The Captain of the Janizaries

by James M. Ludlow

  CHAPTER XLVIII.

  Captain Ballaban was almost constantly engaged at the new seraglio. Itwas being constructed not only with an eye to its imposing appearancefrom without and its beauty within, such as befitted both its splendidsite between the waters and the splendor of the monarch whose palaceit was to be; but also with a view to its easy defence in case ofassault. Upon the young officer devolved the duty of scrutinizingevery line and layer that went into the various structures.

  He was especially interested in the side entrances, and communicationsbetween the various departments of the seraglio. He gave orders for achange to be made in the line of a partition and corridor, and alsofor a slight variation in the position of a gateway in the wallsdividing the mabeyn[102] court from that of the haremlik. Just whythese changes were made, perhaps the architects themselves could nothave told; nor were they interested to enquire, supposing that theywere made at the royal will. Ballaban was disposed to indulge a littlehis own fancy. If there was to be a broad entrance for public display,and then a narrow passage for the Sultan only, why not have a waythrough which he could imagine a fair odalisk fleeing from insult andtorture into the arms of--himself? But Ballaban's face grew pale as hewatched the completion of a sluice way leading from a little chamber,down through the sea wall, to meet the rapid current of the Bosphorus.He remembered the declaration of the Padishah, that, if ever anodalisk were unfaithful to him, she should be sewn into a bag,together with a cat and a snake, and drowned in Marmora.[103]

  In the meantime old Kala Hanoum was amazed at the number of articlesof Morsinia's handiwork she was able to induce the young captain topurchase. Indeed, he never refused. And quite frequently she was thebearer of gifts, generally confections, sometimes little rolls of silksuitable for embroidery with colored threads or beads, accompanied bythe name of some fellow officer of the Janizaries from whom apparentlyan order for work was given; the Captain acting as an agent in a sortof co-partnership with Kala. Of course this was only secret mailservice between Ballaban and the odalisk. If Kala suspected it, hercommissions were so largely remunerative that she silenced the thoughtof any thing but legitimate business.

  Ballaban devised plans for her escape which Morsinia found itimpracticable to execute from her side of the harem wall; and hershrewdest suggestions were pronounced equally unsafe by the strategistwithout. Ballaban had caught glimpses of Morsinia while loiteringamong the trees at the upper end of the Golden Horn, by the SweetWaters, where the ladies of the harem were taken by the eunuchs onalmost weekly excursions. He had proposed to have in readiness twohorses, that, if she should break from the attendants, they might fleetogether. But before this could be accomplished, the excursions werediscontinued, as the attention of all was turned to a new pleasure.

  The grand haremlik was at length completed. Perhaps no place on earthwas so suggestive of indolent and sensual pleasure as this. There wereluxurious divans, multiplying mirrors, baths of tempered water,fountains in which perfumes could be scattered with the spray, broadspaces for the dance, half hidden alcoves for the indulgence in thatwhich shamed the more public eye, and gardens in which Araby competedwith Africa in the display of exotic fruits and flowers.

  A day was set for the reception of the grand harem fromAdrianople--which contained nearly a thousand of the most beautifulwomen in the world--into this new paradise. The Kislar Aga hadarranged a pageant of especial magnificence, which could be witnessedby the people at a distance. Two score barges, elegantly decorated,rowed by eunuchs, their decks covered with divans, were to receive theodalisks from Adrianople at the extreme inner point of the seragliowater front on the Golden Horn. The Valide Sultana's barge was to leadthe procession, which should float to the cadences of music far outinto the harbor. At the same time, the Sultan in his kaik, and thewomen of the temporary haremlik, each propelling a light skiffdecorated with flags and streamers, were to move from the extremeouter point of the seraglio grounds, until the two fleets shouldmeet, when, amid salvos of artillery from the shores, the odaliskswith the Sultan were to turn about and lead their sisters to the watergate of the haremlik. Orders were given forbidding the people toappear upon the water, or upon the shores within distance to seedistinctly the faces of the ladies of the harem.

  Every evening at sundown a patrol of eunuchs made a cordon of boats afew hundred yards from the shore, within which, screened by distancefrom the eyes of common men, the odalisks went into training for thegreat regatta. The Padishah, sitting in his barge, encouraged theirrivalry by gifts for dexterity in managing the little boats, forpicturesqueness of dress and for grace of movement, as with bared armsand streaming tresses, they propelled the kaiks.

  Morsinia found herself one of the most dexterous in handling the oars.The free life of her childhood on the Balkans and among the peasantsof upper Albania, had developed muscle which this new exercise soonbrought into unusual efficiency. She observed that the attendanteunuchs were deficient in this kind of strength, and had no doubtthat, with her own light weight, she could drive the almostimponderable kaik swifter than any of them.

