"Yes, they did this," returned the collectors, breathing hard.

"What did they say!" demanded the tschorbadji, excitedly.

"The sheik looked at us contemptuously, and ordered us to state to
the tschorbadji that Praousta had no thought of paying either the
double or the simple tax."

"And the ulemas?" asked Osman, rising from his couch, "did they
confirm what the sheik said?"

"Yes, sir, they confirmed what the sheik said," answered the
collectors.

"It is then an open revolt," cried the outraged tschorbadji. "They
refuse obedience to my commands!"

"Yes, they refuse to obey you!" repeated the collectors. "Every
fisherman has armed himself with sword and knife, and swears to die
sooner than pay this unjust tax, as they call it."

"And you allowed yourselves to be frightened by such words," cried
Mohammed, with flaming eyes. " And you did not fall upon them, sword
in hand, to force them to their duty!"

"We were but two against fifty!"

"Two men against fifty cowards! I should think the men would have
carried the day. But you are not men; you did not even draw your