Osman thanked them in a loud, clear voice, and no one knew what pain
the effort cost him. Arrived at the shore, he stepped out of the
palanquin with an appearance of joyous haste, and took up his
position beside his father to receive from the soldiers, who were
now approaching, Mohammed at their head, the military honors. And
now the hour of leave taking had arrived. The admiral's boat had
come to convey the bim bashi to the ship. The tschorbadji insisted
on accompanying his son on board, and seated himself beside him in
the boat into which the slaves and servants who were to go with
Osman now also entered.
Mohammed had declined to go with them to the vessel. The soldiers
must first be embarked, and the boulouk bashi will be the last to
leave the shore, for this the military law requires.
The boats were soon filled with the soldiers, and the bay, covered
with all kinds of skiffs, boats, and barks, now presented a very
gay, lively spectacle. The entire population of Praousta and Cavalla
were assembled on the shore to witness the embarkation.
Ada and her boys had also come down, and were gathered around the
husband and father to take leave of him; beside them stood
Mohammed's old friend, the merchant Lion. As the boats now began to
put off from the shore, Mohammed took his wife's hand and led her
aside, away from the others.
"Ada, my wife," said he, "I bid you a last farewell!"
She sobbed beneath her veil, and tears poured in streams from her
eyes.
Pages:
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369