He shook his head sorrowfully.
"If we have no ally, it will go hard with us; but your countrymen will be mad if they do not help us."
"Why so?"
"Because, when we find that we have no chance against our foe, what is to prevent us from turning round and allying ourselves with him; that alternative might be preferable to annihilation. And when Russia has our fleet, the Dardanelles, Batoum, and another port or so in the Black Sea, she might leave us alone at Constantinople. Anyhow, if she has once crushed us, we shall no longer have the power of lifting our heads, and however much we may dislike the alternative of slavery or destruction, shall end by being menials of the Russians."
The following day I walked with the Turkish major to see his boot manufactory; a large building on the outskirts of the town. Four hundred and fifty men were employed in the business.
An order had arrived from Constantinople for all the workmen to be drilled. Two hours per day had been allotted for this purpose.
The shoemakers were drawn up in two ranks outside the building.
The officer who was instructing them commenced putting his men through the bayonet exercise. Many of the townspeople were amongst the spectators. They were greatly pleased at the eager way in which the men gave their thrusts into the air.
"If we only had some Russians to run through!" said a corpulent, middle-aged Turk.
"Ah! if we had," replied his friend. "Our bootmakers alone would be enough to make all the Cossacks turn pale and run!"