e, and who curled their
mustachios to prove the truth of what they said. We were despatched to
quell a rebellious pacha--we bore down upon his troops with a shout,
enough to frighten the devil, but the devil a bit were they frightened,
they stood their ground; and as they would not run, we did, leaving
those who were not so wise, to be cut to pieces. After this, when any of
my companions talked of their bravery, or my father declared that he
should be soon promoted to the rank of a Spahi, and that I was a lion's
whelp, I _very much doubted the fact_.

The pacha held out much longer than was at first anticipated; indeed, so
long as to cause no little degree of anxiety in the capital. More troops
were despatched to subdue him; and success not attending our efforts,
the vizier, according to the custom, was under the disagreeable
necessity of parting with his head, which was demanded because we turned
tail. Indeed, it was to oblige us, that the sultan consented to deprive
himself of the services of a very able man; for we surrounded the
palace, and insisted that it was all his fault, but, considering our
behaviour in the field of battle, your highness must admit that there
was reason to _doubt the fact_.

We were again despatched against this rebellious pacha, who sat upon the
parapets of his stronghold, paying down thirty sequins for the head of
every janissary brought to him by his own troops, and I am afraid a
great deal of money was spent in that way. We fell into an ambuscade,
and one half of the corps to which my father belonged were cut to
pieces, before we could receive any assistance. At last the enemy
retired. I looked for my father, and found him expiring; as before, he
had received a wound on the wrong side, a spear having transfixed him
between the shoulders. "Tell how I died like a brave man," said he, "and
tell your mother that I am gone to Paradise." From an intimate knowledge
of my honoured father's character, in the qualities of thief, liar, and
coward, although I promised to deliver the message, _I very much doubted
these facts_.

That your highness may understand how it was that I happened to be left
alone, and alive on the field of battle, I must inform you, that I
inherited a considerable portion of my father's courageous temper, and
not much liking the snapping of the pistols in my face, I had thrown
myself down on the ground, and had remained there very quietly,
preferring to be trampled on, rathe