Despite their labored breathing, the others could not restrain a laugh at the ridiculous idea of a naked man considering himself dressed with a revolver.
After all, their services were not needed. When they arrived at the barricade, they found the defenders still awaiting the attack which had failed to materialize. Jack’s earlier arrival with Roy Stone’s message that he intended to drop gas bombs in the midst of the Janissaries had given them the solution of the mystery, and the explanation of the fliers regarding the damage wrought was greeted with delight.
The little band had suffered slightly by comparison with the terrible execution they had worked among the Janissaries at the tunnel exit of the subterranean river. Yet their losses had been severe enough. Lieutenant Horeb and one of his men had been killed; Akmet, two other Arabs, and three revolutionists had suffered dangerous, though not fatal, injuries, and not one had escaped without some slight wound.
To the boys the fact that Mr. Hampton, praised by all for covering the retreat with his repeater, had come through safely with no more than a flesh wound in the calf of his right leg, was a matter for the greatest thankfulness. As the three of them foregathered with Mr. Hampton and Roy Stone, a little to one side of the main group, the thought occurred to all that they had reason, indeed, for gratitude at having passed practically unscathed through their numerous and deadly perils.
Mr. Hampton, who was not given to outward religious manifestations, said simply:
“Almighty Providence has looked after us all, fellows, and we mustn’t forget to give thanks.”
And for a moment, each bowed his head and voiced the thankfulness in his heart in his own way.
A clatter of approaching hoofs rang in the road, and up dashed the score of hard-riding horsemen from the other pass, for whom Jepthah had despatched the messenger.
A condensed account of events was given their leader, a lean hard-bitten man older than the majority of the young revolutionists whom, the boys later learned was Maspah, a nobleman whose gorge had risen at the terrible punishment meted out by the Oligarchy to those earlier exiles who had shown kindness to Professor Souchard and aided his return to civilization, and who forthwith had fled to join the little outlaw bands which finally concentrated at Korakum under Captain Amanassar and launched the revolution.
His eyes gleamed when he was told of the demoralization wrought among the Janissaries by the dropping of the gas bombs. While waiting the arrival of the footmen, peasants armed with bows and arrows and numbering 200, he had the breach re-opened to admit the passage of his horsemen.