EXECUTION OF THE INFIDEL CHIEFS.
Among the infidel chiefs who were taken in the two ships before mentioned[28] there were twenty men of rank, and captains, and one hundred and twenty brave infidels, who wore golden chains about their necks. One of the captains was the son of the grand-master, (μεγα μαγιστωρμεγα μαγιστωρ,) who had been sent out from Rhodes; and when the agents of the Genoese government arrived to treat for their ransom, they offered large sums (amounting in the whole to 20,000 pieces of gold) for him and several of the captains. This offer the begs were disposed to accept; but the ulema (priests) prevented them, saying, “That as these were powerful enemies, it would be imprudent to give them their liberty.” The unfortunate prisoners were thus left to despair. To keep them prisoners at Algiers was deemed impolitic; and to put them to death seemed scarcely more advisable; for, in either case, it was certain that the infidels would employ the money intended for their ransom in purchasing Moslem captives for the purpose of putting out their eyes, since they had previously to this cut off the noses and ears of several Moslem chiefs, cutting the cartilages, and otherwise maiming them; upon which Khair-ad-din had sent a remonstrance to them, which had the effect of making them desist from torturing their captives. Thus it was that Saleh Reis and Torghudjeh, who were captives, escaped the torture. Khair-ad-din however anticipated the consequences of retaining his prisoners; for having seen in a dream that the captains had murdered the jailer, with a view to effect their escape, he, by way of experiment, instructed the latter, who was one of his relations, to ingratiate himself with the prisoners, and endeavour to discover their secret. This he effected; and so entirely did he possess their confidence, that they intrusted him with a letter to the governor of Bajaiah, requesting him to send them a ship, and informing him that it was their intention to murder the guard of the prison, and thus make their escape; that there were seven thousand prisoners in Algiers; and that if they did not succeed in taking the city, they should at all events escape from prison. Having first showed this letter to Khair-ad-din, the jailer proceeded to Bajaiah to deliver it. On his arrival there he delivered the letter; and a vessel was immediately prepared and sent off, so as to reach the prisoners that night. The jailer, having been treated with the greatest respect, returned, and related all that had passed to Khair-ad-din, who immediately sent out a vessel to seize the one sent from Bajaiah, which had just arrived; when the infidels on board, about 120 in number, together with the captains in the prison, were put to death, on the above accusation. Their letters he sent to the Genoese, who recognised the handwriting, and necessarily kept silence.