acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

118 ACROSS ASIA MINOR ON FOOT
It was a problem for the sentry, complicated by
more than what might befall himself The killing or
injurinfj of a Moslem by an Armenian (leaving me,
a foreigner, out of the questioi]) is always an enormously
serious thing. Moslems might have risen to
avenge the shedding of Moslem blood, and Armenians
of the town, women and children as well as men, would
have suftered. All these aspects of the question the
sentry knew well, and passed in review. I looked
back to get, if I could, some inkling of his thoughts.
He had resumed his beat—the wisest course considering
all things—reflecting thankfully, no doubt, that we
had been ending the trespass instead of beginning it.
During the afternoon another instance occurred of
what Achmet, as a Moslem, could carry through without
trouble resulting. I wished to reach a rock, high
up the valley side, that promised a fine view over the
town and castle. We spent half an hour in a maze
of alleys, each stopping with a dead end, vainly
endeavouring to get through to the open ground a
few hundred yards away. At last I proposed to try
farther along, but now Achmet thought his reputation
at stake, and that he must discover or make
a way here. He became obstinate, and said he
would ffo throuo^h the houses. Various doors that
he tried were fastened ; but one at length flew open
before his vigorous push, and bidding me follow, he
entered. Certainly it was a poor man's house, but
it was Turkish— the place of secluded females, the
owner's castle nnore than is the home of any Englishman
; I would have trespassed in many private houses
rather than this.
I followed, however, wondering not a little what the
outcome would be. We went through the house, out
into a yard, and there came face to face with an unveiled
w^oman. I expected screams, abuse, a gathering
of neighbours, something like a riot ; but Achmet said
a few quiet words and all was well. So w^e went on,
climbing over walls, crossing yards, passed through
another house, and at last reached the open hillside.