“We, the young men, who have the strength and the faith for it.”
“Ah, my dear friend! I knew you would say that!” and Garabed grasped his hand warmly.... “You are worthy of becoming one of us. Listen: other men have had your thoughts. They have longed to arouse our people from their lethargy, to teach them their duty and their value, so that when the accursed Kurd shall sound the tocsin for fresh massacres, we shall not be taken unaware as formerly, but be ready to conquer or die. Secret societies have been formed; revolutionary groups have been organized in our towns, and they get recruits among all classes of society. You will find fédaī (revolutionaries) in the bazaar, in the fields, even in the serail, and in our schools.”
“In our college? It can’t be possible!”
A MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN
“It’s a fact, though, and you can understand how cautious we have had to be, to keep from being discovered. It has been so hard for me not to speak of it to you, my best friend, but our chief forbade it; to-day he has given me leave, and I’m going to ask you to join our group of fédaī.”
“With all my heart, my dear Garabed, and as soon as possible.”
“Pek-et (very well), we shall admit you this evening.”
“What time?”
“Wait for me at half-past eight, and we’ll go out together.”