CHAPTER X

Night-fears—A short cut and an arrest—Cigarettes the
password—More arrests—A pleasant reunion—
Defence of Chorlu abandoned—A start for Con¬
stantinople—Cherkesskeui—An old acquaintance—
What might have been—The real reason for the
retreat to Chatalja-—A goose-chase.

Although Mahmud Mukhtar's force
had come in from Viza in such excel¬
lent order, the night had no sooner
fallen than it became very largely un¬
disciplined. It was a distressing thing
that well equipped and seasoned men
should display the fears of children
when they could no longer see for
themselves that the country behind
them was free from pursuers; but so
it   was,   and    the   march   gradually   de-

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