‘It’s certain death,’ I shouted, and now I saw one or two of the women hesitate, and look first at me and then at each other with doubt and fear. But Orestes would not listen, and called again to them to take the road. Thus we were when the door behind me opened, and Phroso was again by my side. She knew how matters went. Her eyes were wild with terror and distress.
‘Stop them, my lord, stop them,’ she implored.
For answer, I took my revolver from my pocket, saying, ‘I’ll do what I can.’
‘No, no, not like that! That would be your death as well as theirs.’
‘Come,’ cried Orestes, in the pride of his sudden elevation to leadership. ‘Come, follow me, I’ll lead you to victory.’
‘You fools, you fools!’ I groaned. ‘In an hour half of you will be dead.’
No, they would not listen. Only the women now laid imploring hands on the arms of husbands and brothers, useless loving restraints, angrily flung off.
‘Stop them, stop them!’ prayed Phroso. ‘By any means, my lord, by any means!’
‘There’s only one way,’ said I.