by P. Jones
CHAPTER VI
THE BULLIN-MOST
"I suppose you have been to Knin and Dernis?" said the captain bychance after dinner to his host, speaking about the trade with theinterior, whilst puffing away at the long stem of his cherry-woodpipe.
"Of course. Haven't you?"
"Oh, no! we sailors are always acquainted with the coasts ofcountries, nothing more. What kind of a place is this Knin?"
"Much of a muchness, like other places. The country, however, is fineand picturesque. There is, besides, the Bullin-Most."
"What is that?"
"The name of a bridge at the entrance of the town, and almost at thefoot of the fortress which tops the crags. It is called theBullin-Most, or the Bridge of the Turkish Woman. Formerly it used tobe called the Bridge of the Two Torrents."
"Well, and what is there remarkable about it?"
"Don't you know the tale of 'Hussein and Ayesha'?"
"No."
"It is the subject of one of Kacic's finest poems. Would you like tohear it?"
"Of course."
"Well, then, about two hundred years ago, more or less, Kuna Hassanwas the governor of Knin and of the neighbouring province. The _Aga_was said to be a man of great wisdom and courage; but his manyqualities were marred by his severity towards the Christians, whom hehated, and subjected to all kinds of vexations and cruel treatment.
"This _Aga_ had a numerous family, being blessed with many childrenby his several wives; but Ayesha, the only daughter of his favouritewife, was the child in whom he had put all the fondness of his heart.She was, it is true, a girl of an extraordinary beauty. Her skin,they say, was as white as the snowy peaks of the Dinara, the mountainover against the fort of Knin; her eyes were black, but they sparkledsoftly, like the star which shines at twilight; her curly hair hadthe colour of the harvest moon's mellow light.
"All the _vati_ of her father's palace were in love with her, onlyhearing her beauty extolled by the eunuchs of the harem, and seeingher glorious eyes sparkle through her veils, or the tips of hertapering fingers, as she held her _feredge_.
"The principal lords of Kuna Hassan Aga's Court were, first, IbrahimVelagic, the _Dizdar_ of Stermizza; then Mujo Jelascovic, thegovernor of Biscupia; lastly old Sare the _Bulju Pasha_, orlieutenant of the troops. The old Sare had a son named Hussein, whowas the standard-bearer; he was the most beautiful young man of theland, nay, it was difficult to find his like. He was, indeed, ashandsome as Ayesha was comely. The one was like a lily, the otherlike a pomegranate flower.
"At that time, as I have said before, the Christians were groaningunder the Turkish yoke, and several attempts had already been made toshake it off; nay, many of the struggles which had taken placebetween the Turks and the men of the Kotar had been most successful,as they had for their chief, Jancovic Stoyan, or Stephen, known inhistory as 'the clearer of Turkish heads.' These continual skirmisheshad weakened our oppressors in such a way, and spread so much fearamongst them, that Kuna Hassan never felt sure whenever he left hiscastle walls. Finding himself reduced to this extremity, hedetermined to muster all the troops he could get together and makewar upon the Christians.
"And now," said Giulianic, "I think I can give you some of Kacic'sverses on this subject;" therefore, taking a guitar, he sang asfollows:
"A letter wrote Hassan Aga From Knin itself, the white-walled town; He sent it to the bordering Turks, To Mujo and to Velagic.
"And in this letter Kuna spake: 'Oh! brave men of my border-lands, Now muster all your borderers, And hie to Knin, the white-walled town.
"'For we shall raid upon Kotar, And there rich plunder shall we get Both gold and young Molachian maids, Shall be the prize of all the brave.
"'Kotar will be an easy prey For you, the warriors of the Cross! Besides, the Sirdars are away, And Stoyan is in Venice now.
"'Milikovic has fallen sick, Mocivana has lost his horse, Mircetic has sprained his hand, And Klana to a feast is gone.'
"The Bulju Pasha heard all this, And wisely answered to Kuna: 'Forbear, Kuna Aga; forbear To make a raid upon Kotar!'"
