Part 20 (1/2)
”Why have you not sent hay?”
The wisest of them, desirous to answer the question, politely rejoined: ”It has been a dry summer, sir, the Lord has kept back the clouds of Heaven.”
”Oh, that's it, eh!” said Ha.s.san. ”Tell Kucsuk Pasha that he must give his horses the clouds to eat; the hay of the Magyars is there, it seems.”
This messenger had no sooner departed than a whole emba.s.sy arrived from the Janissaries, and the whole lot of them energetically demanded that they should be led into battle at once.
”What?” inquired Ha.s.san mockingly, ”has your hay fallen short too, then?” The Janissaries are infantry, by the way.
”It is glory we are running short of,” said the leader of the deputation stolidly; ”it bores us to stand staring idly into the eyes of the enemy.”
”Then don't stare idly at them any longer; away with those mutinous dogs and impale them, and put them on the highest hillock that the whole army may see them.”
The bodyguard, after a fierce struggle, overpowered the Janissaries, and pending their impalement, locked them up in the cellar of the cloisters.
By this time Ha.s.san Pasha was in the most horrible temper; and just at that unlucky moment who should arrive but Ballo, the envoy of the Prince of Transylvania.
Ha.s.san, who could not see very well at the best of times, and was now blinded with rage besides, roared at him:
”Whence hast thou come? Who hath sent thee hither? What is thy errand?”
”I come from Kiuprile, sir,” replied Ballo blandly.
”What a good-for-nothing blackguard this Kiuprile must be to send to me such a rogue as thou art, except in chains and fetters.”
”Well, of course he knows that I am the envoy of Transylvania, and represent the Prince.”
”Represent the Prince, eh? Art thou the Prince's cobbler that thou standest in his shoes? Hast thou brought soldiers with thee?”
”Gracious sir----”
”Thou hast _not_, then? Not another word! Hast thou brought money?”
”Gracious sir!”
”Not even money! Wherefore, then, hast thou come at all? Canst thou pay the allotted tribute?”
”Gracious sir!”
”Don't gracious sir me, but answer--yes or no!”
”Well, but----”
”Then why not?”
”The land is poor, sir. The heavy hand of G.o.d is upon it.”
”Thou must settle that with G.o.d, then, and pray that it may not feel my heavy hand also. Wherefore, then, hast thou come?”
Ballo made up his mind to swallow the bitter morsel.