CHAPTER III--THE PERSISTENCE OF ACHMET
There was something decidedly ominous and sinister in the behavior ofthe coal-black giant and the silent, secretive Turk, who were whisperingthere in the shadows. In spite of himself, Dick felt a sudden faintchill, like an icy breath, sweep over him.
He stood quite still and regarded them steadily. They saw him, and theirwhispering stopped. The eyes of the tattooed black man seemed to gleamwith a baleful fire, but his dark face remained as unchangeable asmarble.
Slowly a strange smile overspread the countenance of Achmet. With aquick, silent step, he advanced toward the boy. He spoke in a low, softtone:
"So you are safely here, my lad? I see no harm has befallen you."
His English was almost perfect.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Dick. "This is not a place in whichone of your faith should choose to linger, with the City of the Faithfulso near. Indeed, I have been told that the better men of your religionnever deign to contaminate themselves by setting foot in this place,which is polluted by the infidel. Your conduct is suspicious, to say theleast."
"It is seldom one who may not be well suspected is in such haste tosuspect another," retorted the Turk, still with that strange, faintsmile which was very annoying to the boy.
Indignation swelled within Dick's heart, for now he was fully satisfiedthat they were being spied upon by this man.
"Look here," he said, "you'll get into trouble if you continue to followus about."
"Be careful that you do not get into far more serious trouble."
"There is no reason why we should get into trouble, for we have a way ofminding our own business."
"Then you are the first Americans I have seen who have that excellenthabit," retorted Achmet, in a manner that became more and moreinsulting.
Had Dick not learned by example and practice to control his temper, hemight have lost his head. He kept cool, however--outwardly, at least.
"It is plain you have been spying on us," he said. "We caught you in ourstateroom on the steamer----"
"An accident."
"An accident, perhaps, that we caught you. It was no accident that youwere there. What's your game, man? You are up to some rascallybusiness."
"I like not your lack of politeness, boy. I am not the one to answerquestions. It is you who should explain, but I will talk with the manwhom you call professor."
"I don't know whether you will or not."
"I demand to see him."
"You will have to find him."
"Is he not in those rooms?"
"No."
"Let me see."
The manner of Achmet plainly denoted that he did not believe Dick.
"We have engaged those rooms and paid in advance for them," saidMerriwell, still holding himself in check. "We are entitled to privacyin them, and we have no intention of admitting strange and suspiciousvisitors, especially a Turk of your questionable behavior."
"You refuse me admittance?"
"Decidedly."
Aziz Achmet made a quick sign to the black giant. Instantly the Nubianstrode forward. Dick made a move to retreat, but the arm of the blackman darted out and one powerful hand seized the lad. Merriwell had notoverestimated the probable strength of the tattooed man, for, withscarcely an effort, it seemed, the boy was lifted from his feet andplaced to one side.
Achmet quickly advanced to the door, flung it open, and entered theroom.
Brad Buckhart had caught the hum of voices outside and was crossing theroom to investigate when he found himself face to face with the Turk.
"Waugh!" exclaimed the Texan, in surprise.
"Pardon, boy," said Achmet, still maintaining his quiet manner and softspeech. "I would speak with the professor."
"Is that so?" said Brad. "Well, whoever invited you to walk in allunceremonious and chirklike? It strikes me that you are some forward inyour deportment. Where's my pard?"
"Here!" cried Dick, who had been released by the Nubian, and who nowhastened into the room. "This man forced an entrance. He has dogged ushere, Brad."
"Dogged is a proper word for it, I reckon!" grated the Texan, beginningto bridle. "Forced his way in, did he? Well, I judge we'll just shoothim out on his neck and teach him a bit of common decency!"
He proceeded to strip off his coat in a very businesslike manner.
"Hold!" commanded Achmet. "You will regret it, you infidel whelp, if youplace your vile hands on me!"
"Whoop!" roared the Westerner. "We'll sure see about that right away!Come on, partner!"
But now the Nubian stalked into the room, apparently ready to take ahand in the encounter, and Achmet called attention to him.
"This man alone," he declared, "is more than the equal of twenty boys.He once slew a strong man with a single blow of his fist. If you lift afinger against me he will rend you. Be careful!"
In spite of this warning Buckhart would have pitched in; but Dick hadbetter judgment and hastened to restrain his friend.
"The black man is dangerous, Brad," he said, in a low tone. "Unless weuse deadly weapons, he can master us alone. Besides that, we do not wishto kick up an uproar unless forced to do so. Steady, old man!"