Giulianic stopped to take breath. "The poem is long," said he, "and Iam old; I shall relate the story in my own words:--Well, Kuna HassanAga would not be dissuaded, especially as the _Dizdars_ were for it.The expedition took place. Jelascovic and Velagic--called the snakesof the empire, on account of their strength and craft--came to Kuna'scastle, bringing each man three hundred men with him. The _Aga_mustered as many men himself, and with this little array they set offfor the Kotar. At first they were successful; they fell upon the opencountry, plundering and sacking, carrying away young boys and girlsas slaves, finding nowhere the slightest opposition. It was not awar, but a military march; thus they went on until they reached thelovely meadows at the foot of the hills of Otre, a most pleasantcountry, watered by many rivulets.
"There they pitched their tents, and began to prepare their meal andmake merry. All at once as the sun went down, a slight mist began torise from the waters and from the marshes of Ostrovizza, not very faroff from there. As the day declined, the fog grew denser, and whennight came on Jancovic Stoyan, who had returned from Venice, togetherwith the other _Sirdars_, fell upon them, threw them upon themarshes, and not only obliged them to give back all their plunder,but killed more than six hundred of their men. It was only with greatdifficulty that the _Aga_ and _Dizdars_ got back to Knin; they wereall in a sorry plight, regretting deeply not to have followed Sare'sadvice.
"Shortly after this, Kuna Hassan, having recovered from the wounds hehad received, gathered again all his chief warriors together. Then hemade them a long speech, saying that it was time that the Christianhornets should be done away with, and their nests destroyed, for, ifleft alive, they would daily become more troublesome; then he madethem many promises, so as to induce them to fight, but without muchsuccess. At last he offered the hand of his handsome daughter, who, asI have said, was indeed as beautiful as a heavenly houri, and a bridefit for the Sultan, or the Prophet himself, to the bold warrior whowould bring him the head of Jancovic Stoyan, or those of the threehundred Christians. The prize he requested was a great one, but thereward he offered was such as to inflame the hearts of the greatestcowards.
"However, amongst the warriors that Kuna Hassan had gathered togetherthat day, neither old Sare nor his son, the handsomestandard-bearer, had been requested to attend, doubtless, because the_Aga_ had thought the _Bulju Pasha_ too old, and his son too youngand too rash, for such an undertaking. Perhaps he also felt a grudgeagainst the _Bulju Pasha_ for having dissuaded him from the firstattack, which had met with such a bad success.
"When poor Hussein heard of the slight he and his father had metwith, he was very much grieved, for, though he was the _Aga_'sstandard-bearer, he had been treated as a mere boy. Moreover, he wasmadly in love with the beautiful Ayesha, who returned his affection.In fact, whenever she had an opportunity, she sent him a message byone of the eunuchs, and every time he used to pass under her windowshe was at the lattice, and she often dropped a flower, or even herhandkerchief, if no one was looking on.
"Hussein would have risked his life to try and obtain her; nay, hewould even have gone to Zara and fight Stoyan, if he could get herfather's consent to wed her.
"As for the _Sirdars_, they were only too glad that Hussein was notamongst the warriors called forth to strive for Ayesha's hand, norwould they now allow any new pretender to come forth and take part intheir raids with them.
"During the many skirmishes that took place round about Knin, Husseinhad been left to take care of the castle, and then he had succeededin bribing the head eunuch to allow him to talk with Ayesha.
"This keeper, knowing how fond his mistress was of the handsomestandard-bearer, had consented to allow the lovers to meet, while hewatched over their safety.
"At first, when all the Mussulman warriors met with so many losses,the lovers were happy, for they thought it would be years before anyof them could ask for their reward
; but afterwards, when it was knownthat Velagic's heap of heads was daily increasing, their gladness ofheart changed into the deepest sorrow. Both saw that there was verylittle chance of their ever being able to marry, and Ayesha, ratherthan give up the man she loved so deeply and become the wife of theold _Dizdar_, whom she detested, proposed to her lover that theyshould run away together.
"They waited till the very last moment, thinking that Velagic mightbe killed, or some other unforeseen circumstance might take place;but they had no _Kismet_, for the _Dizdar_ seemed to have a charmedlife; he had already got together about two hundred and ninety heads.How he had got them, nobody could understand, for he had neverreceived the slightest wound in any of his many fights.
