The House of the Falcon
"He is no more. He sought the man Monsey and found him." The hakim beckoned. "Come, Dono-van Khan. You must leave the castle. Your work here is done."
With that, he turned away. The Englishman rose stiffly and carried his burden into the courtyard, where masses of Sayaks—men, women, and boys—were gathered about the dark groups of prisoners. He stepped over prone bodies and went down the steps to the plain where the horses were being collected and a string of camels waited. Aravang followed.
They went onward until they came to the edge of the woods, where the native led Donovan to an open ravine where was the bed of a stream and pools of fresh water. Here they bathed Edith's face, somewhat hopelessly—being unskilled in caring for the needs of a woman—and sat down to wait until she should return to her senses.
Presently a glimmer of fiery light crept through the screen of trees between them and the plateau, and the crackle of flames came to their ears.
Donovan questioned the native with a glance.
"Mahmoud, the all-wise, has set fire to the Kurgan, Excellency. Thus will the bodies, all except two, be buried and the nest of the dead Vulture will be no more."
The white man nodded.
"So, Iskander led the Sayaks into the north and south of the Kurgan, Aravang," he mused, "while Mahmoud drew their attention and fire to the west? It was well done. Yet whence came these numbers?"
He spoke idly, his gaze on the unconscious girl, as if merely confirming his belief as to what had passed. Aravang was resting his head on his bent arms—both
278
