ali pacha-第24章
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losure； and prepared to burst it open； when lo！ it opened of itself； and they beheld Chainitza standing before them； a carabine in her hand； pistols in her belt； and； for all guard； two large dogs。
〃Halt！ ye daring ones；〃 she cried； 〃neither my life nor my treasure will ever be at your mercy。 Let one of you move a step without my permission； and this place and the ground beneath your feet' will engulf you。 Ten thousand pounds of powder are in these cellars。 I will； however； grant your pardon； unworthy though you are。 I will even allow you to take these sacks filled with gold； they may recompense you for the losses which my brother's enemies have recently inflicted on you。 But depart this instant without a word； and dare not to trouble me again； I have other means of destruction at command besides gunpowder。 Life is nothing to me； remember that； but your mountains may yet at my command become the tomb of your wives and children。 Go！〃
She ceased； and her would…be murderers fled terror。
Shortly after the plague broke out in these mountains； Chainitza had distributed infected garments among gipsies； who scattered contagion wherever they went。
〃We are indeed of the same blood！〃 cried Ali with pride； when he heard of his sister's conduct； and from that hour he appeared to regain all the fire and audacity of his youth。 When； a few days later； he was informed that Mouktar and Veli； seduced by the brilliant promises of Dacha Bey； had surrendered Prevesa and Argyro…Castron； 〃It does not surprise me；〃 he observed coldly。 〃I have long known them to be unworthy of being my sons； and henceforth my only children and heirs are those who defend my cause。〃 And ；on hearing a report that both had been beheaded by Dacha Bey's order； he contented himself with saying； 〃They betrayed their father； and have only received their deserts； speak no more of them。〃 And to show how little it discouraged him； he redoubled his fire upon the Turks。
But the latter； who had at length obtained some artillery； answered his fire with vigour； and began to rally to discrown the old pacha's fortress。 Feeling that the danger was pressing； Ali redoubled both his prudence and activity。 His immense treasures were the real reason of the war waged against him； and these might induce his own soldiers to rebel； in order to become masters of them。 He resolved to protect them from either surprise or conquest。 The sum necessary for present use was deposited in the powder magazine； so that； if driven to extremity； it might be destroyed in a moment； the remainder was enclosed in strong…boxes； and sunk in different parts of the lake。 This labour lasted a fortnight； when； finally； Ali put to death the gipsies who had been employed about it； in order that the secret might remain with himself。
While he thus set his own affairs in order； he applied himself to the troubling those of his adversary。 A great number of Suliots had joined the Ottoman army in order to assist in the destruction of him who formerly had ruined their country。 Their camp； which for a long time had enjoyed immunity from the guns of Janina； was one day overwhelmed with bombs。 The Suliots were terrified； until they remarked that the bombs did not burst。 They then； much astonished； proceeded to pick up and examine these projectiles。 Instead of a match； they found rolls of paper enclosed in a wooden cylinder； on which was engraved these words； 〃Open carefully。〃 The paper contained a truly Macchiavellian letter from Ali； which began by saying that they were quite justified in having taken up arms against him； and added that he now sent them a part of the pay of which the traitorous Ismail was defrauding them； and that the bombs thrown into their cantonment contained six thousand sequins in gold。 He begged them to amuse Ismail by complaints and recriminations； while his gondola should by night fetch one of them； to whom he would communicate what more he had to say。 If they accepted his proposition； they were to light three fires as a signal。
The signal was not long in appearing。 Ali despatched his barge； which took on board a monk； the spiritual chief of the Suliots。 He was clothed in sackcloth； and repeated the prayers for the dying； as one going to execution。 Ali； however； received him with the utmost cordiality： He assured the priest of his repentance； his good intentions； his esteem for the Greek captains； and then gave him a paper which startled him considerably。 It was a despatch； intercepted by Ali； from Khalid Effendi to the Seraskier Ismail； ordering the latter to exterminate all Christians capable of bearing arms。 All male children were to be circumcised； and brought up to form a legion drilled in European fashion； and the letter went on to explain how the Suliots； the Armatolis； the Greek races of the mainland and those of the Archipelago should be disposed of。 Seeing the effect produced on the monk by the perusal of this paper； Ali hastened to make him the most advantageous offers； declaring that his own wish was to give Greece a political existence； and only requiring that the Suliot captains should send him a certain number of their children as hostages。 He then had cloaks and arms brought which he presented to the monk； dismissing him in haste； in order that darkness might favour his return。
The next day Ali was resting； with his head on Basilissa's lap； when he was informed that the enemy was advancing upon the intrenchments which had been raised in the midst of the ruins of Janina。 Already the outposts had been forced； and the fury of the assailants threatened to triumph over all obstacles。 Ali immediately ordered a sortie of all his troops； announcing that he himself would conduct it。 His master of the horse brought him the famous Arab charger called the Dervish； his chief huntsman presented him with his guns； weapons still famous in Epirus； where they figure in the ballads of the Skipetars。 The first was an enormous gun； of Versailles manufacture； formerly presented by the conqueror of the Pyramids to Djezzar； the Pacha of St。 Jean…d'Arc； who amused himself by enclosing living victims in the walls of his palace； in order that he might hear their groans in the midst of his festivities。 Next came a carabine given to the Pacha of Janina in the name of Napoleon in 1806； then the battle musket of Charles XII of Sweden； and finally the much revered sabre of Krim…Guerai。 The signal was given； the draw bridge crossed； the Guegues and other adventurers uttered a terrific shout； to which the cries of the assailants replied。 Ali placed himself on a height； whence his eagle eye sought to discern the hostile chiefs； but he called and defied Pacho Bey in vain。 Perceiving Hassan…Stamboul； colonel of the Imperial bombardiers outside his battery； Ali demanded the gun of Djezzar； and laid him dead on the spot。 He then took the carabine of Napoleon； and shot with it Kekriman； Bey of Sponga； whom he had formerly appointed Pacha of Lepanto。 The enemy now became aware of his presence； and sent a lively fusillade in his direction； but the balls seemed to diverge from his person。 As soon as the smoke cleared； he perceived Capelan； Pacha of Croie； who had been his guest； and wounded him mortally in the chest。 Capelan uttered a sharp cry； and his terrified horse caused disorder in the ranks。 Ali picked off a large number of officers； one after another； every shot was mortal； and his enemies began to regard him in； the light of a destroying angel。 Disorder spread through the forces of the Seraskier； who retreated hastily to his intrenchments。
The Suliots meanwhile sent a deputation to Ismail offering their submission； and seeking to regain their country in a peaceful manner； but； being received by him with the most humiliating contempt； they resolved to make common cause with Ali。 They hesitated over the demand for hostages； and at length required Ali's grandson； Hussien Pacha； in exchange。 After many difficulties； Ali at length consented； and the agreement was concluded。 The Suliots received five hundred thousand piastres and a hundred and fifty charges of ammunition； Hussien Pacha was given up to them； and they left the Ottoman camp at dead of night。 Morco Botzaris
