“And of course we knew that, and accepted the risk,” said the professor. “Come, come, Burne, be reasonable. Yussuf is not to blame. The question is, What are we to do—fight or give up?”
“Fight,” said Mr Burne fiercely. “Hang it all, sir! I never give in to an opponent. I always say to a client, if he has right upon his side, ‘Fight, sir, fight.’ And that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Fight, eh?” said the professor gravely.
“Yes, sir, fight, and I only wish I understood the use of this gun and long knife as well as I do that of a ruler and a pen.”
“Look here, Yussuf, if we fight, what will be the consequences?”
“I will fight for your excellencies to the last,” said the Turk calmly; “but I am afraid that we can do no good.”
“Confound you, sir!” cried Mr Burne; “if we give in they will take off our heads.”
“No, no, excellency, they will make us prisoners, and strip us of our arms and all that we have of value.”
“Humph! Is that all?”
“No, excellency. They will demand a heavy ransom for your release—so many Turkish pounds.”