  The young Egyptian woman was her only competitor for the honor ofleading the fleet on the day of the regatta. To add to the interest ofthe training, Mahomet ordered that the two should race for the honorof being High Admiral of the harem fleet; and one evening announcedthat the competitive trial should take place the next afternoon. Thecourse was fixed for a half mile, just inside of Seraglio Point,where the waters of the harbor are still, unvexed by the rapid currentwhich pours along the channel of the Bosphorus. The flag-boat was tobe anchored almost at the meeting of the inner and outer waters.

  That night Morsinia wrote a note containing these words--

  "About dusk just below the Seven Towers watch for kaik.

  MORSINIA."

  Kala Hanoum was commissioned early the following morning to deliver apretty little sash, wrought with stars and crescents, to CaptainBallaban. Morsinia was careful to show Kala the scarf, and dilate uponthe peculiar beauty of the work until the woman's curiosity should befully satisfied; thus making sure that she would not be tempted toinspect it for herself. She then wrapped the note carefully within thescarf, and tied it strongly with a silken cord.

  Old Kala had a busy day before her, with a dozen other commissions todischarge. But fortune favored her in the early discovery of the wellknown shape of the Captain in ordinary citizen's dress, as he wasengaged in eager conversation with the Greek monk, Gennadius, whom theSultan had allowed to superintend the worship of the Christians stillresident in the city. Indeed Mahomet was wise enough to even pensionsome of the Greek clergy to keep up the establishment of their faith;for he feared to antagonize the millions in the provinces of Greecewho could not be persuaded to embrace Islam; and was content to exactfrom them only the recognition of his secular supremacy. Kala Hanoumhad too much reverence in her nature to interrupt a couple of suchworthies; so she followed a little way behind them. They came to thegate-way--a mere hole in the wall--which led to what was known as theHermit's Cell, the abode of Gennadius during the siege. The spiritualpride of the monk had prevented his exchanging this for a morecommodious residence into which the Sultan would have put him. He saidhe only wanted a place large enough to weep in, now that the people ofthe Lord were in captivity.

  The monk had entered the little gateway, and his companion wasfollowing, when Kala's instinct for business got the better of herreverence; and, darting forward, she thrust the little roll into hishand just as he was stooping to enter the gate, not even glancing athis face. She said in low voice, not caring to be overheard by themonk:

  "A part of your purchase yesterday, Sire, which you have forgotten."

  She waited for no reply, but trotted off, muttering to herself:

  "That's done, now for old Ibrahim the Jew."

  The contrast between Morsinia and the Egyptian as they presentedthemselves for the contest, afforded a capital study in racialphysique. The latter was rather under size, with scarcely more ofwomanl
y development than a boy. Her face was almost copper colored;her hair jet and short. The former was tall, with femininity stampedupon the contour of bust and limb; her face pale, even beneath themass of her light locks.

  The kaiks were of thinnest wood that could be held together by theweb-like cross bracing, and seemed scarcely to break the surface ofthe water when the odalisks stepped into them. Morsinia had brought aferidje of common sort; saying to the eunuch, whose attention itattracted, that yesterday she was quite chilled after rowing, and today had taken this with her by way of precaution. She might have foundsomething more beautiful had she thought in time; but it would be darkwhen they returned. Besides, it would be a capital brace for her feet;the crossbar arranged for that purpose being rather too far away fromthe seat. So saying she tossed it into the bottom of the kaik beforethe officious eunuch could provide a better substitute.

  The Padishah's bugle sounded the call. It rang over the waters,evoking echoes from the triple shore of Stamboul, Galata and Skutari,which died away in the distant billows of Marmora. As it was to be thelast evening before the pageant of the grand reception, the time wasoccupied in making final arrangements for the order in which the boatsshould move; so that it was growing dark when the Padishah remindedthe chief marshal that they must have the race for the Admiral'sbadge. Katub, a fat and indolent eunuch, was ordered to moor his kaik,for the stake boat, as far out toward the swift current as safetywould permit.

  The two competitors darted to the side of Mahomet's barge. From a longstaff, just high enough above the water to be reached by the hand,hung a tiny streamer of silk, the broad field of which was dotted withpearls. This was to be the possession of the fair rower who, roundingthe stake boat first, could return and seize it.

  The Sultan threw a kiss to the fair nymphs as a signal for the start.Myriads of liquid pearls, surpassing in beauty those upon thestreamer, dropped from the oar blades, and strewed the smooth surface;or were transformed into diamonds as they sunk swirling into thebroken water. The spray rose from the sharp prows in sheafs, golden asthose of grain, in the ruddy reflection of the western sky. Eachgraceful kaik, and the more graceful form that moved it, almostcreated the illusion of a single creature; some happy denizen ofanother world disporting itself for the luring of mortals in this.

  The boats kept close company. The Egyptian was expending her fullstrength, but her companion, with longer and fewer strokes, wasapparently reserving hers. They neared the stake. The Egyptian, havingthe inside, began to round it; but the Albanian kept on, now withrapid and strong strokes. The spectators were amazed at her tactics.

  "She is making too wide a sweep," said the Sultan.

  "She does not seem inclined to turn at all," observed the Kislar Aga.