"The last time the lovers met, they agreed that the day upon whichVelagic brought the ten last heads they would make their escape.Hussein, upon that night, was to be on the rocks at the foot of thecastle, somewhere near the place occupied by the harem; then, atmidnight, when all the town had sunk into rest, and all the lightswere extinguished, Ayesha would put a taper by her window to guidehim if everything was ready for their flight. After the _muezzin_ hadcalled the faithful to prayers, she would open the lattice and throwout a rope-ladder, by means of which he would climb up into thecastle. There he was to be received by the eunuch that had hithertobefriended him--be led to her chamber-door. From there they wouldpass by an underground passage, the keys of which she had. Thispassage had an outlet, somewhere beyond the town, near the bridge,where, indeed, there is a kind of den or hole. There Hussein was tohave swift horses ready, so that they might at once escape to Zara orSebenico, and if that was not far enough, they could there freight aship and go off to Venice.
"Hussein, overjoyed, promised that he would take the necessary steps,so that nothing might hinder their flight.
"Poor lovers! they little knew how all their designs were to bethwarted!
"At about four miles from Knin, and not far from the highway leadingto Grab, rises a huge beetling rock about thirty feet in height; itseems to slant so much over the road that all the passers-by shudderlest it should fall and crush them. The name of this rock is theUzdah-kamen, or the Stone of the Sighs--perhaps, because the windwhich always blows there seems to be moaning, or, as there is a kindof natural cistern, spring, or well of water, which is said to befathomless, more than one luckless wanderer, going to drink of thaticy-cold water, happened to slip into it, utter a moan and a sigh,and then all was over with him.
"Near this fountain there is a deep cavern, which is thedwelling-place of a witch, well known in Turkish and Arabianmythology, as well as Chaldean lore. Her name, which is hardly everuttered, and never without a shudder of awe, is Nedure; but she isusually spoken of as The Witch. This Nedure--for we may well callher by her name without fear--used to take the form of a lovely youngfemale, and come and sit by the spring at the entrance of her cave.There she would sit, combing her long hair, which was of the deepesthue of the night. Then, displaying all the bewitching beauty ofsixteen summers, she would press all the handsome youths who passedthereby to come and rest in her den.
"Like a wily spider, she daily caught some silly man to linger andgaze upon her large, languishing black eyes with long silken lashes,like natural _khol_, or to look on the dark moles on her alabasterskin. If he did so, he was lost, and nothing more was heard of him,but his sighs wafted by the wind.
"Now, it happened one day that as Hussein was going to Grab onhorseback, he passed by the rock of Uzdah-kamen, and, lo and behold!Nedure was sitting by the fountain waiting for him. As soon as shesaw him she beckoned to him to go up to her; but he, far fromobeying, spurred his horse and turned away from the woman.
"'Hussein,' said she, 'you are warm and weary; come and have adraught of this delicious water and rest a while in my moss-growncavern.'
"'Thank you, I am neither warm nor weary; so I require neither waternor rest.'
"'Hussein, why do you turn away your head, and will not even deign tocast a glance upon me?'
"'Because I have heard of your enticements and blandishments, and donot wish to fall a prey to such charms.'
"'I am afraid people have slandered me to you,' quoth she; 'butbelieve them not. I am your friend--as I am, indeed, that of alllovers. I know how your heart yearns for Kuna Hassan Aga's daughter,and I should like to be kind to you, and help you in getting her foryour bride.'
"'Thank you, indeed,' replied the standard-bearer, who knew the wilesof the witch; 'you are very good, but I hope to obtain Ayesha by thestrength of my love, and not by your wicked art.'
"'Look how ungracious you are. I wish to befriend you, whilst youonly answer me by taunts.'
"'Thank you, but your friendship would cost me too dear.'
"'No; my help is only paid by love. You see, I do not ask much.'
"'Still, I should have to remain your debtor. My heart is full oflove for Ayesha, and it can harbour none for creatures such as you.'
