The rest will be
simple. There are four in this besides us five; so if we count Yussuf
Dakmar that makes ten who share the reward. Shall Yussuf Dakmar grow
fat, while nine of us starve? I think not! Let him get the letter, and
give it to me. We will hide it, and I will deal with the French. If he
fails tonight, let him try again tomorrow on the train. But we five
will also take that train to Damascus, and unless that letter is in my
hands before the journey's end, then Yussuf Dakmar dies. Is that
agreed?'
"All except Yussuf Dakmar agreed to it. He was very angry and called
them leeches, whereat they laughed, saying that leeches only suck enough
and then fall off, whereas they would take all or kill. They made him
understand it, taking a great oath together to slay him without mercy
unless he should get the letter and give it to them before the train
reaches Damascus tomorrow evening.
"Well, sahib, he agreed presently, not with any effort at good grace,
but cursing while he yielded.
"In truth, sahib, it is less fear than lack of sleep that Yussuf Dakmar
feels. I could hear him yawn through the window lattice. Now a man in
that condition is likely to act early in the night for fear that sleep
may otherwise get the better of him, and the sahib will do well to be
keenly alert from the first.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140