What was the meaning of this void and silence?
It seemed as if a destructive hand had swept over that vast, green land and left ruin and desolation behind.
A strange shudder came over the young man, and his sunburnt face grew ghastly. It was not fear that so agitated him, to that heart fear had always been a stranger,—but bitter rage.
The road now wound steeply up a series of hills, which, however, did not seem to exhaust the traveler. When he reached the highest summit, he saw sharp spear-points moving just in front of him. Quickening his pace still more, until he began to descend the steep height, he saw a group of horsemen who had just struck a narrow path leading from the road eastward. Apparently the horsemen also saw the solitary traveler, for they drew rein and awaited his approach.
Something strange attracted his attention. He perceived that the horsemen were Kurds, singing and making merry like a group of fighters returning victorious . He was so familiar with all the movements and habits of these barbarous tribes, that from the smallest indications he could draw important inferences. And it was for this reason that the blood rushed to his head when he saw floating from their spears large pieces of cloth which bore no resemblance to any sort of flag. His expert eye could at once discern that they were pieces of those garments which the modesty of women always conceals from the gaze of men.
This is the most loathsome exhibition of barbarism. After violating the honor of faithful wives and the innocence of young girls, the shameless criminal,—as a boast of his infamous acts, as a sign of triumph,—elevates their undergarments on his spear to show the world that he is guilty of a crime against humanity.
The young traveler, concealing his emotions, approached the Kurds and in his perfect disguise gave the customary salutation in Kurdish:—
"A good journey to you." "And a good journey to you," answered the Kurds. "Whence do you come?"
