block. Think well of this, and rest assured the tschorbadji will
confirm what he has declared through me. To-morrow, at the hour of
prayer, must the double tax be paid by the men of Praousta, or your
heads shall be placed on the cliffs where everybody can see them,
and your bodies thrown upon the rock Bucephalus, that the vultures
and ravens may feed upon them."




CHAPTER II

MASA


The sea lay like a sleeping lion reposing after a conflict, and
curled its waves dreamily upon the mountain-rock Bucephalus. The sun
was burning hot, and no breath of air cooled the atmosphere, and not
one cloud or shadow afforded protection from the glowing rays of the
sun, which fell full upon the uncovered space within which the sheik
and the ulemas had been confined since early in the morning. But
they stood firm, and no complaint escaped their lips. With their
heads turned to the east, they knelt and prayed, their whole bearing
expressing dignity and high resolve.

At the command of Mohammed, one of the governor's collectors was
sent to Praousta. He was instructed to place himself in front of the
mosque, call the people together by the sound of the tomtom, and
announce to them, in the name of the tschorbadji, that all who would
see the victims of their rebellion should come up the mountain, but