Captain Ballaban was almost constantly engaged at the new seraglio. It
was being constructed not only with an eye to its imposing appearance
from without and its beauty within, such as befitted both its splendid
site between the waters and the splendor of the monarch whose palace
it was to be; but also with a view to its easy defence in case of
assault. Upon the young officer devolved the duty of scrutinizing
every line and layer that went into the various structures.
He was especially interested in the side entrances, and communications
between the various departments of the seraglio. He gave orders for a
change to be made in the line of a partition and corridor, and also
for a slight variation in the position of a gateway in the walls
dividing the mabeyn[102] court from that of the haremlik. Just why
these changes were made, perhaps the architects themselves could not
have told; nor were they interested to enquire, supposing that they
were made at the royal will. Ballaban was disposed to indulge a little
his own fancy. If there was to be a broad entrance for public display,
and then a narrow passage for the Sultan only, why not have a way
through which he could imagine a fair odalisk fleeing from insult and
torture into the arms of--himself? But Ballaban's face grew pale as he
watched the completion of a sluice way leading from a little chamber,
down through the sea wall, to meet the rapid current of the Bosphorus.
He remembered the declaration of the Padishah, that, if ever an
odalisk were unfaithful to him, she should be sewn into a bag,
together with a cat and a snake, and drowned in Marmora.[103]
In the meantime old Kala Hanoum was amazed at the number of articles
of Morsinia's handiwork she was able to induce the young captain to
purchase. Indeed, he never refused. And quite frequently she was the
bearer of gifts, generally confections, sometimes little rolls of silk
suitable for embroidery with colored threads or beads, accompanied by
the name of some fellow officer of the Janizaries from whom apparently
an order for work was given; the Captain acting as an agent in a sort
of co-partnership with Kala. Of course this was only secret mail
service between Ballaban and the odalisk. If Kala suspected it, her
commissions were so largely remunerative that she silenced the thought
of any thing but legitimate business.
Ballaban devised plans for her escape which Morsinia found it
impracticable to execute from her side of the harem wall; and her
shrewdest suggestions were pronounced equally unsafe by the strategist
without. Ballaban had caught glimpses of Morsinia while loitering
among the trees at the upper end of the Golden Horn, by the Sweet
Waters, where the ladies of the harem were taken by the eunuchs on
almost weekly excursions. He had proposed to have in readiness two
horses, that, if she should break from the attendants, they might flee
together. But before this could be accomplished, the excursions were
discontinued, as the attention of all was turned to a new pleasure.
The grand haremlik was at length completed. Perhaps no place on earth
was so suggestive of indolent and sensual pleasure as this. There were
luxurious divans, multiplying mirrors, baths of tempered water,
fountains in which perfumes could be scattered with the spray, broad
spaces for the dance, half hidden alcoves for the indulgence in that
which shamed the more public eye, and gardens in which Araby competed
with Africa in the display of exotic fruits and flowers.
A day was set for the reception of the grand harem from
Adrianople--which contained nearly a thousand of the most beautiful
women in the world--into this new paradise. The Kislar Aga had
arranged a pageant of especial magnificence, which could be witnessed
by the people at a distance. Two score barges, elegantly decorated,
rowed by eunuchs, their decks covered with divans, were to receive the
odalisks from Adrianople at the extreme inner point of the seraglio
water front on the Golden Horn. The Validé Sultana's barge was to lead
the procession, which should float to the cadences of music far out
into the harbor. At the same time, the Sultan in his kaik, and the
women of the temporary haremlik, each propelling a light skiff
decorated with flags and streamers, were to move from the extreme
outer point of the seraglio grounds, until the two fleets should
meet, when, amid salvos of artillery from the shores, the odalisks
with the Sultan were to turn about and lead their sisters to the water
gate of the haremlik. Orders were given forbidding the people to
appear upon the water, or upon the shores within distance to see
distinctly the faces of the ladies of the harem.
Every evening at sundown a patrol of eunuchs made a cordon of boats a
few hundred yards from the shore, within which, screened by distance
from the eyes of common men, the odalisks went into training for the
great regatta. The Padishah, sitting in his barge, encouraged their
rivalry by gifts for dexterity in managing the little boats, for
picturesqueness of dress and for grace of movement, as with bared arms
and streaming tresses, they propelled the kaiks.
Morsinia found herself one of the most dexterous in handling the oars.
The free life of her childhood on the Balkans and among the peasants
of upper Albania, had developed muscle which this new exercise soon
brought into unusual efficiency. She observed that the attendant
eunuchs were deficient in this kind of strength, and had no doubt
that, with her own light weight, she could drive the almost
imponderable kaik swifter than any of them.
The young Egyptian woman was her only competitor for the honor of
leading the fleet on the day of the regatta. To add to the interest of
the training, Mahomet ordered that the two should race for the honor
of being High Admiral of the harem fleet; and one evening announced
that the competitive trial should take place the next afternoon. The
course was fixed for a half mile, just inside of Seraglio Point,
where the waters of the harbor are still, unvexed by the rapid current
which pours along the channel of the Bosphorus. The flag-boat was to
be anchored almost at the meeting of the inner and outer waters.