"Whoop!" cried Brad. "This business is making me sizzle a heap!"
"It is an outrage, and we'll enter a complaint."
"You bet your boots!"
"That is your privilege," smiled Achmet, in his half-sneering way. "WhenI am through, you may complain as much as you like; but first bringforth the professor, that I may question him. Why is he hiding?"
"Hiding? Do you think he would hide from you?" exclaimed Dick. "I tellyou he is not here. Look for yourself."
"And be right careful that none of our belongings stick to yourfingers," growled the Texan. "We've been robbed in various ways fromLondon all the way here; but this is the first time any one has triedthe game open and brazen, like this."
"You are not in the least danger of being robbed," assured the Turk. "Iinvite you to watch me, in order that you may see you have no complaintof that sort to make."
He then looked into the adjoining room, and the bath.
"Well, are you satisfied?" demanded Dick.
Achmet showed a trace of annoyance and disappointment. He stated that hehad been told by the Nubian that the professor was there, and furtherthat he was sure Zenas Gunn had not left the hotel since his arrival.
"Which makes it plain that he has played the spy on us right along,"said Dick, addressing Brad, but not lowering his voice.
"Sure!" rasped Buckhart.
"I will wait for his return," said the Turk. "While I am waiting,perhaps you will inform me what business has brought you to thiscountry."
"Our business is none of your business," declared Dick.
"Of that I will judge when I am satisfied that I have learned yourbusiness."
"We are traveling."
"For what purpose?"
"To see the world."
"Two boys and an old man. In Italy your behavior was suspicious. Youdisappeared from Naples in great haste, without explaining why you leftso suddenly or whither you went."
"Great tarantulas!" muttered Brad. "He's even got track of us as farback as that."
"In Venice you were concerned in some singular and unaccountable things,and in Greece you had dealings with lawless characters. Had you remainedin Athens, you must have explained your actions to officials of the citygovernment. You left there, also, in haste."
Dick wondered that the man should know so much of their movements.
"It seems," continued Achmet, "that in various places the police havebeen warned against you; but that in each instance they sought to findout about you only to find you suddenly departed."
"This certain is a plenty interesting!" gasped Buckhart. "What does itmean, pard? Can you tell?"
Dick had been thinking swiftly. His hand fell on his friend's arm.
"Brad, it is the work of Bunol and Marsh, our bitter enemies. They weresore because we fo
oled them by getting the Budthornes out of theirpower. They have lost track of Dunbar Budthorne and his sister, Nadia,but have managed somehow to keep trace of us, and have tried to cause usas much annoyance as possible."
"I opine you're right, Dick," nodded Buckhart. "That's just it. Iwouldn't be surprised to see those two onery varmints turn up any time.Well, they've succeeded in making a lot of fool work for a lot of foolpeople, and this is the first time we've been touched by it."
Achmet had listened to their words with a manner of mingled interest anddoubt. It was plain that he did not understand, and he was on the pointof questioning them further when the sudden sound of excited and angryvoices reached their ears through the partly open doorway.
"The professor!" cried Dick. "Something is doing, Brad! Come on!"
"Lay the trail, pard! I'm at your heels!"
They rushed forth and ran toward the point from which came the sound ofthose voices.
"You're a miserable, crawling worm! You're a whisky-soaked, dried-up,offensive squid! You have annoyed the lady by your obnoxious attentions,and they must cease!"
It was the voice of Zenas.
"Yo', suh, are a long-eared jackass, suh, and I demand satisfaction fo'your insults, suh!"
"Major Fitts!" exclaimed Dick, in dismay.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" shrilled another voice. "This is scandalous! Youmust not quarrel over me! It is shocking to my delicate sensibilities. Icannot permit it!"
"And Sarah Ann, sure as shooting!" cried Brad.
At the head of the stairs were three persons. Zenas Gunn was shaking hisfist down at Major Fitts, while the major was shaking his fist up at theprofessor. Miss Ketchum had her hands clasped in an attitude of despair,while she implored them to desist.
Dick halted, folding his arms.
"Now what do you think of that?" he muttered, in disgust.
"It certain is some annoying," chuckled Buckhart, pausing with his handsresting on his hips. "Shall we pitch in, pard, and break it up?"
"I'm tempted to let those two old fools have it out," said Merriwell.
"Good idea! Mebbe it will cure them both."
"Take your fist away!" snarled the professor, knocking the hand of thelittle man aside.
"Don't yo' strike at me, suh!" panted the major, his face red as aboiled lobster, and his gray mustache bristling.