  "She will strike the current if she turn not soon," rejoined Mahometexcitedly.

  The prow of her kaik turned off westward.

  "She is in the stream!" cried several. "She will be overturned!" Buton sped the kaik, heading full down the current, which, catching itlike some friendly sprite from beneath, bore it quickly out of sightaround the Seraglio Point; and on--on into a thick mist which wasrolling up, as if sent of heaven to meet it, from the broad expanse ofthe sea.

  "An escape!" cried the Sultan. "After her every one of you blackdevils!"

  The eunuchs wasted several precious moments in getting the commandthrough their heads, and, even when they started, it was evident thattheir muscles were too flaccid, their spines too limp, and their windnot full enough to overhaul the flying skiff of the Albanian.

  "To shore! To horse!" cried the raging monarch.

  A quarter of an hour later, horsemen were clattering down the stonystreet along the water front of Marmora, pausing now and then to stareout into the sea mist, dashing on, stopping and staring, and on again.The foremost to reach the Castle of the Seven Towers left orders toscour the shore, and to set patrol to prevent any one landing. Somewere ordered to dart across to the islands. Within an hour from theescape every inch of shore, and the great water course opposite thecity, were under complete surveillance.

  Just before this was accomplished a man arrived at the water's edge,close to the south side of the great wall of which the Castle of SevenTowers was the northern flank. He held two horses, saddled and bagged,as if for a distant journey. A second man appeared a moment later, whocame up from a clump of bushes a little way below.

  "In good time, Marcus!" said the new comer, who stooped close to thewater and listened, putting his hand to his ear so as to exclude allsounds except such as should come from the sea above.

  "Listen! an oar stroke! Yes! Keep everything tight, Marcus."

  Darting into the copse, in a moment more the man was gliding in akaik, with a noiseless stroke, out in the direction of the oar splashof the approaching boat. Nearer and nearer it came. The night and themist prevented its being seen. The man moved close to its line. It wasa light kaik, he knew from the almost noiseless ripple of the water asthe sharp prow cut it. The man gave a slight whistle, when the strokeof the invisible boat ceased, and the ripple at its prow died away.

  "Morsinia!"

  "Ay, thank heaven!" came the response.

  "Speak not now, but follow!" and he led the way cautiously toward thelittle beach where the horses were heard stamping. They were severalrods off, piloting themselves by the sound.

  "Hark!" said the man, stopping the boats. Hoofs were heardapproaching, and voices--

  "She might have put across to the Princess Island," said one.

  "Nonsense!" was the reply. "She would only imprison herself bythat--more likely she has gone clean across to Chalcedon. But I holdthat she has played fox, and turned on her trail. Ten liras to onethat she is by this time in Galata with some of the Genoese Giaours.If so, she will try to escape in a galley; but that can be prevented:for the Padishah will overhaul every craft that sails out until hefinds her. But hoot, man! what have we here? Two horses! A woman'sbaggage! She has an accomplice! An elopement! The horses are tied.The runaway couple haven't arrived yet. Dismount, men! we will lie inwait along the shore here. Yes, let their two horses stand there todraw them to the spot by their stamping. Send ours out of hearing. Nowevery man to his place! Silence!"

  "Back! Back! We are pursued on land," said the man in the boat toMorsinia, and both boats pushed noiselessly out again from the shore.

  "I had prepared for this, Morsinia. You must come into my boat; wewill row below for a mile, where we can arrange it at the shore."

  Quietly they shot down in the lessening current, until they turnedinto a little cove made by a projecting rock. As lightly as a fawn thegirl leaped to the beach. Her companion was by her side in an instant.She drew back, and gave no return to his warm embrace, but saidheartily:

  "Thank Heaven, and you, Michael!"

  "Michael?" exclaimed the man. "Indeed I do not wonder that you thinkme a spirit, and call me by the name of my dead brother. But thisshall assure you that I am Constantine, and in the flesh," cried he,as he pressed a kiss upon her lips.

  Morsinia was dazed. She tried to scan his face. She fell as onelifeless into his arms.

  He seated himself on the rock and held her to his heart. For a whileneither could speak.

  "Is it real?" said she at length, raising her head and feeling hisface with her hand. "But how"----

  Voices were heard shouting over the water.

  "We must be gone," said Constantine.

  The excitement of her discovery that her lover was still living, andher bewilderment at his appearance instead of Michael, were too muchfor Morsinia. Constantine carried the exhausted girl into his boat,which was larger than hers. Towing her little kaik out some distancehe tipped it bottom upwards, and let it drift away.

  "That will stop the hounds," muttered he. "They will think you havebeen overturned."

  With tremendous, but scarcely audible, strokes he ploughed awaywestward. It was not until far from all noise of the pursuers that hepaused.

  FOOTNOTES:

  [1
02] The mabeyn lies between the selamlik (general reception room formen) and the haremlik; and is the living apartment for men.

  [103] The sluice which was supposed to have been used for this purposeis still seen at Old Seraglio Point.