bes and holding in his
hand the carbine which your emperor presented him. He was leaning on
the shoulder of his favorite Selim, and he drove us all before him, as
a shepherd would his straggling flock. My father," said Haidee, raising
her head, "was that illustrious man known in Europe under the name of
Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, and before whom Turkey trembled."

Albert, without knowing why, started on hearing these words pronounced
with such a haughty and dignified accent; it appeared to him as if there
was something supernaturally gloomy and terrible in the expression which
gleamed from the brilliant eyes of Haidee at this moment; she appeared
like a Pythoness evoking a spectre, as she recalled to his mind the
remembrance of the fearful death of this man, to the news of which all
Europe had listened with horror. "Soon," said Haidee, "we halted on our
march, and found ourselves on the borders of a lake. My mother pressed
me to her throbbing heart, and at the distance of a few paces I saw my
father, who was glancing anxiously around. Four marble steps led down to
the water's edge, and below them was a boat floating on the tide.

"From where we stood I could see in the middle of the lake a large blank
mass; it was the kiosk to which we were going. This kiosk appeared to me
to be at a considerable distance, perhaps on account of the darkness
of the night, which prevented any object from being more than partially
discerned. We stepped into the boat. I remember well that the oars
made no noise whatever in striking the water, and when I leaned over to
ascertain the cause I saw that they were muffled with the sashes of our
Palikares. [*] Besides the rowers, the boat contained only the women, my
father, mother, Selim, and myself. The Palikares had remained on the
shore of the lake, ready to cover our retreat; they were kneeling on the
lowest of the marble steps, and in that manner intended making a rampart
of the three others, in case of pursuit. Our bark flew before the wind.
'Why does the boat go so fast?' asked I of my mother.

* Greek militiamen in the war for independence.--Ed.

"'Silence, child! Hush, we are flying!' I did not understand. Why
should my father fly?--he, the all-powerful--he, before whom others were
accustomed to fly--he, who had taken for his device, 'They hate me; then
they fear me!' It was, indeed, a flight which my father was trying
to effect. I have been told since that the garrison of the