At that moment a hand snatched his weapons from him, and Ali Pasha saw Zülfikar before him.
"What wouldst thou do, madman?" cried he. "Thou wouldst not have me fall into the hands of the unbelievers?"
"I would deliver you and your host out of their hands," said Zülfikar.
"By the shadow of Allah, thou dost speak brave words, and if thou couldst but do as thou sayst, I would make thee the foremost of my captains."
"I desire no such honour. Promise me a thousand ducats, and send me as a messenger to Banfi."
"So that thou mayst betray my position to him, eh! thou cur?"
"I've no need to do that. He can see it for himself from yon hill-top. You are as good as dead and buried already, so that you have no choice but to trust to me. You may hold out for a couple of days perhaps; but then you and your bravest heroes must perish with hunger just like me. We are all in the same evil case, there is nothing to choose between any of us."
"And what wouldst thou do, wretched slave?"
"Induce Banfi to withdraw his troops from the road leading to Kalota, and thus leave us a loophole of escape."
"And dost thou think that possible?"