"An alternative has just been offered the
prisoners. I was present, and can vouch for it--they were to choose
between death by the sword and submission. Not one of the beys,
however, chose to die rather than submit. They swore on the holy
Koran than they would remain the prisoners of the Turks, and make no
effort to have themselves demanded back by the English, and, as they
have nevertheless done so, and sent to you, they have broken their
holy oath."
"They have not done so," replied Lord Hutchinson. "I heard of this
infamous treachery by other means; others informed me of what has
occurred. I am, therefore, entirely justified in making my demand;
moreover, the oath obtained from them by the threat of death is
valueless. I insist that the Mamelukes who are still alive be
delivered over to me, and the dead also, in order that I may count
them and assure myself that none have been kept back as prisoners.
Go, and tell your master this, and say to him that a refusal on his
part will be equivalent to a declaration of war by England. My ships
lie at anchor in the harbor of Alexandria awaiting his decision, and
they are ready for war. Tell this to the capitan pacha."
With a respectful inclination of the head Mohammed withdrew, and,
returning to his boat, was rapidly conveyed on board the admiral's
ship, where the capitan pacha awaited him.
The latter listened attentively to the report of the boulouk bashi,
and inclined his head graciously when told that he had taken the
sole responsibility upon himself, and had attributed the much-to-be-
regretted-occurrence to a misunderstanding.
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