Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:06:36 +0500
He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine, the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape from this barbarous country He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of the city.
But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the first time the boy began to give way to despair.
In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife, warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engaging the Tatars with great fierceness The latter had scattered throughout the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only were they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life, Their usual courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction, only to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars.
Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of the square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly surrounded him.
The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the Turks feared to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance away and fired volleys at him from their rifles and pistols.
Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew thicker every moment, Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with the ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that the Turks had regained the city and driven out or killed the Tatar warriors.
He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his own position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis.
Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arrested his attention A young girl was fastening some article to the wrist of a burly, villainous-looking Turk.
The boy saw a glitter that reminded him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward the man and the girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such a way that Rob could see nothing more, While the couple were apparently examining the strange device, Rob started to his feet and walked toward them.
The crowd fell back at his approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that they did not notice him.
He was still several paces away when the girl put out her finger and touched the indicator on the dial.
To Rob's horror and consternation the big Turk began to rise slowly into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd, But the boy made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to it with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upward until they were far above the city of the desert The big Turk screamed pitifully at first, and then actually fainted away from fright.
Rob was much frightened, on his part, for he knew if his hands slipped from their hold he would fall to his death, Indeed, one hand was slipping already, so he made a frantic clutch and caught firmly hold of the Turk's baggy trousers.
Then, slowly and carefully, he drew himself up and seized the leather belt that encircled the man's waist.
This firm grip gave him new confidence, and he began to breathe more freely.
He now clung to the body of the Turk with both legs entwined, in the way he was accustomed to cling to a tree-trunk when he climbed after cherries at home, He had conquered his fear of falling, and took time to recover his wits and his strength They had now reached such a tremendous height that the city looked like a speck on the desert beneath them.
