“If you do nod escape now id vas der death of Abraham!” groaned the frightened Jew.
Dick sprang past Assouan and reached the door. He looked out and then turned.
“What do you mean?” he demanded. “There is no one here.”
“He is below,” said the black man. “Be quick! There is still a small chance for you.”
“Come on, then!” exclaimed Brad.
But Dick saw the old professor had sunk down weakly on the couch, and he leaped to the side of Zenas.
“Come, professor!” he breathed, grasping the hand of the unnerved man.
“Go!” gasped the old pedagogue weakly. “Save yourself, if you can. Leave me. My strength is gone. God bless you, Richard! If I am beheaded by these fanatics, tell my wife—tell the boys——”
In spite of Professor Gunn’s lack of nerve, in spite of the spells of trepidation which seized him, in spite of his many weaknesses, the old man had won a warm corner in Dick Merriwell’s heart, and Dick was not the boy to desert in time of peril any one for whom he had the slightest regard.
“I’ll not tell them anything!” he said grimly. “If you do not brace up and attempt to escape, I’ll remain here with you, and you know what that means. You may not be harmed, for you were not present when Hafsa Pasha was slain; but as surely as I fall into the hands of the sultan’s officers, there will be very little show for me. Unless you brace up now, you may destroy me.”