“I think not,” said Lawrence laughing.
“Then you can’t get away from here, so don’t think it. Why, it’s impossible.”
Just then the fierce-looking chief entered, followed by a man carrying a great smoking dish, and as the leader drew near the fire, Lawrence bit his lip, for he saw that the tall ruffian was wearing his sword, and carrying his handsome gun in the hollow of his arm.
The chief turned to Yussuf, who was seated in one corner of the room, and said a few words to him.
Yussuf rose and addressed his little party in a low voice.
“The brigand captain says, excellencies, that you are to be prepared to send in one of his men to-morrow morning as messenger to your agent where you like. You are to write and say that, if injury is done to the messenger, you will be killed. The messenger is to bring back six thousand pounds—two for each of you—as a ransom, and that, upon the money being paid, you will be set free.”
“And if the money be not paid, Yussuf, what then?” said the professor quietly.
“The chief says no more, excellency.”
“But he will to-morrow or next day,” cried Mr Chumley. “He’ll say that if the money is not paid he’ll—”
“Will you be quiet, Charley?” cried his wife. “How you do chatter, to be sure! Are you going to send for the money?”