CHAPTER XXI
"A Proper Lash Up"
Finding himself covered by Webb's pistol, the Greek's companion promptly extended both arms above his head as a token of surrender.
The fellow was attired in characteristic Bedouin dress. His face was of a deep olivine, his features being partly concealed by a heavy black beard and by the front of his burnous. In the folds of his voluminous sash were thrust an automatic pistol, and a couple of knives of Arab manufacture protected by sheaths of undressed leather.
"Take charge of that gentleman's armoury, old man," said Osborne. "It seems most discourteous to deprive such a meek and mild old buffer of his playthings, but needs must!"
Webb complied, dexterously removing the knives; but, just as he was taking possession of the pistol, the latter slipped from his grasp and clattered on the stone floor. With a deafening report one of the cartridges exploded.
In a trice the wily Hymettus saw his chance and took it. With a swift sideward movement he interposed the body of the Arab between himself and the muzzle of Osborne's revolver; then turning, he dashed for a narrow doorway with the Lieutenant in pursuit.
"About turn; off you go!" ordered Webb, unconsciously addressing his prisoner in English. "No hanky-panky tricks, mind, or I'll shoot!"
He pointed to the opening through which the Greek and Osborne had vanished. The Arab obeyed, still keeping his hands above his head.
The doorway opened upon the flat roof of the portico. Without was an expanse of stone slabs, roughly fifty feet by ten. In front and on one side a parapet of about thirty inches in height afforded protection from a sheer drop of thirty feet to the ground. On the remaining side no such wall existed, owing to the partial collapse of the masonry. Where the portico had fallen, the face of the building was pitted with holes, caused by the wrenching away of the dovetailed stones. Each aperture formed a convenient foothold, and from this hazardous path to safety Hymettus ran. Could he but make his precarious way along the sheer face of the wall, comparative safety awaited him, for beyond was a place where one man could defy a hundred unless his assailants were provided with ladders.