“When our tormentors were about to fire,” said he, “we began to sing our favorite hymn:
‘A mighty fortress is the Lord,
A refuge in the storm.’
“Our calmness in the face of death seemed to terrify those men, and the chief, furious at their hesitation, gave the order again: ‘Fire! Fire!’ At last they fired. Even then I could hear our dear Professor Pagratian saying, ‘Jesus, Jesus, we are coming to Thee!’ Then I fainted away.”
The Pagratian children were sobbing: “Papa, papa, what shall we do without you?”
“What miracle prevented your being killed like the others?” asked Nizam.
“It really was a miracle. My swoon only lasted a few minutes, and when I came to myself, the Kurds were killing the women and children. I had strength enough to drag myself a little way and hide behind a pile of wood, then the sights all around were so terrible that I fainted again. After a long time I regained consciousness; it was broad daylight, and the courtyard was deserted. You know already how they took me in at the American hospital, and took care of me till I was healed.”
[1] Mr. Rodgers, an American missionary killed at Adana in the massacre of 1908. [↑]