Having got rid of the soldiers, Tinker tripped up Kallum Beg, and wresting his flute from his hand, helped that worthy individual to creep out on his hands and knees by the wholesome stimulant of the points of his two scimitars.
Next he sprang amongst the spectators, shrieking and flourishing his weapons.
What with the clash of the steel and the hideous outcry he made, the Moslem crowd were beside themselves with terror.
Struggling, shouting, and declaring that the devil himself was let loose, among them, they fought, and scratched, and pulled off turbans, and tumbled over each other till they reached the door.
The court was cleared.
All but the bashaw and his principal ministers, who still congregated round the judgment seat, blue with terror.
"Seize him! seize the imp of Jehanum!"
"Allah preserve me!" cried the potentate, who was holding on tenaciously to the vizier.
But the vizier made no attempt to obey his superior.
He was clinging to another vizier, imploring Allah to preserve him.