Picked up, bleeding and exhausted, by the soldiers, he was instantly taken before the officer commanding the troops.
Several Arabs, a few Turkish soldiers, and two of the gaolers had been killed, and there were many wounded men that required attending to.
The commander had enough to do in restoring matters to order, therefore he left the punishment of Mole to his lieutenant.
"Remove all the prisoners, for the present, to the guardroom," said the lieutenant. "When I open my council at noon in the divan bring them all before me."
"Your excellency's word is law," answered the head gaoler, bowing.
The lieutenant turned his horse, and, followed by his bodyguard, rode home in a very ill temper.
An hour or two's rest, however, and the soothing effects of pipe and coffee, had somewhat restored his equanimity by the time he re-entered the divan.
Punctually at noon, the prisoners were brought before him by the head gaoler.
"Let me see," said the lieutenant, referring to the document, and checking off the captives as they were identified; "horse-stealing, highway robbery, drunkenness, assault—yes, I have resolved what to do. As these offences seem comparatively light, and as our prison is for the present inefficient, I shall order all these men to be punished with the bastinado."
"There is one more," said the lieutenant. "This, I find, is the wretched Frank who dared to personate our great pasha."