"
"And the ulemas?" asked Osman, rising from his couch, "did they
confirm what the sheik said?"
"Yes, sir, they confirmed what the sheik said," answered the
collectors.
"It is then an open revolt," cried the outraged tschorbadji. "They
refuse obedience to my commands!"
"Yes, they refuse to obey you!" repeated the collectors. "Every
fisherman has armed himself with sword and knife, and swears to die
sooner than pay this unjust tax, as they call it."
"And you allowed yourselves to be frightened by such words," cried
Mohammed, with flaming eyes. " And you did not fall upon them, sword
in hand, to force them to their duty!"
"We were but two against fifty!"
"Two men against fifty cowards! I should think the men would have
carried the day. But you are not men; you did not even draw your
swords and fell this seditious sheik to the earth!"
"The people would have torn us to pieces!" exclaimed the collectors,
"if we had attempted it."
"You would have perished in the fulfilment of your duty!" cried
Mohammed. "Far better that, than to return home with the knowledge
that you had acted as cowards!"
Osman looked wonderingly at his friend, while the tschorbadji stood
lost in thought, his countenance growing darker and darker.
"This is revolt--rebellion!" he said, after a pause. "What shall I
do? The men of Praousta are remarkable for their strength, as well
as for their free and independent opinions.
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