Part 29 (1/2)

At Buda, while Ha.s.san Pasha was fighting with the army of the German Emperor, Yffim Beg was preparing the triumphal arches through which the victors were to pa.s.s on their return, adorning them with green branches and precious carpets, and leaving room for the standards to be captured from the Germans and Hungarians. The bridge was also repaired and strengthened to support the weight of the heavy gun-carriages and cannon which Montecuculi was to have abandoned, and at the same time a large s.p.a.ce on the Rakas was railed in where all the slaves of all the nations, including women and children, were to be impounded.

And after all these amiable preparations the terrible message reached the worthy Yffim Beg from Ha.s.san Pasha that he was to place all his movable chattels, gold and silver, on a fugitive footing, barricade the fortress, cut away the bridge so that the enemy might not be able to cross it, and follow him with the whole harem, beyond the Raab, for who could tell whether they would ever see the fortress of Buda again.

Yffim Beg was not particularly pleased with this message, but without taking long to think about it, he put the damsels of the harem into carriages, sent them off along the covered way adjoining the water-gate, in order to make as little disturbance as possible, and, as soon as they were on the other side of the bridge, ordered it to be destroyed and the garrison of the fortress to defend themselves as best they could.

He reached the Turkish army to find the opposing hosts drawn up against each other on different sides of the river, across which they bombarded each other from time to time, without doing much damage.

The Pasha's pavilion was well in the rear, out of cannon-shot; he was delighted when he saw Yffim Beg, and could not take his fill of kissing Azrael, who was lovelier and more gracious than ever.

”Remain here,” he said to his favourites, embracing the pair of them. ”I must retire now to the interior of my pavilion to pray for an hour or so with the dervishes, for a great and grievous duty will devolve upon me in an hour's time--two great Turkish n.o.bles, Kucsuk Pasha and his son, are to be condemned to death.”

Azrael started as violently as if a serpent had crept into her bosom.

”How have they offended?” she asked, scarce able to conceal her agitation.

”Against the precepts of the Prophet they engaged in battle on a day of ill-omen; they have cast dirt on the victorious half-moon, and must wash off the stain with their blood.”

Ha.s.san withdrew; Azrael remained alone in the tent with the Beg.

”I saw thee shudder,” said Yffim, fixing his sharp eyes on the face of Azrael.

”Death chooses the thirteenth; he leaped past me at this very moment.”

”And on whom has the fatal thirteen fallen?”

”On someone who stands beside me or behind me.”

”Behind thee in the tent outside is Feriz Beg.”

”But thou art beside me.”

”I am too young to die yet.”

”And is not he also?”

”He of whom Ha.s.san saith: 'He hath sinned!' becomes old and withered on the spot.”

”And hast thou done nothing for which thou shouldst die?”

”My beard will grow white because of my loyalty; life is long in the shadow of Ha.s.san.”

”But how long will Ha.s.san have a shadow?”

”Till his night cometh--but that is still far off.”

”Hast thou not heard of the case of Ajas Pasha, Yffim?--of Ajas, who was the mightiest of all the Pashas?”

”He was the Sultan's son-in-law.”