"Strike at you!" retorted Zenas scornfully. "If I ever struck at you,you human wart, there wouldn't be anything left of you but a greasespot!"
"Oh, please, please stop!" sobbed Sarah Ann, trying to get hold of themand force them apart.
"Yo' had better hide behind a lady's petticoat!" raged the man fromMississippi.
"Hide behind nothing!" retorted Gunn, giving Miss Ketchum an embrace andlooking over one shoulder, while he reached over her other shoulder toagain shake his fist at Fitts. "She is trying to keep me fromannihilating you."
Finding herself in the professor's embrace, Miss Ketchum screamed andseemed on the point of fainting.
"Oh, Moses!" laughed Buckhart. "Look at that, pard--just look!"
"I see," said Dick, also convulsed. "The professor isn't losing theopportunity to hug Sarah Ann, and it makes the major bloodthirsty."
Fitts danced round in an endeavor to get hold of Gunn, but the latterskillfully turned so that he kept Miss Ketchum's limp form between them.
"Unhand that lady!" rasped the man from Mississippi, fairly frothing."How dare yo' behave in such a manner!"
"Oh, go back to your kennel!" advised Zenas.
The major caught hold of Sarah Ann and managed to dance round until hecould get his hands on the professor.
"Release her!" he commanded.
Miss Ketchum straightened up a little.
"Such a shocking scandal!" she sobbed.
"Yo' have compromised her, suh!" panted Fitts. "Yo' shall pay thepenalty with your life, suh!"
"I've stood just as much of this as I can!" grated Zenas. "I'll justthrow you downstairs!"
Which he attempted to do, while Sarah Ann again tried to part them. Onthe top stair both lost their balance. Wildly they grabbed at somethingas they toppled. The right hand of Zenas caught Miss Ketchum. The lefthand of the major closed on her, also. Then all three toppled, a shriekof terror escaped the woman, and down they went.
Bump, bump, bump-ety-bump!
Tangled in a most astonishing manner, the three seemed to bound like ahuge rubber ball from stair to stair. At intervals legs and arms shotout from the mass and described half circles in the air. The womancontinued to scream, the professor yelled, while the major grunted andgasped with every thump. It sounded as if the entire hotel was falling.
"Oh, say, pard, this is awful!" cried Buckhart, rushing toward thestairs.
"I'm afraid the professor will be somewhat dented," said Dick, alsolosing no time.
Thud! crash!
The trio landed at the bottom of the stairs.
Sarah Ann struck in a sitting posture, with her skirts outspread. Shewas minus a wig and a full set of false teeth, and she presented aludicrous spectacle of wreck and despair. Both men were beneath her, andhaving landed on them she did not seem to be seriously harmed.
Dick and Brad bounded down the stairs and reached her.
"Are you hurt, madam?" questioned Merriwell, his natural chivalrycausing him to express anxiety for her first.
She spoke, and strange were the mumbling sounds which issued from hertoothless mouth. "I've sost my seesh in thish dishgrashful affairsh,"she answered. "Be sho kindsh to reshtorsh my seesh, pleash."
"Here madam," said Dick, picking up something, "are part of them."
"And here, madam," said Brad, also picking something up, "are the restof them."
She hastily slipped them into her mouth, while Mowbry Fitts began tokick and shout.
"Let me get up!" he called, in a muffled voice.
"Be quiet," said Miss Ketchum, "until I have arranged my toilet."
Her head was almost entirely devoid of hair.
"Perhaps this may assist you," said Dick, discovering her wig andhanding it to her.
"Help!" called the husky voice of Professor Gunn. "I'm smothering! Ican't breathe!"
"You don't deserve to breathe," said Miss Ketchum, calmly adjusting thewig. "You are two indecent creatures, and I am sure you have disgracedme forever."
Major Fitts was becoming frantic.
"I'm dying!" he groaned.
"I'm dead!" came faintly from Professor Gunn.
By this time scores of guests had reached the spot and stood askingquestions. Others were coming. The whole house had been aroused.
"Dick," said Brad, "I do believe the professor is smothering! She'ssitting on his head, and his struggles are growing weaker."
"Lift her, Brad," said Merriwell.
They caught hold of her and stood her on her feet.
"Water!" gasped the professor.
"Whisky!" wheezed the major.
They lay on their backs, having managed to roll over, gasping forbreath.
Miss Ketchum looked down at them with an air of contempt.
"I hope," she said, "that the proprietor has you both locked up aslunatics! You are the worst old fools I ever saw! So there!"
Then, declining assistance, she hurried up the stairs.