"'Well, then,' said she, in her sweetest voice, which was as soft asthe morning breeze amongst the orange-groves, 'if you hate me in thisway, why do you not look upon me? Do you think my charms can have anytemptation for you?'
"'We should try to resist temptation, and then it will flee from us.'
"Thereupon he spurred his horse and rode away.
"From that day, Nedure's heart, which had until then burned withlust, was filled with the bitterest hatred for the young man, who hadnot yielded to her request.
"Therefore she only thought to bring about his death, and was everplotting by which way she could harm him, for the Most High would notallow her to do any harm to the faithful, so she strove to findsomeone who would take up her vengeance for her, and now she wasabout to reach her aim.
"When Hussein and Ayesha had planned together everything for theirescape, Nedure, the witch, who by her art could read the future, andwho, besides, could change herself into the likeness of a bird, arat, or even into that of any of the smaller insects, managed somehowor other to overhear all that conversation of the lovers, and thenshe at once sent for Velagic and informed him of what was to takeplace.
"'Velagic,' said she, 'you are old, and it is true you think yourselfa world-wise man, but do you really believe that Ayesha, who is asbeautiful as the rising moon, for whose charms all men lose theirwits, can fall in love with an old man like you?'
"'I do not ask her to fall in love with me. Now, by your help, Ishall have got together the number of heads which the _Aga_ requiresas the prize for his daughter, and then she will be mine.'
"'Do not be too sure of that. Whilst you are numbering your heads,Hussein, the handsome standard-bearer, has found his way to Ayesha'sheart.'
"Velagic winced at hearing this; but soon he shrugged his shoulders,and added:
"'What does it matter if that young coxcomb is in love with her, oreven she with him. In a day or two I shall claim her as my bride.Once she is in my stronghold of Stermizza, woe to the flies that comebuzzing around my honey.'
"'Velagic, Velagic,' said the witch, 'there is many a slip 'twixt thecup and the lip; to-morrow you may find the cage empty and the birdflown.'
"'What do you mean, Nedure?'
"'I mean what I say.'
"'Explain yourself, I beg you.'
"The witch thereupon told the _Dizdar_ all that was to take place,and then advised him what he had to do.
"That day passed away and night came on; it was even a very dark one,because, not only was there no moon, but the sky was overspread witha thick mass of clouds, and heaven seemed to be lowering on theearth.
"The hours passed slowly for three persons at Knin that night. Two ofthem repeated their prayers devoutly, and tried to fix their thoughtstowards the holy _Kaaba_; one alone, whose heart was full ofmurderous designs, could not pray at all.
"Velagic had been a wicked man; he had forfeited the happiness of hisfuture life, but never as yet had he rendered himself guilty ofshedding the blood of a Mussulman, nay, of murdering the son of oneof his greatest frie
nds. The guilt he was about to commit was beyondredemption; he knew that the Compassionate would spurn him away inhis wrath, and that he would be doomed to eternal fire; but whatcould he do now? it was too late to retreat. He was in the witch'spower, nay, an instrument in her hands.
"He tried to pray, but every time he attempted to utter Allah'ssacred name, it seemed as if the three hundred heads now gatheredupon his tower were all blinking and grinning at him.
"Midnight came; all the preparations were made, every necessaryprecaution against surprise was taken, the horses were ready for thefugitives at the opening of the cave beyond the bridge.
"Hussein, at the foot of the tower, saw the beacon light at Ayesha'swindow, and slowly and stealthily he scrambled on to the rocksbeneath it, awaiting, with a beating heart, for the given signal.
"All at once, in the midst of the darkness, he heard the _adan_--thechant of the _muezzin_--calling the faithful to the prayers of the_Ramazan_.
"'God is most great,' uttered Hussein faintly, and then lifting hiseyes as the sound of the _muezzin_'s voice had died away in thedistance, he saw the lattice of Ayesha's window open, and he heardthe ladder of ropes slowly being let down.
"He had time to say one _rekah_, or prayer, before the ladder reachedthe ground, and then he seized the ropes and began to go up. Theascent was a long one, for the tower was very high. He had not goneup many steps, when he heard a noise somewhere above his head. Heshuddered and listened. It was nothing but an owl that had its nestin some hole in the wall; doubtless it had been frightened by theladder, and now it flew away with a loud screech, grazing Husseinwith its wings as it passed.
