'What news have you?' inquired Trist indifferently, as he set in order the papers lying upon his table. He spoke in a loud voice, as all men did in Plevna, because of the roar of artillery and the rolling echo among the hills.
'Oh—nothing of importance!'
'Are you quite without communications from outside?'
Osman turned upon the threshold, and looked back with a smile of assumed density. Then he disappeared through the low doorway.
Trist turned to his papers again, but he had not begun writing when the Turkish commander appeared once more.
'Trist,' he said, coming forward with long, heavy strides.
'Yes.'
'I can get you out to-night. Had you not better go?'
'I would rather stay,' replied the Englishman. 'I am neither a woman nor a child.'
'But why run the risk?'