out by the long siege, and won
by the Seraskier's bribes, took advantage of the fact that the time of
their engagement with Ali had elapsed same months previously, and
delivering up the fortress they defended, passed over to the enemy.
Henceforth Ali's force consisted of only six hundred men.

It was to be feared that this handful of men might also become a prey to
discouragement, and might surrender their chief to an enemy who had
received all fugitives with kindness. The Greek insurgents dreaded such
an event, which would have turned all Kursheed's army, hitherto detained
before the castle, of Janina, loose upon themselves. Therefore they
hastened to send to their former enemy, now their ally, assistance which
he declined to accept. Ali saw himself surrounded by enemies thirsting
for his wealth, and his avarice increasing with the danger, he had for
some months past refused to pay his defenders. He contented himself with
informing his captains of the insurgents' offer, and telling them that he
was confident that bravery such as theirs required no reinforcement. And
when some of them besought him to at least receive two or three hundred
Palikars into the castle, "No," said he; "old serpents always remain old
serpents: I distrust the Suliots and their friendship."

Ignorant of Ali's decision, the Greeks of the Selleid were advancing, as
well as the Toxidae, towards Janina, when they received the following
letter from Ali Pacha:

"My well-beloved children, I have just learned that you are preparing to
despatch a party of your Palikars against our common enemy, Kursheed. I
desire to inform you that this my fortress is impregnable, and that I can
hold out against him for several years. The only, service I require of
your courage is, that you should reduce Arta, and take alive Ismail Pacho
Bey, my former servant, the mortal enemy of my family, and the author of
the evils and frightful calamities which have so long oppressed our
unhappy country, which he has laid waste before our eyes. Use your best
efforts to accomplish this, it will strike at the root of the evil, and
my treasures shall reward your Palikars, whose courage every day gains a
higher value in my eyes."

Furious at this mystification, the Suliots retired to their mountains,
and Kursheed profited by the discontent Ali's conduct had caused, to win
over the Toxide Skipetars, with their commanders Tahir Abbas and Hagi
Bessiaris, who only made two conditio