"My brave fellows,"—the Pasha addresses his troops in a hard, sharp voice—"you will pitch your tents here! Every one will remain in his place hard by his saddled horse, without laying aside arms or armour. Ferhad Aga[14] with twelve men will go into the village and respectfully ask the magistrate to send hither forty hundredweights of bread, just as much flesh, and double as much hay and oats, at the average price of four asper[15] per pound, neither more nor less."
[14] Aga. An honorary title among the Turks, here equivalent to lieutenant.
[15] Asper. A small silver coin worth about fifteen to twenty kreutzers.
Then the Pasha turned towards the Wallachs—
"You, dogs! don't suppose that we have come hither to plunder! Stir not from this spot, for if I find out that so much as a goose has been stolen from the village, I'll hang up your leaders and decimate the rest of you!"
He then selected four horsemen.
"You will follow me," said he; "the rest remain here. This very night we resume our march. During my absence Feriz Beg commands."
The little boy bowed.
"If Feriz Beg receives orders from me to quit you, you will obey Ferhad Aga till I return."
With that the Pasha struck his spurs into his horse's sides, and galloped with his escort towards Bodola.