"
"I will give you my small body-guard. They are eight in number, and
I give you full authority to collect the tax."
"I thank you, governor," cried Mohammed, with a beaming face. "You
have given me a weighty commission, and you shall see that I will
justify the confidence you place in me. I will go at once."
"Do so, and I will order my men to obey you in all things," said the
tschorbadji.
"Farewell, my Osman," cried Mohammed his whole being as full of
energy and determination as if he were going to battle. He bowed
smilingly to his friend, and passed from the hall with a firm step.
The collectors received the tschorbadji's order, to return to
Praousta with Mohammed, with bowed heads and anxious countenances.
"They will murder us." groaned one of them. "They are all armed with
swords and knives, and they will tear our arms from us at once."
"If they should tear your arms from you, and you do not fall upon
them, with tooth and nail," cried Mohammed, with determined look,
"you are nothing but cowards, and I will kill you with my own hand."
The tschorbadji had, in the mean time, called his small body guard
together, and commanded them to go down to Praousta with Mohammed,
and to obey him in all things.
"Come, then, my men, let us go," cried Mohammed.
The tschorbadji detained him a moment. "Will you not take a weapon,
you are entirely unarmed?"
"Yes, I will take a weapon.
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