there was something startling and ominous," said Haidee, shaking
her head and turning pale at the mere remembrance of the scene, "in
this long file of slaves and women only half-aroused from sleep, or
at least so they appeared to me, who was myself scarcely awake.
Here and there on the walls of the staircase, were reflected
gigantic shadows, which trembled in the flickering light of the
pine-torches till they seemed to reach to the vaulted roof
above.
"`Quick!' said a voice at the end of the gallery. This voice
made every one bow before it, resembling in its effect the wind
passing over a field of wheat, by its superior strength forcing
every ear to yield obeisance. As for me, it made me tremble. This
voice was that of my father. He came last, clothed in his splendid
robes 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"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 castle of Yanina, fatigued with long service" —
Here Haidee cast a significant glance at Monte Cristo, whose
eyes had been riveted on her countenance during the whole course of
her narrative. The young girl then continued, speaking slowly, like
a person who is either inventing or suppressing some feature of the
history which he is relating. "You were saying, signora," said
Albert, who was paying the most implicit attention to the recital,
"that the garrison of Yanina, fatigued with long service" —
"Had treated with the Serasker* Koorshid, who had been sent by
the sultan to gain possession of the person of my father; it was
then that Ali Tepelini — after having sent to the sultan a Frenchthen that Ali Tepelini — after having sent to the sultan a French
officer in whom he reposed great confidence — resolved to retire to
the asylum which he had long before prepared for himself, and which
he called kataphygion, or the refuge."
"And this officer," asked Albert, "do you remember his name,
signora?" Monte Cristo exchanged a rapid glance with the young
girl, which was quite unperceived by Albert. "No," said she, "I do
not remember it just at this moment; but if it should occur to me
presently, I will tell you." Albert was on the point of pronouncing
his father's name, when Monte Cristo gently held up his finger in
token of reproach; the young man recollected his promise, and was
silent.
(* A Turkish pasha in command of the troops of a province. —
Ed.)
"It was towards this kiosk that we were rowing. A ground-floor,
ornamented with arabesques, bathing its terraces in the water, and
another floor, looking on the lake, was all which was visible to
the eye. But beneath the ground-floor, stretching out into the
island, was a large subterranean cavern, to which my mother,
myself, and the women were conducted. In this place were together
60,000 pouches and 200 barrels; the pouches contained 25,000,000 of
money in gold, and the barrels were filled with 30,000 pounds of
gunpowder.
"Near the barrels stood Selim, my father's favorite, whom I
mentioned to you just now. He stood watch day and night with a
lance provided with a lighted slowmatch in his hand, and he had
orders to blow up everything — kiosk, guards, women, gold, and Ali
Tepelini himself — at the first signal given by my father. I
remember well that the slaves, convinced of the precarious tenure
on which they held their lives, passed whole days and nights in
praying, crying, and groaning. As for me, I can never forget the
pale complexion and black eyes of the young soldier, and whenever
the angel of death summons me to another world, I am quite sure I
shall recognize Selim. I cannot tell you how long we remained in