Mousa, the chief secretary, indulged in some suppressed laughter at this joke. Iskander smiled.
If they retreat we must assuredly attack them, observed Iskander, musingly. I have a persuasion that Hunniades and myself will soon meet.
If there be truth in the Prophet! exclaimed Karam. I have no doubt of it. Hunniades is reserved for you, Bey. We shall hold up our heads at court yet, Iskander. You have had letters lately?
Some slight words.
No mention of us, of course?
Nothing, except some passing praise of your valour and discretion.
We do our best, we do our best. Will Isa Bey have Ãtolia, think you?
I have no thoughts. Our royal father will not forget his children, and Isa Bey is a most valiant chieftain.
You heard not that he was coming here? inquired Karam.
Have you? responded the cautious Iskander.
A rumour, a rumour, replied Karam. He is at Adrianople, think you?
It may be so: I am, you know, from Athens.
True, true. We shall beat them, Iskander, we shall beat them.
For myself, I feel sanguine, replied the Prince, and he arose to retire. I must at present to my men. We must ascertain more accurately the movements of the Christians before we decide on our own. I am inclined myself to reconnoitre them. How far may it be?
There is not room to form our array between them and the mountains, replied Karam.
Tis well. Success attend the true believers! By to-morrows dawn we shall know more.
CHAPTER 4
Iskander returned to his men. Night was coming on. Fires and lights blazed and sparkled in every direction. The air was clear, but very cold. He entered his tent, and muffling himself up in his pelisse of sables, he mounted his horse, and declining any attendance, rode for some little distance, until he had escaped from the precincts of the camp. Then he turned his horse towards one of the wildest passes of the mountain, and galloping at great speed, never stopped until he had gained a considerable ascent. The track became steep and rugged. The masses of loose stone rendered his progress slow; but his Anatolian charger still bore him at intervals bravely, and in three hours time he had gained the summit of Mount Hæmus. A brilliant moon flooded the broad plains of Bulgaria with shadowy light. At the base of the mountainous range, the red watch-fires denoted the situation of the Christian camp.
Iskander proceeded down the descent with an audacious rapidity; but his charger was thorough-bred, and his moments were golden. Ere midnight, he had reached the outposts of the enemy, and was challenged by a sentinel.
Who goes there?
A friend to Christendom.
The word?
I have it notnay calmly. I am alone, but I am not unarmed. I do not know the word. I come from a far country, and bear important tidings to the great Hunniades; conduct me to that chief.
May I be crucified if I will, responded the sentinel, before I know who and what you are. Come, keep off, unless you wish to try the effect of a Polish lance, continued the sentinel; tis something, I assure you, not less awkward than your Greek fire, if Greek indeed you be.
My friend, you are a fool, said Iskander, but time is too precious to argue any longer. So saying, the Turkish commander dismounted, and taking up the brawny sentinel in his arms with the greatest ease, threw him over his shoulder, and threatening the astounded soldier with instant death if he struggled, covered him with his pelisse, and entered the camp.
They approached a watch-fire, around which several soldiers were warming themselves.
Who goes there? inquired a second sentinel.
A friend to Christendom, answered Iskander.
The word?
Iskander hesitated.
The word, or Ill let fly, said the sentinel, elevating his cross bow.
The Bridge of Buda, instantly replied the terrified prisoner beneath the pelisse of Iskander.
Why did not you answer before, then? said one of the guards.
And why do you mock us by changing your voice? said another. Come, get on with you, and no more jokes.
Iskander proceeded through a street of tents, in some of which were lights, but all of which were silent. At length, he met the esquire of a Polish knight returning from a convivial meeting, not a little elevated.
Who are you? inquired Iskander.
I am an Esquire, replied the gentleman.
A shrewd man, I doubt not, who would make his fortune, replied Iskander. You must know great things have happened. Being on guard I have taken a prisoner, who has deep secrets to divulge to the Lord Hunniades. Thither, to his pavilion, I am now bearing him. But he is a stout barbarian, and almost too much for me. Assist me in carrying him to the pavilion of Hunniades, and you shall have all the reward, and half the fame.
You are a very civil spoken young gentleman, said the Esquire. I think I know your voice. Your name, if I mistake not, is Leckinski?
A relative. We had a common ancestor.
I thought so. I know the Leckinskies ever by their voice. I am free to help you on the terms you mentionall the reward and half the fame. Tis a strong barbarian, is it? We cannot cut his throat, or it will not divulge. All the reward and half the fame! I will be a knight to-morrow. It seems a sort of fish, and has a smell.
The Esquire seized the Shoulders of the prisoner, who would have spoken had he not been terrified by the threats of Iskander, who, carrying the legs of the sentinel, allowed the Polish gentleman to lead the way to the pavilion of Hunniades. Thither they soon arrived; and Iskander, dropping his burthen, and leaving the prisoner without to the charge of his assistant, entered the pavilion of the General of the Hungarians.
He was stopped in a small outer apartment by an officer, who inquired his purpose, and to whom he repeated his desire to see the Hungarian leader, without loss of time, on important business. The officer hesitated; but, summoning several guards, left Iskander in their custody, and, stepping behind a curtain, disappeared. Iskander heard voices, but could distinguish no words. Soon the officer returned, and, ordering the guards to disarm and search Iskander, directed the Grecian Prince to follow him. Drawing aside the curtain, Iskander and his attendant entered a low apartment of considerable size. It was hung with skins. A variety of armour and dresses were piled on couches. A middle-aged man, of majestic appearance, muffled in a pelisse of furs, with long chestnut hair, and a cap of crimson velvet and ermine, was walking up and down the apartment, and dictating some instructions to a person who was kneeling on the ground, and writing by the bright flame of a brazen lamp. The bright flame of the blazing lamp fell full upon the face of the secretary. Iskander beheld a most beautiful woman.
She looked up as Iskander entered. Her large dark eyes glanced through his soul. Her raven hair descended to her shoulders in many curls on each side of her face, and was braided with strings of immense pearls. A broad cap of white fox-skin crowned her whiter forehead. Her features were very small, but sharply moulded, and a delicate tint gave animation to her clear fair cheek. She looked up as Iskander entered, with an air rather of curiosity than embarrassment.
Hunniades stopped, and examined his visitor with a searching inquisition. Whence come you? inquired the Hungarian chieftain.
From the Turkish camp, was the answer.
An envoy or a deserter?