Yussuf the Guide Part 12

"Yes," said the landlord smiling. "I was going to suggest that you should offer him one-third of the amount."

"Then we shall offend him and drive him away," said Mr Burne.

"Oh, dear me! no, gentlemen. He does not expect to get what he asks, and the sum I name would be very fair payment. You leave the settlement in my hands."

The professor acquiesced, and the landlord turned to the Greek sailor to offer him just one-third of the sum he had asked.

"I thought as much," said the old lawyer. "The landlord thinks we're in England, and that it was a bill of costs that he had to tax. Look at the Greek, Lawrence!"

The latter needed no telling, for he was already watching the sailor, who was protesting furiously. One moment his hands were raised, the next they were clenched downwards as if about to strike the floor.

Again they were lifted menacingly, and there seemed danger, for one rested upon a knife in his belt, but only for it to be beaten furiously in the other. Quick angry words, delivered with the greatest volubility, followed; and then, turning and looking round in the most scornful manner, the man seemed to fire a volley of words at the whole party and rushed from the room.

"I'm sorry for this," said the professor, "for we would have paid heavily sooner than wait longer."

"Humph! Yes," exclaimed Mr Burne. "Why not call the man back and offer him two-thirds of his price?"

"Because, sir," replied the landlord, "it would have been giving him twice as much as would pay him well. Don't you see, sir, that he is going back empty, and every piastre you pay him is great profit.

Besides, I presume that you will take far more provisions than will suffice for your own use."

"Naturally," replied the professor.

"And this man and his little crew will reap the benefit?"

"But you have driven him away."

"Oh dear, no, sir!" replied the landlord smiling. "He will be back to-night, or at the latest to-morrow morning, to seal the bargain."

"Do you think so?" cried Lawrence, who looked terribly disappointed at this new delay.

"I am sure," said the landlord laughing. "Here he is."

For there was a quick step on the stair, the door was opened, and the swarthy face of the Greek was thrust in, the red cap s.n.a.t.c.hed off, and, showing his white teeth in a broad smile, he came forward, nodding pleasantly to all in turn.

A few words pa.s.sed, the bargain was made, and the tall lithe fellow strode out in high glee, it being understood that he was to well clean out the little cabin, and remove baskets and lumber forward so as to make the boat as comfortable as he could for his pa.s.sengers; that he was to put in at any port they liked, or stop at any island they wished to see; and, moreover, he swore to defend them with his men against enemies of every kind, and to land them safely at Ansina, or suffer death in default.

This last was his own volunteered penalty, after which he darted back to say that their excellencies might bring a little tobacco for him and his men, if they liked, and that, in return, they might be sure of finding a plentiful supply of oranges, grapes, and melons for their use.

"Come, landlord," said Mr Burne, "I think you have done wonders for us."

"I have only kept you from being cheated, gentlemen," was the reply.

"These men generally ask three or four times as much as they mean to take."

"And do the landlords?" said the professor drily.

"I hope not, sir," was the reply. "But now, gentlemen, if you will allow me, I should like to offer you a bit of advice."

"Pray, give it," said the professor gravely.

"I will, sir. It is this. You are going into a very wild country, where in places you will not be able to help yourselves in spite of your firman. That will be sufficient to get you everything where the law is held in anything like respect, but you will find yourselves in places where the rude, ignorant peasants will look upon you as Christian dogs, and will see you starve or die of exposure before they will give or even sell you food for yourselves or horses."

"Mighty pleasant set of barbarians to go amongst, I must say!" cried Mr Burne.

"I am telling you the simple truth, gentlemen. You will find no hotels or inns, only the resting-places--the khans--and often enough you will be away from them."

"He is quite right," said the professor calmly. "I was aware that we should sometimes have to encounter these troubles."

"Humph! 'Pon my word!" grumbled Mr Burne. "Look here, Lawrence, let's go back."

"What for?" cried the lad flushing. "Oh, no! we must go on."

The professor glanced at him quickly, and smiled in his calm grave way before turning to the landlord.

"You have not given us your advice," he said.

"It is very simple, gentlemen, and it is this: Take with you a man who knows the country well, who can act as guide, and from his frequent travels there can speak two or three languages--a faithful trusty fellow who will watch over you, guard you from extortion, and be ready to fight, if needs be, or force the people he comes among to give you or sell you what you need."

"Oh! but are they such savages as this--so near to the more civilised places of the East?"

"Quite, sir," replied the landlord.

"And where is this pearl among men to be found?" said the professor with a slight sneer. "Do you know such a one?"

"Yes, sir; he only returned from a journey yesterday. I happened to see him this morning, and thought directly of you."

"Would he go with us?" said the old lawyer quickly.

"I cannot say for certain," was the reply; "but if you will give me leave I will see him and sound him upon the subject."

"Humph!" from the old lawyer.

"He has just been paid, and would no doubt like to stay and rest here a little while, but I daresay I could prevail upon him to go with you if he saw you first."

"Then he is to be the master, not we?"

"Well, gentlemen, I don't say that," said the landlord smiling; "but people out here are very different to what they are at home. I have learned by bitter experience how independent they can be, and how strong their natural dislike is to Christians."

"This man is not a Christian, then?"

"Oh, no, sir! a Muslim, a thorough-going Turk."

"He will not carry his religious feelings to the pitch of pushing us over some precipice in the mountains, eh? and then come home thinking he has done a good work, eh, Mr Landlord?" said the old lawyer.

"Oh, no! I'll answer for his integrity, sir. If he engages to go with you, have no hesitation in trusting him with your baggage, your arms, your purses if you like. If he undertakes to be your guide, he will lose his life sooner than see you robbed of a single piastre."

"And what will he require?" said Mr Burne shortly; "what pay?"

"Very moderate, gentlemen, and I promise you this, that if I can persuade him to go with you, the cost of paying him will be saved out of your expenses. I mean that you will spend less with him than you would without."

"And he knows something of the country?"