CHAPTER XXXVI.
IN 'ORDERS,' FOR DUTY.
After this event, for some days I avoided the Yuze Bashi Hussein, for whom I had conceived a horror in consequence of the tragic story of Constantine Vidimo, whose fate made a deep impression on the whole of our little mess, but on none more than myself—for I had, as related, addressed him twice, and it was to me that his relaxing hand had slowly yielded up the coral cross, which I resolved to preserve as a souvenir of our service in the East. We ceased to invite the Yuze Bashi to mess, where his bulbous figure, preposterous and goat-like beard, diminutive scarlet fez, frogged surtout, long crooked sabre, and comically ferocious visage, were an endless source of amusement, wit, and caricature; but judge of my annoyance when I found that, in consequence of this modern Bashaw having conceived a vehement fancy or friendship for me, I was to be separated from the jovial society of my brother-officers, and to be detached—on his especial application—with one sergeant, one piper, and thirty rank and file, to the castle of Rodosdchig, his military government or commandery, which lay about thirty miles distant.
'For what purpose is this detachment detailed?' I asked rather angrily at mess, on the day I read the announcement in orders, as being the will and pleasure of our Brevet-Major commanding.
'To strengthen the stout captain's little garrison of Topchis.'
'But why?'
'They are in danger of an attack from certain armed and insurrectionary Greeks, whom the secret agency of some Russian priests are omitting no means of inflaming and exciting to discontent against the authority of the Sultan and his Pashas.'
'Why are Turks not sent—the Mir Alai has eight hundred of them here in garrison?'
'He does us the honour to believe that red-coats will more completely awe the malcontent Greeks.'
'In this service I may get a slash from a yataghan, or a ball from a brass-barrelled pistol sans credit and honour.'