“Yes, a pretty good heat. This is interesting.”
“It is a volcanic country, then,” said Lawrence eagerly. “Oh, Mr Preston, we must see a burning mountain.”
“It does not follow that there are burning mountains now,” said the professor smiling, “because we find hot springs.”
“Doesn’t it?” said Lawrence in a disappointed tone.
“Certainly not. You would be puzzled to find a volcano in England, and yet you have hot springs in Bath.”
“Effendi, be on your guard. I do not like the look of these people,” said Yussuf quickly, for a party of mounted men, all well-armed, was seen coming from the opposite direction; but they passed on scowling, and examining the little group by the hot spring suspiciously.
“A false alarm, Yussuf,” said the professor smiling.
“No, effendi,” he replied; “these are evil men. Let us get on and not stop at this village, but make our way to the next by another track which I know, so as to reach the old ruined city, and they may not follow. If they do, I think they will not suspect the way we have gone.”
There seemed to be reasons for Yussuf’s suspicions, the men having a peculiarly evil aspect. A perfectly honest man sometimes belies his looks, but when a dozen or so of individuals mounted upon shabby Turkish ponies, all well-armed, and wearing an eager sinister look upon their countenances, are seen together, if they are suspected of being a dishonest lot, there is every excuse for those who suspect them.
“’Pon my word, Preston,” said Mr Burne, “I think we had better get off as soon as possible.”