"Hussein, though brave, felt his limbs quake with fear; was it not anevil omen? Would not something happen now that he was about to reachthe goal of his happiness!
"Was it not possible that the eunuch had betrayed him? No, that couldnot be; this man had always been so fond of Ayesha. A thousand dismalthoughts crowded through his brain; the way up in the midst of thedarkness seemed everlasting. He looked towards the lighted window; hewas only half-way up.
"Just then he thought he heard something creak. Was it the ropebreaking beneath his weight? Frightened, he hastened to climb up; ifthere was any danger it would soon be over.
"He muttered a few verses of the Koran; he looked up again; now hecould see Ayesha's face at the open window; she stretched forth herarms towards him. How beautiful she was! There, in the darkness, itseemed as if all the constellations had hidden themselves before herradiant beauty.
"He stopped one moment to take breath and to look at her, when againhe heard the ropes creak, and at the same moment the ladder snappedunder the young man's weight. He lifted up his arms towards her, butalas! she was beyond his grasp. The next instant he fell with a heavythud upon the rocks, and from those into the yawning precipice overwhich the castle was built.
"Ayesha uttered a loud cry, which was repeated several times by thesurrounding echoes, and then she swooned away in the eunuch's arms.
"Velagic, who, apparently, had been hidden close by, saw Hussein fallinto the chasm, and heard Ayesha's cry; then he mounted his horse andgalloped away.
"When Ayesha, with the help of the eunuch, got over her faintness,she went to the window and looked down, but she could only see thedarkness of the chasm below. She listened; she heard nothing but thewind, the rustling of the leaves, and now and then the screech ofsome night-bird. She pulled up the ladder; she saw that it had beencut in several places, at one of which it snapped. She understoodthat some foul treachery had been committed, but she could not makeout who had discovered their secret and had dealt her this cruelwrong. She could not suspect the eunuch, who was there by her side,her friend to the last.
"She passed a night of most terrible anguish and anxiety, waitingimpatiently, and still dreading the morrow. She tried to hope thatHussein might not have fallen down the chasm, that he might have beencaught by some of the trees or bushes that grew on the rocks, andthus saved from death; but it was, at best, only a faint kind offorlorn hope.
"Not a cry, not a groan escaped from her lips, as she stood cold andtearless, at her window, almost stupefied by the intensity of hergrief. Thus she remained motionless and dumb for hours, until thefirst rays of dawn lighted the tops of the Veli-Berdo, the mountainover the fortress.
"Her eyes pierced the faint glimmering of the dawn, and, looking downinto the chasm, at the place where the two torrents meet, there shesaw three lovely maidens of superhuman beauty, tending the remains ofher lover. By their garments, of the colour and splendour ofemeralds, by their faces shining like burnished silver, she knew thatthey were celestial houris, and that her lover was already amongstthe blessed.
"When she saw this sight, she wanted to dash herself down into thechasm and rejoin her happy lover, hoping that Allah would be mercifuland allow her to meet Hussein in the abode of the blessed; but thenone of the houris beckoned to her to stop, and in a twinkling she wasby her side, whispering words of comfort in her ear.
"Her attendants, whom she had dismissed in the early evening, cameback to her early in the morning, and they were surprised to see shehad fainted by the window.
"When she recovered from her swoon, every recollection of thatterrible night seemed to have passed away; far from being bereavedand forlorn, she was a happy maiden, about to be united to her loverin eternal bliss.
"Later on in the day her father summoned her to his presence, to tellher that the _Dizdar_ of Stermizza had brought the three hundredChristian heads demanded as the price for her hand, and that she wasto get ready to receive him as the man who was to be her husband.
"Ayesha crossed her hands on her breast and bowed; then she uttered,in a soft, slow voice, that sounded as an echo of a distant sound:
"'My lord, it shall be as Kismet has ordained.'
