CHAPTER XVIII.
In the gathering gloom Constantine approached the extreme edge of thecamp, where those who were to bring up the rear had just mounted. Asoldier, somewhat separated from the others, was leading severalhorses; either a relay in case of accident to the others, or thoseanimals whose saddles had been emptied during the fight at the konak.Constantine's appearance was evidently a surprise to the soldier, whoeyed him closely, but made no movement indicating suspicion beyondthat of a rather pleased curiosity. The man made a low salam, bowinghis turban to the saddle bow, and addressed him--
"Will you not mount, Sire?" Without responding Constantine leaped intoa saddle.
"You will pardon me, Captain," continued the soldier. "You arewelcome back, for we are in better heart when you are with us."
"Thanks, good fellow," said Constantine, "but I have not returnedyet--at least my return must not be known to the troops until themorning. We will take your tongue out if you tell any one I am backwithout bidding."
The man gave a quick glance as if perplexed. Constantine's hand wasupon his dagger. But the soldier's doubt was relieved as he seemed tobe confident of the familiar form of his captain; and he explained hisapparent suspicion by quickly adding--
"You speak the Servian excellent well, Captain."
"One must get used to it, and every other tongue, in commanding such amixed crew as the Sultan gathers into his army," said Constantine.
"You Janizaries are wonderful men," replied the soldier. "You know alllanguages. There was the little Aga I once"--
"No matter about that now," said Constantine, interrupting him. "Iwant you for a special duty. Can I trust you to do me an errand? Ifyou do it well you will be glad of it hereafter."
"Ay, ay, Sire! with my life; and my lips as mute as the horse's."
"I captured a girl last night. She knows something I would find out byclose questioning. I must have her brought to the rear."
"Ay! the girl Koremi holds?"
"Yes, tell Koremi to loiter a little with her until I come up. We mustnot go far from this defile before I find out what she knows, if Ihave to discover it with my dagger in her heart; for there aretraitors among us. Last night there were Arnaouts dressed as Moslemsin the fight."
"That I know," said the soldier, "for I tripped over a fellow myself,hiding in the bushes, who swore at me in as good round Arnaout tongueas they speak in hell. I ran him through and found a Giaour corsletunder his jacket. If there are traitors among us we will broil themover our first camp-fire, that they may scent hell before they getthere."
"You see then why I must find out what I can at once," said theassumed captain. "Some of our men are in league with the Arnaouts. Ican find out from that girl every one of them. Impress this uponKoremi; and if he hesitates to let the girl drift to the rear, you cantell him that he will be suspected of being in league with therascals."
Constantine took the ropes which held the horses the man was leading;and, bidding him to haste, but be cautious that no one but Koremishould know the message, followed slowly behind.
It was nearly an hour later when the form of the soldier appeared inthe road just before him.
"Right!" said Constantine.
"Right!" was the response, first to the assumed captain, then repeatedto some one behind him. Two other forms appeared; one of them a woman.
Anticipating his orders, the second trooper untied a rope from abouthis own waist, and handed it, together with the rein of the horse thewoman rode, to Constantine. Then, making a low obeisance, the twotroopers withdrew a little distance to the rear.
The other end of the rope which Constantine held was about the waistof the captive. Drawing the led horse close to his own, and droppinghis turban more over his face, Constantine closely scrutinized thefeatures of the woman. She was Morsinia. It was difficult for him torepress the excitement and delay the revelation of his true person,but the hazard of the least cry of surprise or recognition on her partnerved him to coolness.
"Where are you taking me? If you have the courage, kill me," said thegirl.
Constantine replied only by whistling a snatch of an Albanian air.
"Are you an Albanian renegade?" continued the girl. "Could you not becontent to sell yourself to fight for the Turk against other enemies,but must be a double traitor, and kill and kidnap your own kind?"
The whistling continued. But as the soldiers were a little removed, hesaid in a low voice, disguising his natural tones:
"I am an Albanian, and if you will not speak, but only obey, I cansave you."
"Jesu grant you are true!" was the tremulous response.
"This will prove it," muttered he, reaching toward her, and with hisknife cutting a broad strap which bound her limbs to the saddle. "Iftied elsewhere, here is the knife."
The way, which had been narrowed by the projection of the mountains oneither side, now widened a little. Constantine knew the spot well.There had once been a mill and peasant's hut there, and now quite aplat of grass was growing from the soft soil. The eye could notdiscern it, for the darkness was rayless. But Constantine rememberedthe grassy stretch was just round the point of rock they were passing.The horses were walking slowly, being allowed by their riders to picktheir way along the stony road. As they turned the rock a strong windrushed through the ravine, wailing a requiem over the now desertedsettlement and the dead leaves of last year, which it whirled ineddies; and singing a lullaby through the trees to the new-born leavesof the spring time, which were rocked on the cradling branches. This,together with the clatter of the horses' feet before and behind them,enabled Constantine to draw the captive's horse and his own upon thesoft turf without being heard. Halting them at a few yards' distance,they allowed the men who had followed them to pass by, and sat insilence until the lessening sound told them that the soldiers had madeanother turn in the road. Then, wheeling the horses, Constantine gaveloose rein back over the track they had come. After a short ride hedismounted, and closely examining the way, led the horses to one side,up a path, and down again to a little plateau, perhaps a furlong fromthe main road, where a grazing patch would keep them from beingbetrayed by the neighing. He dreaded the fatigue of further journey tohis comrade; for even his own ordinarily tireless frame was beginningto feel the drain of the terrible night and day they had passedthrough.
Constantine threw off his turban and stretched his strong arms tolift the captive from her horse, exclaiming with delight in his ownfamiliar tones,--
"I am no Albanian, dear Morsinia, but--"
"Constantine!" she cried.
He laid an almost lifeless form upon the turf, for the shock of therevelation had been too much for her jaded nerves and excited brain.Unrolling the cloth of his turban he spread it over her person, whilehis own breast was her pillow. Slowly she recovered strength andself-command.
In a few words the mutual stories of the hours of their separationwere told. Morsinia had been treated with exceeding kindness andrespect, as the captive of the chief officer of the expedition, whoseemed to be a person of some distinction, though she had not seenhim. Constantine insisted upon his companion's seeking sleep, but byhis inquiries, did as much as her own thoughts to keep her awake; sothat at the dawn they confessed that the eyes of neither had beenclosed. The necessity of procuring food led them to start at daybreakfor the nearest settlement. They descended to the road and retracedthe course of the preceding night; for it was useless to return to thewrecked hamlet. They had gone but a short distance when they heard thesound of a body of cavalry directly in front of them, riding rapidlyup the valley. There was no time to avoid the approaching riderseither by flight or concealment. Constantine said hastily,
"Remember, if they are Turks, I too am a Turk, and you are my captive.If they are friends, all is well. Stay where you are, and I will rideforward to meet them."
The Captain of the Janizaries Page 18
