The other hesitated.
"Don"t give it unless you feel it is safe," said the Turk.
"There"s no harm in your knowing it," returned the Englishman. "My name is Harkaway."
"Hark-a-way?"
"In one word."
"I see. Farewell, then."
"Farewell."
And the interview was concluded.
"That letter is a splendid dodge. Look out, Master Jack Harkaway, look out, for I mean to cry quits now, or my name is not Herbert Murray,"
muttered the Englishman, as he walked away.
But how Herbert Murray had got to Turkey requires some explanation.
It will be within our readers" recollection that after his unsuccessful attempt on Chivey"s life, and the adventure of the groom with the old Spaniard, Murray found himself on board the same ship as his groom.
He resolved to make the best of this circ.u.mstance, as it could not now be altered.
A few days after leaving the Spanish coast they put into one of the Mediterranean ports, and there heard that young Jack and his friends had gone on to Turkey.
"I"ll follow them!" exclaimed Murray. "I can do as I like now the governor"s gone and I"ve plenty of tin, so look out for yourself, Jack Harkaway."
Murray"s ship was delayed by adverse weather, but at length reached port, and Herbert had scarcely put foot on sh.o.r.e, when he beheld young Jack, the object of his deadly hate, walking coolly down the street smoking a cigar.
This so enraged Murray that he hastened to disguise himself in Oriental attire, and then made the attempt on Jack"s life which we have related.
That same night a man was found dead on the threshold of the house in which Jack Harkaway and his friends resided.
How he had died no one could imagine, for he had not a scratch on his body.
Yet, stay.
There was a scratch.
Just that and no more.
In his fast-clenched hand was found an envelope addressed to Mr. John Harkaway, and on a closer examination a pin"s point was seen sticking through the paper.
This had just p.r.i.c.ked the messenger"s hand.
So slightly that, had not the tiny wound turned slightly blue, it would have entirely escaped notice.
Jack was now aware that he had in Turkey a deadly enemy, but who he was he could not yet tell.
When the men of skill a.s.sembled around the body, they were puzzled to a.s.sign a cause of death until one of them suggested it was apoplexy. So apoplexy it was unanimously set down for.
There was no more fuss made.
The man was only a poor devil of a Circa.s.sian, who got a precarious livelihood as a public messenger. So they
"Rattled his bones Over the stones, Like those of a pauper whom n.o.body owns."
And meanwhile, his murderer went his way.
"Fortunate I gave the name of Harkaway to that old professional poisoner, for they will never trace this job to me."
There was, however, one result from this using of Jack Harkaway"s name which Herbert Murray certainly never contemplated.
But of this we must speak hereafter.
In spite of his knowledge of the fact that he had enemies following his footsteps, our hero would not remain in the house.
"I am quite as safe in the street as here," said he, in reply to Harry Girdwood"s representations of the danger he ran, "and I am sure, old boy, you would not have me show the white feather."
"You never did that, and never will; but you need not run into unnecessary danger."
""Thrice is he armed who has his quarrel just," and his revolver well loaded. Ta-ta! I am just going to stroll down to this Turkish subst.i.tute for a postoffice, and see if last night"s steamer brought any letters."
So Jack strolled down accordingly, and found a letter for him.
His heart beat with joy as he recognised the handwriting, and he hurried home to read it.
On breaking open the envelope, out tumbled a beautiful carte de visite portrait, a copy of which we are able to give, as we still thoroughly retain young Jack"s friendship and confidence.
He kissed it till he began to fear he might spoil the likeness, and then placing it on the table before him, began to read.
And this is the letter--
"DEAR JACK,--_You very naughty boy. Where have you been, and why have you not written? I have a great mind to scold you, sir; but on second thoughts, I think I had better leave the task of correcting you to your parents, who, perhaps, have more influence with you than I have. You don"t know, dear, how anxious we have all been about you. Poor Mr. Mole has started in search of you. Have you seen him yet?--and if you don"t write soon, I shall feel obliged to try and find out what has become of you, for I almost begin to fear that some fair Turkish or Circa.s.sian girl_----"
"The deuce!" Jack thought; "she can"t have heard any thing of that affair yet. If Mole has written, the letter could not have reached England on the 20th of last month."
Then he continued--