spend a few months in
this paradise for sportsmen, and as he entered a lowly inn, a man of
almost repellent aspect sat brooding gloomily, evidently lost in a fit
of abstraction. This man gave no greeting to the new-comer, who sat
down at the further end of the table and ordered food. Shortly
afterwards the man rose and silently left the room. An hour later this
same man reappeared in the doorway, cap in hand, and humbly asked
permission of the ornithologist to seat himself at the same table. The
permission was readily given, and the man (it was Marko) came near and
attempted to kiss L.'s coat. This action signifies the greatest
humility, and is only accorded to persons of the highest rank. L.
remonstrated strongly, saying--

"Why dost thou kiss my coat? I am a man like thyself, and no prince.
What wouldst thou from me?"

"Sir, I see that thou art a hunter (L. had his dogs with him), and I
would fain be thy servant."

L. wanted a man, and from his conversation he soon gathered that this
was no inexperienced huntsman, and so they spoke of terms. But Marko
at first would not hear of anything of the sort, saying he would serve
for nothing. Naturally L. refused to accept his services gratis, and
at last an arrangement was made that Marko should first prove his
capabilities and serve a term of probation. Even then Marko refused to
take money, but a present of a gun or some article to the value of his
services at so much a day.

With this plan L. was forced to be content, and two days afterwards
the expeditions into the neighbouring country were commenced. To tell
the story in L.'s own words:--[2]

"After we had been together some weeks Marko became gloomy and cast
down, unlike his usual merry self. It was no easy task to persuade him
to tell me what was the matter. It appeared that he was in debt, and
should not the money be paid very shortly, his house and all that was
his would be seized. Of course I gave him the money, which happened to
be more than his due up to that day, and he took it as a loan. This
condition he insisted on, and I laughingly assented."

It was then that we first heard of Achmed Uiko, who told us the story
of his life in Podgorica. Jovan, of the tribe Kuc, had been publicly
beaten in Dulcigno at this time, and in revenge had shot the Governor,
who had ordered this ignominious punishment. Jovan had fled to
Alessio, in Albania, with a price upon his head, and certain persons
came to Marko to beg