ghness will probably be tired, and as I have now told how it
was that I suffered the bastinado, you will perhaps wait till to-morrow
for the history of the bowstring."

"I believe that the old woman is right," said Mustapha, yawning; "it is
late. Is it your highness's pleasure that she shall return to-morrow
evening?"

"Be it so; but let her be in close custody--you remember."

"Be chesm--on my eyes be it. Guards, remove this woman from the sublime
presence."

"It appears to me," said the pacha to Mustapha, "that this old
woman's story may be true. The description of the harem is so
correct--commanding one day, bastinadoed the next."

"Who can doubt the fact, your sublime highness? The Lord of Life
dispenses as he thinks fit."

"Very true; he might send me the bowstring to-morrow."

"Allah forbid!"

"I pray with you; but life is uncertain, and it is our fate. You are my
vizier to-day, for instance, what may you be to-morrow?"

"Whatever your highness may decide," replied Mustapha, not much liking
the turn of the conversation. "Am not I your slave, and as the dirt
under your feet--and shall I not bow to your sovereign pleasure, and my
destiny?"

"It is well said, and so must I, if the caliph sends me a Capitan Badji,
which Allah forbid. There is but one God, and Mahomet is his Prophet."

"Amen," replied Mustapha. "Will your highness drink of the water of
Giaour?"

"Yes, truly; for what says the poet? 'We are merry to-day and to-morrow
we die.'"

"Min Allah; God forbid! That old woman has lived a long while, why
shouldn't we?"

"I don't know; but she has had the bowstring and is not yet dead. We may
not be so fortunate."

"May we never have it at all; then shall we escape, O pacha."

"True, Mustapha; so give me the bottle."

Chapter XXI

The next evening the old woman made her appearance, without raising any
difficulty, as on the previous day, and took her seat before the pacha,
and thus continued:--

As I stated to your highness last evening when I broke off my
narrative, I was in the highest favour with the sultan, who made me his
confidant. He had often mentioned to me the distinguished services of a
young seraskier, whom he had lately appointed capitan pacha, to combat
in the north against a barbarous nation called Sclavonians, or Russians.
My curiosity was raised to see this Rustam of a warrior, for his
exploits and unvaried success were constantly the theme of the sultan's
encomium