"As Kuna Hassan knew nothing of all that had happened, he thoughtthat his daughter meant that she was ready to obey the decrees of theFates, that had chosen Velagic for her husband; so he answered:
"'Though he would not have been the man I should have chosen forthee, still, by his bravery, he has won thee for his bride; soprepare yourself to go with him this very evening. But, daughter ofmy heart,' added he, taking her hand, 'before parting with yourfather, have you no request to make?'
"'Yes, father.'
"'Well, let me hear it, my child, and if it is in my power to grantit, you may be sure that your wish will be gratified.'
"'My request, though strange indeed, is a very simple one; it is thatmy betrothal should take place this evening, on the Poto-devi-Most,just when the sun gilds with its rays the snowy peaks of theVeli-Berdo. This, and nothing more.'
"The father looked at his child, astonished.
"'It is, indeed, a strange request, and were it not for the earnestway in which it is made, I should think that it was merely a joke.Anyhow, it shall be as you wish; only, may I know why you do not wishto be married in the usual way?'
"'I have had a vision at day-break, and the powers above have decreedthat it shall be so; but I cannot speak about it till this evening,at the appointed place.'
"The _Aga_, wishing the ceremony to be performed with the utmostsplendour, sent word at once to the _Dizdar_ of Stermizza to be onthe Bridge of the Two Torrents at the appointed time. Similarmessages were likewise sent to the other _Dizdars_ and _Sirdars_, andto all the gentry of Knin and of the neighbouring towns.
"The sun was sinking down below the horizon when Ibrahim Velagic,followed by Mujo Jelascovic, by the old _Bulju Pasha_, who was as yetignorant of his son's fate, by the other Mussulman warriors, as wellas by a number of _svati_--all came to the bridge, attired inmagnificent clothes of silk and satin, laced in gold, with theirfinest weapons glittering with precious stones. Then came Kuna HassanAga, with all his train and a number of slaves, some carrying apalanquin, the others the bridal gifts.
"When the two parties had met at the bridge, all wondering what wouldtake place next, Ayesha ordered the slaves to put her down.<
br />
"Velagic at once dismounted from his horse, and came forward to helpher to alight, offering her his hand.
"She simply waved him off, and standing up: 'How dare you come to me!Look at your hand; it is stained with blood; and not with Christian,but with Moslem blood.'
"The eyes of the bystanders were all turned upon the _Dizdar_ ofStermizza, who got all at once of a livid hue; still, he lifted up hishand and said:
"'Ayesha, my hands have often been stained with the blood of ourenemies, never with that of our brethren.'
"'Man,' said the young girl, 'in the name of the Living God, thouliest!'
"There was a murmur and a stir amongst the crowd, as when the slightwind which precedes the storm rustles amongst the leaves of thetrees.
"Then Ayesha, turning towards Sare: 'Father,' said she to him, 'yourhand.'
"The _Bulju Pasha_ rushed forward and helped her to alight.
"As soon as she was on the ground she threw off her veil and her_feredge_, and stood there in her glittering bridal dress, thecostly jewels of which seemed to shine less than her beautiful face.
"All the men were astounded at such an act of boldness from so modesta maiden; but her dazzling beauty seemed to fill them with that awewhich is felt at some supernatural sight. They all thought they werelooking upon a houri, or some heavenly vision, rather than upon ahuman being; so that when she opened her lips again to speak, aperfect silence reigned everywhere.
"'Sare,' said she, 'where is your son?'
"'My child?' replied the old man; 'I have not see him the whole ofthis long day.'
"'Ibrahim Velagic, _Dizdar_ of Stermizza, where is Hussein, thestandard-bearer?'
"'How am I to know? Am I his keeper?'
"'Sare,' continued the young girl, 'when, after the fight ofOstrovizza, my father had promised me as the bride of the warrior whowould bring him the head of the brave Christian knight JancovicStoyan, or those of three hundred of our foes, Hussein, your son, bythe machinations of Ibrahim Velagic and his friends, was excludedfrom amongst the warriors who could obtain my hand by fighting forour faith and our country. Sare, I loved your son; yes, father, Isay it aloud and unblushingly, for Hussein was as good as he washandsome, and as brave as he was good. I loved him with all my heart,and he loved me, because the Fates had decreed that we should be manand wife, if we lived. Our faith, therefore, was plighted. We waited,hoping that some happy incident would happen to free me from myimpending fate. At last I knew that Ibrahim Velagic had got togetherthe number of heads demanded by my father for my dower, and thatto-day he was coming to claim me as his bride. Rather than be thewife of that imposter, felon and murderer, I should have thrownmyself in yonder chasm.
