"He remained musing for some time, and then he added:
"'When a man is without any ties, when he has drunk deep the free mountain air, when the woods have been his dwelling-place and the starry heaven his roof, when he has lived the lawless life of a heyduke, can he think of cooping himself up within the narrow walls of a house and live the life of other men?'
"He stopped for a while, as if lost in his thoughts, and then he added:
"'The girl I loved is married; my brothers whom I hoped to meet again, and for whom I had bought the ground our family once owned at Chios, are for ever lost to me—doubtless, they perished upon that dreadful day—therefore, why should I live to drag on a life which henceforth will be wearisome to me?'
"'Well, then, what will you do?'
"'There is, perhaps, more work at Chios for me; I might find out the men who murdered my father——'
"'No, no; there is enough of blood upon your hands.'
"'I thought you were a Slav; as such you must know that the men of our nation never forgive.'
"'Listen; if you should happen to meet one of your brothers, if, like you, he were well off, would you not look upon his home as your own, his children—whom you might love without knowing—as your children?'
"'I should love and cherish him, indeed; I should give him the lands I bought for him at Chios. But, alas! what is the use of speaking about such a thing? It is only a dream, so listen: no man, hitherto, has loved me for my own sake, so as to risk his own life for me, as you have done, though, indeed, I have met with great kindness during the whole of my lifetime, and have had a great many friends. Well, then, will you be my brother?'