In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife,
warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engaging
the Tatars with great fierceness. The latter had scattered throughout
the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only were
they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing
their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usual
courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction,
only to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars.
Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of
the square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly
surrounded him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the
Turks feared to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance
away and fired volleys at him from their rifles and pistols.
Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him
the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew
thicker every moment.
Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with the
ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that
the Turks had regained the city and driven out or killed the Tatar
warriors.
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