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edged blade as sharp as a razor, swung the weapon fiercely to cut off

Rob's head. But the repulsive force aroused in the Garment was so

terrific that it sent the weapon flying backwards with redoubled

swiftness, so that it caught the second Turk at the waist and cut him

fairly in two.

Thereafter they all avoided coming near the boy, and in a surprisingly

short time the Turkish forces were entirely conquered, all having been

reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away

and hidden in the cellars or garrets of the houses.

The Tatars entered the city with shouts of triumph, and the chief was so

delighted that he threw his arms around Rob's neck and embraced him

warmly.

Then began the sack of Yarkand, the fierce Tatars plundering the

bazaars and houses, stripping them of everything of value they could

find.

Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks for

the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He was

more successful later, for in running through the streets he came upon a

band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Rob

quickly recognized as one of the thieves he was hunting for. The Tatars

willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of his pockets Rob

found the Record of Events.

He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine, the

one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape from

this barbarous country.

He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead

body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of the city. But

the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the first time the

boy began to give way to despair.

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

The Master Key