Part 20 (1/2)

Here the serdar took him up, and said, ?What have you done? What Russians are on the frontier? and when shall we get at the the usual prefatory speech, ?Yes, Agas, I have done all that was in my power to do It was a lucky hour e set off, for everything that you wish to know I can explain; and it is evident that the destinies of the serdar and of nificant a slave as I can be of use to the, that?s true,? said the serdar, ?but we trust a great deal to our swords, too,?--rolling his eyes about at the sa in the face of the chief executioner

?Yes, yes,? said his counpowder, spears and pistols--those are our astrologers It will always be a fortunate hour that will bring me within slice of an infidel?s neck As forelse A good horse, a sharp sword, a spear in e _maidan_ (an open space) before me, with plenty of Muscovites in it: that is all I want?

?And what do you say to good wine too?? said the serdar ?I think that is as good a thing as any you have ive Hajji a cup of his best But tell us first,?

addressing himself to me, ?what have you seen and done? where are the Russians posted? how uns? who co of the Georgians? where is the Russian coade Is himself to his scribe, ?write down all he says?

Upon this I drewon a face of wisdo speech:--

?By the soul of the serdar! by the salt of the chief executioner! the Muscovites are nothing In cos I, who have seen with my own eyes, can tell you, that one Persian, with a spear in his hand, would kill ten of those miserable, beardless creatures?

?Ah, you hted hat I said, ?I always knew that you would be soood sense?

?They are but few Muscovites on the frontier Five, six, seven, or eight hundred,--perhaps a thousand or two thousand--but certainly not uns; and as for the Cossacks, _putch and_, they are nothing It is very inconvenient that they are to be found everywhere when least wanted, with those thick spears of theirs, which look oad of an ox than a warlike weapon, and they kill, ?tis true; but then, they are mounted upon _yabous_ (jades), which can never come up to our horses, worth thirty, forty, fifty toet theirs into a gallop?

?Why do you waste your breath upon the Cossacks and their horses?? said the chief executioner; ?you ht as well talk of monkeys mounted upon bears Who commands the infidels??

?They call him the _deli mayor_, or the mad major; and the reason why he is called so, is because he never will run away Stories without nuot the pocket Koran of his excellency the serdar in his possession, which he shows to every one as a great trophy?

?Aye, that?s true,? exclais surprised s hence, and I had only time to save myself, in my shi+rt and trousers, on the back of an unsaddled horse Of course, they pillaged s stole my Koran But I?ll be even with them I have shown them what I can do at Gavmishlu, and we still have uns, did you say, they had??

?Four or five, or six,? said I

?I wrote doenty or thirty just now,? ree of the carpet,--?which of the two is right??

?Why do you tell us lies?? exclai more animated as he spoke ?If we find that any part of what you say be false, by the head of Ali! you will soon discover that our beards are not to be laughed at with ience is not of reatness of the serdar?s, andfallen upon aAr him promise of recompense in the name of the serdar?

?A recompense in my name!? exclaimed the serdar: ?who is this Armenian?--and what Armenian was ever worthy of a recompense??

Upon this I related the whole of Yusuf?s history, fro his cause in this public manner, I hoped that the serdar would feel it impossible to resist the justice of the dee would at once be released from his fears and apprehensions of the chief?s resentment, and restored to the undisputed possession of his wife

When I had done speaking, nothing was said, but here and there _Allah!

Allah! il Allah!_ (there is but one God!) in suppressed exclamations from the lips of the Moha rolled his eyes about, and twitched his th mumbled out, ?the Armenian has perfor his _kalian_ or pipe

Having s whiffs, he said, ?Where is this Armenian? Order the caliph also to come before us?

Upon which Yusuf was ushered in, with the shoves and thrusts by which a poor randee; and he stood in face of the assembly as fine a speci much sensation upon all present by the intrepidity of his appearance The serdar, in particular, fixed his eyes upon hi round to the executioner in chief, reat admiration