“Which is a wretched story to hide the truth that Hafsa Pasha brutally seized and imprisoned an American girl. The story is told to shield the Pasha in case the affair should be too closely investigated.”
“Perhaps so; but you know by experience that the people of Damascus believe it, for you were compelled to flee from the city in disguise to escape the enraged Moslems. Had you fallen into the hands of that mob you would have been torn limb from limb.”
“Still you—fine gentleman that you are—threatened to deliver me over, and, to prevent you, Dick Merriwell and Brad Buckhart seized, bound and gagged you and fastened you in a closet of the German hotel!”
“My dear Nadia, I had no thought of permitting you to fall into the hands of the mob; but I did wish to bring those fool boys to terms by frightening them.”
“You found them boys you could not frighten.”
“They are young idiots! They do not know enough to be afraid!”
“You followed us after we escaped from the city.”
“And overtook you, too, aided by the Bedouins I engaged.”
“You did not overtake Dunbar and me.”
“But I did overtake Merriwell, Buckhart and that old fool professor.”