Part 19 (2/2)

As he took the tobacco tin which was proffered him his hands trembled so excessively that the rolling of a cigarette was a work of art.

”His nerves are gone,” explained the doctor. ”He lives in hourly danger of his life.”

Keco soon left us to prepare our meal and quarters for the night, and it was not till after supper, when we were seated round the fire in his little house and smoking, that he would consent to tell his story.

Even then he spoke at first reluctantly, but soon warmed to his subject. His wife was always present and looked anxious. Several men were in the room.

”Though my hands tremble and my hair is growing white,” he began, ”yet I do not fear death. We must all die, and I know that my fate must speedily overtake me. This house I have built for my wife, and stocked with what money I had, to provide for her. They shall not kill me easily. Twice have they tried. The first time I was in the fields when men fired at me from a long distance. I took my rifle and made a detour, and, as my enemies recrossed the border, I was there waiting for them. But I did not hit one. Another time seven men hid themselves only thirty yards away from my house, in the evening, but they dared not shoot then, for my wife was by my side.”

”You know,” explained the doctor, ”the life of a woman is sacred; should a woman by the greatest accident shoot a man, the vendetta falls on her husband--she may not be touched; or, should a woman be killed in a vendetta, even by the merest accident, the shame would be unspeakable. The murderers and their families, or even their clan, would be blotted out, for in such revenge all would join. Keco's wife never leaves his side after dusk, and, you see, she has saved his life once already within his knowledge; who knows how often unawares?”

”Tell us the origin of thy blood-guiltiness,” said we. Dr. S. had told us the story, but we wished to hear it from his lips.

”I had a cow which was my pride,” went on Keco. ”She yielded more milk than any other cow and of a far better quality. Men praised the milk and the cheese when I took it to the market in Podgorica for sale, and none more than Achmet, a Turk from Dino.

”One morning I went to milk my cow, and could find her nowhere. My most treasured possession was gone. I searched for her all that day and the next on the mountain sides, but in vain. On the next market day as I wandered gloomily across the market-place of Podgorica, Achmet, the Turk, accosted me.

”'Where is thy milk?' he asked, 'which is so wonderful, and where are thy marvellous cheeses?'

”I replied that I knew not, and would have pa.s.sed on.

”'Make thy mind easy,' continued Achmet, an evil smile spreading over his face, 'for I have thy cow.'

”'Ah! she has strayed across the border,' I cried. 'Thank G.o.d she is found.'

”'She strayed across the border,' said Achmet, 'but under my guidance.

Thou hast not lied. Her milk is indeed of the good quality that thou hast boasted. For a Christian dog like thee she is far too good.'

”To this hour I wonder that I did not strike him dead. My rage rendered me powerless to move or see. It was as if a black cloud descended over my eyes. When I recovered, Achmet was gone.

”For many weeks I went to the Law Court whenever I visited the market, demanding the rest.i.tution of my cow by legal means, and each time was I put off by answers and promises. And Achmet was always on the market-place taunting me with tales of the cow and her calf. For she had calved. But the law is strict, and I never dared shoot him whilst in the town, and this the coward knew.

”When I saw that I should get no help from the law, I took two men from this village. They are here in this room,” he said, pointing to two men seated near us. ”And one morning I went across to Dino. I did not go at night, like the thief, but when the sun was highest, and when all could see me. I left my comrades outside Achmet's house, and went in alone. There I found my cow and her calf, but only the women were present. So I drove the cow and the calf out of the door towards my comrades. Then, lest any should think that I was afraid, I fired my rifle into the air. Very soon the men came running from the fields, and amongst them Achmet and his son. When they saw me and my cow, they came towards me firing, but being unsteady from running, the bullets flew wide. Then I took careful aim and shot Achmet dead, and then his son. We then ran quickly, and though men pursued us, they were afraid to come too near lest I should shoot them likewise, and so we came back to Fundina in safety. Since then the men of Dino wait for me, and they will kill me soon, for the insult is very great that I have put upon them, and the fame of my deed has travelled into all lands.”

As he said this his eyes lit with fire, and the spirit of heroism shone out in the seemingly timid-looking man.

”Must thou stay here, in Fundina?” I asked, ”where thy enemies are so near. Why not go to Cetinje or Nikic?”

”Men know me for a hero,” he answered proudly. ”What would they say if I ran away and sought safety elsewhere? I should be a double coward, for I should leave my brothers to inherit my fate. No, I shall wait here till they come, and they shall not find me unprepared or sleeping. See, every night I make my bed in a different place, sometimes in one room of the house, sometimes in the bushes outside.

They never know where I shall sleep, for these dogs love to kill their enemy in the night.”

Silence fell upon us as Keco finished. The wood fire crackled and flickered, lighting up fitfully the serious faces of the men sitting round.

Half guessing our thoughts, Keco said--

”To-night no attack will be made. We shall keep guard outside.”

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