Presently half a dozen Turkish horse—Regulars, with a splendid-looking officer at their head, came dashing into the square, and sending both Turks and Christians running in all directions. But one Turk did not run, for he lay dying on the ground. It was the murderer of Baghas. The soldiers took up the wounded man and set him on a horse. And then the Turks began to return; a number of them gathered round the group, with a few Christians also. Jack heard them cry out that the man was dying.
"How did you get here, Yon Effendi?" said the voice of Barkev Vartonian beside him.
"I met Gabriel, and came. What are they going to do?"
"Going to take the man to the Government House, I suppose. They will never get him there alive."
"Barkev, who killed him?"
"The zaptiehs, of course, when they could not get him from us. I saw one of them stab him with a bayonet."
"I thought one of our people might have done it, seeing they wanted to take him from us."
"How, save with sticks or stones? We have nothing else, as you know. But the Turks will try to put it on us, no doubt. Come along to the Government House, and let us see what happens."
As they reached the place, Barkev exclaimed, "Djanum! there is Dr. Melkon, of all men, in the hands of the zaptiehs. What can he have done?"
"Not arrested as a criminal, I hope, but called in as a doctor," said Jack, as they came up.