Utter silence for several moments, broken at last by an inquiring "Eh?" and the clicking of rifle locks.
"Lindbohm!"
"Curtis, by damn! It's all right; come out!"
The American sprang eagerly forward, but stepped on a stone. Then he leaped on to the back of the mule and Panayota led the animal out into the highway and into the midst of a goodly company of armed insurgents, who forgot all discipline, and broke forth into a volley of questions.
The American and the Lieutenant were shaking each other by the hand through it all.
"I saved her!" cried Curtis. "I killed two Turks and did up another. Then we ran away on this mule. I cracked one of 'em on the head and shot another. I smashed one with my fist and took his gun away from him. Then I—"
"So you saved Panayota?"
"Yes, I saved her, I tell you. I—"
"Thank God! thank God!" cried Lindbohm, throwing his arms about Curtis' neck.
"Where is my father?" asked Panayota, in a shrill voice that pierced the bubble of questions, suddenly, awkwardly.