John Buchan

Name: Greenmantle — Chapter 18
Author: John Buchan

Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

Summary

“Greenmantle — Chapter 18”, published in 1916, is a work by John Buchan. It explores elements such as Hussin, Blenkiron and Stumm.

Quotes from Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (John Buchan)

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ Gradually we descended to a lower level, till we emerged on the top of a shed in a courtyard. Hussin gave an odd sort of cry, like a demented owl, and something began to stir below us.
It was a big covered wagon, full of bundles of forage, and drawn by four mules. As we descended from the shed into the frozen litter of the yard, a man came out of the shade and spoke low to Hussin. Peter and I lifted Blenkiron into the cart, and scrambled in beside him, and I never felt anything more blessed than the warmth and softness of that place after the frosty roofs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ He led us at a smart pace from one roof to another, for here they were all of the same height, and only low parapets and screens divided them. We never saw a soul, for a winter's night is not the time you choose to saunter on your housetop. I kept my ears open for trouble behind us, and in about five minutes I heard it. A riot of voices broke out, with one louder than the rest, and, looking back, I saw lanterns waving. Stumm had realized his loss and found the tracks of the thief.
Hussin gave one glance behind and then hurried us on at break-neck pace, with old Blenkiron gasping and stumbling. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ Sparrows on the Housetops
'I've often regretted,' said Blenkiron, 'that miracles have left off happening.'
He got no answer, for I was feeling the walls for something in the nature of a window.
'For I reckon,' he went on, 'that it wants a good old-fashioned copper-bottomed miracle to get us out of this fix. It's plumb against all my principles. I've spent my life using the talents God gave me to keep things from getting to the point of rude violence, and so far I've succeeded. But now you come along, Major, and you hustle a respectable middle-aged citizen into an aboriginal mix-up. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ No wonder Stumm had been in a wax at its loss.
The Deve Boyun lines seemed to me monstrously strong, and I remembered the merits of the Turk as a fighter behind strong defences. It looked as if Russia were up against a second Plevna or a new Gallipoli.
Then I took to studying the flanks. South lay the Palantuken range of mountains, with forts defending the passes, where ran the roads to Mush and Lake Van. That side, too, looked pretty strong. North in the valley of the Euphrates I made out two big forts, Tafta and Kara Gubek, defending the road from Olti. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ It was very evident that if they kept up the chase we should be caught, for Blenkiron was about as useful on a roof as a hippo.
Presently we came to a big drop, with a kind of ladder down it, and at the foot a shallow ledge running to the left into a pit of darkness. Hussin gripped my arm and pointed down it. 'Follow it,' he whispered, 'and you will reach a roof which spans a street. Cross it, and on the other side is a mosque. Turn to the right there and you will find easy going for fifty metres, well screened from the higher roofs. For Allah's sake keep in the shelter of the screen. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ How could three fugitives in a cellar, with the whole hornet's nest of Turkey and Germany stirred up against them, hope to send this message of life and death?
I went back to the map and examined the nearest Russian positions. They were carefully marked. Prjevalsky in the north, the main force beyond Deve Boyun, and the southern columns up to the passes of the Palantuken but not yet across them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ When things get to the pass that nothing you can do can better them, the only thing is to live for the moment. All three of us sought in sleep a refuge from our empty stomachs. The floor was the poorest kind of bed, but we rolled up our coats for pillows and made the best of it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

John Buchan, Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (1916)

“ Then I turned to the paper from which Stumm had copied the jottings on to his map. It was typewritten, and consisted of notes on different points. One was headed 'Kara Gubek' and read: 'No time to fortify adjacent peaks. Difficult for enemy to get batteries there, but not impossible. This the real point of danger, for if Prjevalsky wins the Peaks Kara Gubek and Tafta must fall, and enemy will be on left rear of Deve Boyun main position.'
I was soldier enough to see the tremendous importance of this note. ”

John Buchan

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Quotes from Greenmantle — Chapter 18 (John Buchan)

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