"'You are astonished at such language; but, father, how is it thatall the warriors aspiring to my hand cannot put together a hundredheads, whilst Velagic alone has three hundred?
"'Well, then, know that those heads are by no means the heads of ourenemies; they are rather those of the unhappy beings who of late havebeen seduced by Nedure, the witch, into her den, and who after theirrash act never saw daylight again. Look at those ghastly heads, andperhaps many of you will find there people that you have known.'
"At these words, stirred to rage at the light of truth which gleamedfrom Ayesha's eyes, there was such a yelling and hissing, that itseemed as if all the men there had been changed into snakes. Theywould have thrown themselves on the _Dizdar_ and torn him to piecesthere and then, had Ayesha not stopped them.
"'Forbear,' said she, 'and hear me out; wait at least for the proofsI shall give you of his guilt.'
"'Ayesha!' cried out old Sare, overcome by anguish, 'and my son--where is my son? Is my beautiful boy's head amongst the threehundred?'
"'No; brave Hussein withstood long ago the enticement of the witch,and she has been since then his bitterest enemy.'
"Sare heaved a deep sigh of relief.
"'Hussein was to deliver me from that heinous wretch. Last night wewere to flee together. I had the houris to help me, but alas! IbrahimVelagic had the powers of darkness. It was night, and he won. Husseinyesternight was under my windows, as we had agreed upon. I opened mylattice and lowered him a ladder of ropes, upon which he was climbingjoyfully; a moment more he would have reached the windowsill. All atonce, an owl screeched, the ropes gave way, and Hussein, my braveHussein, was dashed down those rocks and into the dreadful chasm.Sare, my poor Sare, you have no son. Still, be of good cheer; thismorning, when the first rays of the sun were gilding the tops of theVeli-Berdo, I saw the celestial maidens tending him. His mangled bodyis in the chasm, but his soul is in the blessed abode of peace.'
"'Ayesha,' interrupted the _Aga_, 'is all this true?'
"The girl beckoned to a slave to approach, and then she took a parcelfrom his hands.
"'This,' said she, opening it, 'is what remains of the ladder; andyou will find Hussein's body in the chasm, smiling in the happy sleepof death. The houris, who have been praying over him the whole day,have covered him with garlands of flowers. Go and dig his grave inthe burying-ground, and dig another one by his side.'
"'But,' said Kuna Hassan, 'how did the accident happen?'
"'Nedure hated Hussein, but she could not harm him, so she apprisedVelagic of what was to happen; nay, she did more, she transformed himinto the likeness of a rat, and changing herself into an owl, shedeposited the _Dizdar_ on the sill of my room, there he came andgnawed at the ropes of the ladder.'
"'This is false,' said the _Dizdar_. 'Whoever can believe such astory? Why, the girl is mad!'
"'Guards,' said the _Aga_, with his hand on the haft of his dagger,'seize Velagic, and mind that you do not let him escape!'
"'Away!' replied the _Dizdar_. 'A man of my rank can only be judgedby the Sultan.'
"'Stop!' cried Ayesha; then, lifting her beautiful arm, naked up tothe shoulder, and whiter than the strings of pearls entwined aroundit, and pointing towards the highway:
"'Do you see there a cloud of dust on the road? Do you see those mencoming here? Do you know who they are? You cannot distinguish them,but I can.'
"'Who are they, Ayesha?' cried all the bystanders.
"'The foremost man amongst them, that tall and handsome youth, thatlooks like Prince George of Cappadocia, is no less a hero. It isStoyan Jancovic, the man whose back you never saw; the others are buta few of his followers.'
"Then, turning to Velagic: 'Now, craven, utter your last prayer, ifyou can and if you dare, then prepare to fight; your hour has come.'
