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AN AMBITIOUS SCHOOLMASTER 173
same valley-lord and his clan j^roposed to do what
they could in the way of reprisals against Christians
in general, and looked to Armenians of Kara Geul
and other villages near by as the readiest and
easiest victims. So the Armenians feared that any
morning the valley-lord and his men might be discovered
coming across the eastern hills intending
murder and able to perform it. I tried to reassure
them, and pointed out that at this time above all
others the Ottoman Government desired to stand
well with the Powers, and therefore would certainly
prevent massacre.
But dread of the valley-lord and his men, only a
few hours' ride away, was not to be allayed by speaking
of the Powers. The Circassians were very real,
the Powers shadowy and remote, their action doubtful,
its effect still more so. The story of what had happened
at Yeni Bazaar was thought much better ground
for hope. That the authorities should have acted so
promptly and firmly there was good news for these
poor folk of Kara Geul, living on the edge of massacre,
for by it they could read the mood of their
Government.
When the subject of politics was exhausted the
schoolmaster spoke of his own affairs, but these
were not for the elders' knowledge. As schoolmaster
here he was biding his time, for he hoped before long
to enter the American Medical School at Beyrut and
eventually become a doctor. To that end he was
keeping up his English. Had I by chance an English
medical book I could give him, he asked—any sort of
medical book ? He possessed two or three already,
but had got them off by heart.
By morning Mehmet was in a better temper and
had forgotten his intention of returning to Sivas—in
fact he showed anxiety to set out in the opposite
direction, and had the araha ready while I was still
at breakfast. He seemed to think I might go off
without him ; his manner, too, was awkwardly apologetic
and solicitous. Under the influence of these