Dick turned to one of the black men, who seemed to be something of a leader.
“Say, you,” he exclaimed, “I want you to shake yourself and get out of this right away! Understand? Take this befezzed old relic with you, too. Git!”
The man shook his head and held up his hands as if he did not understand.
Nadia’s alarm had increased. She saw that Dick was rapidly becoming very angry, and she urged him to hold his temper.
“I’ll travel no farther with these men!” declared the determined boy.
The Turk said something to the black men, and they began to crowd about Dick and the girl.
Seeing this, the boy reached for his pistol.
Before he could draw the weapon, however, he was seized by the throat by a huge pair of hands, the owner of which was behind him. Another of the black rascals clutched his arm and prevented him from producing the weapon.
The hands which clasped the boy’s neck were very powerful, and the massive fingers shut off his wind in a moment. The pressure thus exerted seemed crushing flesh and bone.
He exerted all his strength in the effort to break away, but realized that he had very little chance to succeed.