"Hearing these words, the _Dizdar_ grew ashy pale; then he began toquake with fear. Such an overpowering dread filled his soul that heseemed to have been smitten with a strong fit of the ague. Still,trying to hide his anxiety:
"'Yes, we shall fight; Allah be thanked, brothers, that this infideldog is within our reach. Yes, friends, we shall see the power of theCrescent over the Cross.'
"'No; you shall fight alone,' said Ayesha, authoritatively; 'and itis useless to contaminate the name of the All-powerful. As you arealready doomed to perdition, call to your aid Sheytan and Nedure.'
"Ayesha had hardly uttered these words when Stoyan, having made asign to his companions to keep back, rode boldly up to where thechiefs were standing, and, when a few steps from Ayesha, he curbedhis foaming steed, that, unable to brook control, began at once topaw the ground.
"'Maiden,' said he, bowing, 'I am here at thy behest. I have thisnight had a strange dream. A _Vila_ appeared to me in my sleep, firstin the likeness of a nightingale and then in the shape of a dainty,glittering little snake. She told me that for your sake I had toaccomplish, this very day, two mighty deeds of justice. The one wasto rid this neighbourhood of the evil doings of Nedure, the powerfulwitch. This is already done.'
"Thereupon, loosening a silken scarf attached to his saddle, he threwthe sorceress's head at the _Dizdar_'s feet.
"'Now,' said he, turning to Velagic, 'you who have been heraccomplice--you who brag to have killed three hundred Christians,who, while skulking away lik
e a cur, dare to say that you have beenlooking everywhere for me, to slay me--here I am.'
"Appalled at the sight of the witch's hideous head, terrified by thehero's words, shaking like an aspen leaf, full of dread andconsternation, Velagic looked up at his companions for help; but ontheir faces he saw nothing but angry scowls, looks of scorn andhatred.
"'Fight,' cried the _Aga_, 'or a worse death awaits thee, theignominious death of a murderer and a sorcerer! Fight, coward, fight!for if thou fallest not by that brave man's hand, thou shalt thisvery day be impaled as a wizard.'
"The _Dizdar_, seeing that there was no escape, plucked up hiscourage in his own defence, called the powers of darkness to hishelp, and unexpectedly rushed upon Stoyan, hoping to catch him offhis guard, and to despatch him with a treacherous blow of hisscimitar.
"'Fair play! fair play!' shouted the chiefs.
"'The laws of chivalry, gentleman, are not expected to be known by avile recreant like Ibrahim Velagic,' quoth Stoyan, whose keen eyeforthwith saw the stroke, and whose deft hand not only parried it,but dealt his adversary such a mighty blow that it cut off the_Dizdar_'s head and sent it rolling on the ground by the side ofNedure's.
"'And now, beautiful maiden, the task you have enjoined me is done;would to God thou hadst called upon me before.'
"'I thank thee, gentle knight,' said Ayesha, who all the time hadbeen standing on the parapet of the old stone bridge. 'Thou hastavenged my lover's death; may Heaven reward thee for thy deed.'
"'_Allah, bismillah!_' cried out the chiefs.
"Thereupon Stoyan, bowing courteously, wheeled round his horse and,galloping away, was soon out of sight.
"'And now,' said Ayesha, 'I had sworn to Hussein, that flower ofyouth and beauty, to be his for ever. Now I shall keep my vow. Maythe Most Merciful unite me to my lover. God of my fathers, God ofMohamed, receive me amongst the blessed.'
"Thereupon, lifting a small dagger which she held in her hand, sheplunged it into her heart, and before her father had time to rush upto her, she had fallen into the torrent underneath, dyeing its watersof a crimson hue, just as the last rays of the sinking sun seemed totinge in blood the lofty tops of the Veli-Berdo.
"From that day the Bridge of the Two Torrents has ever been calledthe Bullin-Most, or the Bridge of the Turkish Maiden, and everyevening, when the day is fine, the sun sheds a blood-red light on thehighest peaks of the Dinara, and the wind that, at gloaming, blowsdown the dell and through the arches of the bridge, seems to waftback an echo of the last moan of the _Aga_'s beautiful daughter."