That night Morsinia wrote a note containing these words--
"About dusk just below the Seven Towers watch for kaik.
MORSINIA."
Kala Hanoum was commissioned early the following morning to deliver a
pretty little sash, wrought with stars and crescents, to Captain
Ballaban. Morsinia was careful to show Kala the scarf, and dilate upon
the peculiar beauty of the work until the woman's curiosity should be
fully satisfied; thus making sure that she would not be tempted to
inspect it for herself. She then wrapped the note carefully within the
scarf, and tied it strongly with a silken cord.
Old Kala had a busy day before her, with a dozen other commissions to
discharge. But fortune favored her in the early discovery of the well
known shape of the Captain in ordinary citizen's dress, as he was
engaged in eager conversation with the Greek monk, Gennadius, whom the
Sultan had allowed to superintend the worship of the Christians still
resident in the city. Indeed Mahomet was wise enough to even pension
some of the Greek clergy to keep up the establishment of their faith;
for he feared to antagonize the millions in the provinces of Greece
who could not be persuaded to embrace Islam; and was content to exact
from them only the recognition of his secular supremacy. Kala Hanoum
had too much reverence in her nature to interrupt a couple of such
worthies; so she followed a little way behind them. They came to the
gate-way--a mere hole in the wall--which led to what was known as the
Hermit's Cell, the abode of Gennadius during the siege. The spiritual
pride of the monk had prevented his exchanging this for a more
commodious residence into which the Sultan would have put him. He said
he only wanted a place large enough to weep in, now that the people of
the Lord were in captivity.
The monk had entered the little gateway, and his companion was
following, when Kala's instinct for business got the better of her
reverence; and, darting forward, she thrust the little roll into his
hand just as he was stooping to enter the gate, not even glancing at
his face. She said in low voice, not caring to be overheard by the
monk:
"A part of your purchase yesterday, Sire, which you have forgotten."
She waited for no reply, but trotted off, muttering to herself:
"That's done, now for old Ibrahim the Jew."
The contrast between Morsinia and the Egyptian as they presented
themselves for the contest, afforded a capital study in racial
physique. The latter was rather under size, with scarcely more of
womanly development than a boy. Her face was almost copper colored;
her hair jet and short. The former was tall, with femininity stamped
upon the contour of bust and limb; her face pale, even beneath the
mass of her light locks.
The kaiks were of thinnest wood that could be held together by the
web-like cross bracing, and seemed scarcely to break the surface of
the water when the odalisks stepped into them. Morsinia had brought a
feridjé of common sort; saying to the eunuch, whose attention it
attracted, that yesterday she was quite chilled after rowing, and to
day had taken this with her by way of precaution. She might have found
something more beautiful had she thought in time; but it would be dark
when they returned. Besides, it would be a capital brace for her feet;
the crossbar arranged for that purpose being rather too far away from
the seat. So saying she tossed it into the bottom of the kaik before
the officious eunuch could provide a better substitute.
The Padishah's bugle sounded the call. It rang over the waters,
evoking echoes from the triple shore of Stamboul, Galata and Skutari,
which died away in the distant billows of Marmora. As it was to be the
last evening before the pageant of the grand reception, the time was
occupied in making final arrangements for the order in which the boats
should move; so that it was growing dark when the Padishah reminded
the chief marshal that they must have the race for the Admiral's
badge. Katub, a fat and indolent eunuch, was ordered to moor his kaik,
for the stake boat, as far out toward the swift current as safety
would permit.
The two competitors darted to the side of Mahomet's barge. From a long
staff, just high enough above the water to be reached by the hand,
hung a tiny streamer of silk, the broad field of which was dotted with
pearls. This was to be the possession of the fair rower who, rounding
the stake boat first, could return and seize it.
The Sultan threw a kiss to the fair nymphs as a signal for the start.
Myriads of liquid pearls, surpassing in beauty those upon the
streamer, dropped from the oar blades, and strewed the smooth surface;
or were transformed into diamonds as they sunk swirling into the
broken water. The spray rose from the sharp prows in sheafs, golden as
those of grain, in the ruddy reflection of the western sky. Each
graceful kaik, and the more graceful form that moved it, almost
created the illusion of a single creature; some happy denizen of
another world disporting itself for the luring of mortals in this.
The boats kept close company. The Egyptian was expending her full
strength, but her companion, with longer and fewer strokes, was
apparently reserving hers. They neared the stake. The Egyptian, having
the inside, began to round it; but the Albanian kept on, now with
rapid and strong strokes. The spectators were amazed at her tactics.
"She is making too wide a sweep," said the Sultan.
"She does not seem inclined to turn at all," observed the Kislar Aga.
