roke upon the stillness?
The mandolin tinkled--voices were heard in chorus. We got up to explore,
and found, to our consternation, that the guards of our station, having
received a visit from their brethren of the next detachment, were
holding festival on the occasion. We had previously been informed that
the Agah was absent on duty, and had left the command to his
ancient--and this we were ready to suppose was not calculated to tighten
the reins of discipline. Drinking and jollity were such natural
associates, that we feared terribly these men would be getting at
spirits--and then what did we not fear for the fair companions of our
adventure? However, to make a long story short, the men did not get
drunk, and separated peacefully after the performance of many
Terpsichorean novelties. But they taught the careless to feel that
travellers in such a country should not be without the means of defence.
It is quite true that arms may do you a bad turn, either by tempting you
to a hasty display, or by being of so costly a character as to excite
the cupidity of some ruffian. But it is just as true that any other
thing you possess may do you the like ill turn among men who would shoot
you for the value of your skin. The golden mean is to be armed usefully,
but not showily; and, above all things, to be very discreet in the
production of weapons.

The first of these laws on this particular occasion I egregiously
transgressed. My two friends were supplied with unimpeachable pistols of
their own; but I, being of peaceable disposition, had made no such
provision. A worthy friend on shore supplied the deficiency, by lending
me a pair of the most formidable weapons one would wish to see. They
were of the old style of theatrical horse-pistols, as long nearly as a
small carbine, and beyond any ordinary man's power of holding steady.
The stocks were deeply incrusted with silver, or something that looked
very like it. The only objection to them was, that nothing could
persuade the flint to give out a spark, or induce the pan to take the
hint at the proper time. Yet though I knew them to be in fact thoroughly
useless, they contributed sensibly to my comfort, for they were most
excellent make-believes. Our steeds were supplied by our good friend
George, the Greek stable keeper, as no Turk would have let out his
animals on such an occasion without sending along with them a kawash to
look after the mad Franks. It betokened no little confidence