with death, or in some other manner, as accomplices of the murderer.

Entertaining these thoughts, Brad watched with the greatest anxiety the movements of the troop of soldiers. He was relieved to some extent when the soldiers charged into the mob, the officer in command ordering the gathering to disperse.

Professor Gunn literally capered for joy.

"We're saved! we're saved!" he cried. "The governor doesn't dare permit another riot!"

Then the old man seemed to realize that he was losing his dignity, whereupon he stopped dancing, straightened up, threw out his thin chest, and thrust one hand into the bosom of his coat.

"To tell you the truth, my friends," he said, "I have not been genuinely alarmed at any stage of the affair, for my judgment told me the governor would see fit to interfere before anything really serious happened."

d.i.c.k laughed.

"My dear professor," he said, "it is not possible you fancy any of us thought you alarmed in the slightest. We knew better than that. You are a man of iron nerves."

"Hum! haw!" coughed Zenas. "Perhaps not exactly iron-nerved, but I flatter myself that I have unusal ac.u.men and judgment, and therefore I knew the affair would be checked in case the governor had time to act before the mob succeeded in doing any real damage."

In the street below the soldiers were charging up and down, scattering the crowd. The mob dispersed with great reluctance, for it resembled a pack of hungry wolves that had scented a feast.

The crooked old Turk even dared stand and defy the cavalrymen, but finally the officer in charge chased him off, belaboring him across the back with the flat of his sword.

"You deserve something worse than that, you old wolf!" muttered d.i.c.k.

Nadia was greatly relieved.

From the window they watched until the soldiers had quite succeeded in dispersing the mob, and it began to seem that the danger was over.

Then they discovered that the mounted men were being divided into squads, and soon these squads began to patrol the neighboring streets.

d.i.c.k again left the room, was gone fifteen or twenty minutes, and returned with the information that the officer had given orders that no one was to enter or leave the hotel until further notice. The guests were practically prisoners, and this seemed to indicate that the danger was not over.

Nadia's nerves were in a sad condition from the strain and the relapse.

Her brother conducted her to her room. He then returned and, accompanied by the professor, proceeded to interview the German proprietor of the hotel.

d.i.c.k and Brad were left alone. The door was standing slightly ajar.

"This business had been a plenty exciting, partner," said the Texan; "but I opine she's practically over now."

"I don't know about that," said d.i.c.k, shaking his head.

Buckhart was astonished by the grave manner of his companion.

"Don't know?" he cried. "Why, the mob has been scattered and the soldiers are guarding the house."

"Yes, the soldiers are guarding the house, and orders have been given that no one shall leave it."

"That is so none of the inmates shall fall into the hands of the mob."

"Is it?"

"Isn't it?"