"I shall come, master. Am I not your slave, and have you not paid for me?"
He nodded to her, and then turned and left the room.
Masa drew her veil closer about her face, that none might see that it was wet with her tears.
CHAPTER VI
THE FLIGHT.
The court-yard without now presents a busy appearance. The fishermen of Praousta, becoming impatient and anxious, had hurried in a body up the stairway in the rock. When the signal for the morning prayer was sounded from the minarets they knew that nothing was to be hoped for from the efforts of the sheik's daughter, and they agreed among themselves that they would go up in a body and petition for mercy.
They hastily agreed upon what they should say to the governor, and determined, of course, in their generosity of heart, that they would yield, and promise the governor to pay the double tax if he would only patiently wait a little while. This was their resolve. The sheik and the ulemas must be rescued, cost what it might. With this firm resolve they hastened up the stairway, entered the outer court- yard of the palace, and loudly demanded to be conducted to the governor.
But their clamors were in vain. At the gate of the palace stood the eight soldiers of the body-guard, with drawn swords, prepared to defend the entrance.
Enraged, the fishermen pressed forward with uplifted knives, threatening destruction to all who should attempt to bar their passage.
"Where is the governor? We must speak with him; we must have mercy."