"She will strike the current if she turn not soon," rejoined Mahomet
excitedly.
The prow of her kaik turned off westward.
"She is in the stream!" cried several. "She will be overturned!" But
on sped the kaik, heading full down the current, which, catching it
like some friendly sprite from beneath, bore it quickly out of sight
around the Seraglio Point; and on--on into a thick mist which was
rolling up, as if sent of heaven to meet it, from the broad expanse of
the sea.
"An escape!" cried the Sultan. "After her every one of you black
devils!"
The eunuchs wasted several precious moments in getting the command
through their heads, and, even when they started, it was evident that
their muscles were too flaccid, their spines too limp, and their wind
not full enough to overhaul the flying skiff of the Albanian.
"To shore! To horse!" cried the raging monarch.
A quarter of an hour later, horsemen were clattering down the stony
street along the water front of Marmora, pausing now and then to stare
out into the sea mist, dashing on, stopping and staring, and on again.
The foremost to reach the Castle of the Seven Towers left orders to
scour the shore, and to set patrol to prevent any one landing. Some
were ordered to dart across to the islands. Within an hour from the
escape every inch of shore, and the great water course opposite the
city, were under complete surveillance.
Just before this was accomplished a man arrived at the water's edge,
close to the south side of the great wall of which the Castle of Seven
Towers was the northern flank. He held two horses, saddled and bagged,
as if for a distant journey. A second man appeared a moment later, who
came up from a clump of bushes a little way below.
"In good time, Marcus!" said the new comer, who stooped close to the
water and listened, putting his hand to his ear so as to exclude all
sounds except such as should come from the sea above.
"Listen! an oar stroke! Yes! Keep everything tight, Marcus."
Darting into the copse, in a moment more the man was gliding in a
kaik, with a noiseless stroke, out in the direction of the oar splash
of the approaching boat. Nearer and nearer it came. The night and the
mist prevented its being seen. The man moved close to its line. It was
a light kaik, he knew from the almost noiseless ripple of the water as
the sharp prow cut it. The man gave a slight whistle, when the stroke
of the invisible boat ceased, and the ripple at its prow died away.
"Morsinia!"
"Ay, thank heaven!" came the response.
"Speak not now, but follow!" and he led the way cautiously toward the
little beach where the horses were heard stamping. They were several
rods off, piloting themselves by the sound.
"Hark!" said the man, stopping the boats. Hoofs were heard
approaching, and voices--
"She might have put across to the Princess Island," said one.
"Nonsense!" was the reply. "She would only imprison herself by
that--more likely she has gone clean across to Chalcedon. But I hold
that she has played fox, and turned on her trail. Ten liras to one
that she is by this time in Galata with some of the Genoese Giaours.
If so, she will try to escape in a galley; but that can be prevented:
for the Padishah will overhaul every craft that sails out until he
finds her. But hoot, man! what have we here? Two horses! A woman's
baggage! She has an accomplice! An elopement! The horses are tied.
The runaway couple haven't arrived yet. Dismount, men! we will lie in
wait along the shore here. Yes, let their two horses stand there to
draw them to the spot by their stamping. Send ours out of hearing. Now
every man to his place! Silence!"
"Back! Back! We are pursued on land," said the man in the boat to
Morsinia, and both boats pushed noiselessly out again from the shore.
"I had prepared for this, Morsinia. You must come into my boat; we
will row below for a mile, where we can arrange it at the shore."
Quietly they shot down in the lessening current, until they turned
into a little cove made by a projecting rock. As lightly as a fawn the
girl leaped to the beach. Her companion was by her side in an instant.
She drew back, and gave no return to his warm embrace, but said
heartily:
"Thank Heaven, and you, Michael!"
"Michael?" exclaimed the man. "Indeed I do not wonder that you think
me a spirit, and call me by the name of my dead brother. But this
shall assure you that I am Constantine, and in the flesh," cried he,
as he pressed a kiss upon her lips.
Morsinia was dazed. She tried to scan his face. She fell as one
lifeless into his arms.
He seated himself on the rock and held her to his heart. For a while
neither could speak.
"Is it real?" said she at length, raising her head and feeling his
face with her hand. "But how"----
Voices were heard shouting over the water.
"We must be gone," said Constantine.
The excitement of her discovery that her lover was still living, and
her bewilderment at his appearance instead of Michael, were too much
for Morsinia. Constantine carried the exhausted girl into his boat,
which was larger than hers. Towing her little kaik out some distance
he tipped it bottom upwards, and let it drift away.
"That will stop the hounds," muttered he. "They will think you have
been overturned."
With tremendous, but scarcely audible, strokes he ploughed away
westward. It was not until far from all noise of the pursuers that he
paused.
FOOTNOTES:
[102] The mabeyn lies between the selamlik (general reception room for
men) and the haremlik; and is the living apartment for men.
[103] The sluice which was supposed to have been used for this purpose
is still seen at Old Seraglio Point.