At that moment a cannon shot resounded from the Pesth shore.
"Ah!" said the Pasha, stopping, "a cannon shot!"
"Yes, my master," said Yffim, "from the direction of Pesth."
"From Pesth indeed," said Azrael, "it was from Buda; it was the signal for closing the gate."
"I heard it plainly."
"Excuse me, my good Beg, but thy hearing is as bad as thy sight. I am beginning to be anxious about thee. How could it be from the direction of Pesth when the whole camp has crossed over to Buda?"
"Maybe a fresh host has arrived, which now awaits us."
"Come," cried Azrael, seizing Hassan's hand, "we will find out at once who is right;" and she hastened with them to the shore of the island.
On the further bank the camp of Feriz Beg was visible; they were just pitching their tents on the side of the hills. A company of cavalry was just going down to the water's-edge, at whose head ambled a slim young man whose features were immediately recognised, even at that distance, both by the favourite Beg and the favourite damsel.
Only Hassan saw nothing; in the distance everything was to him but a blur of black and yellow.