What had happened? All was silent, therefore I closed my window and slept again.
In the morning I was told that it was “nothing.” Two men of the Shiala had been found dead outside.
Was it the blood-feud? I asked.
Palok only raised his shoulders and exhibited his palms.
“It was nothing, signore—really nothing.”
CHAPTER IV
IN THE ACCURSED MOUNTAINS
Vatt Marashi, chief of the Skreli tribe, invites me to become his guest—Our start for the Accursed Mountains—Rok, our guide—Independence of the Skreli—Brigandage and the bessa—A night under a rock—My meeting with Vatt Marashi and his band—The Skreli welcome—How they treat the Turks—Vatt’s admissions—I become the guest of brigands—A chat in the moonlight.
While seated on the box in Salko’s dark little stall in the bazaar he introduced his friend Rok to me.
A middle-aged tribesman in the regulation costume of tight white woollen trousers heavily striped with black, black bolero with deep woollen fringe, and a felt skullcap, once white, but now not overclean, he squatted opposite me and touched chin and brow in salute. His loaded rifle lay before him on the ground.
He eyed me critically up and down, my pigskin gaiters apparently receiving his admiration.