Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/134

 in a town surrounding the fortress, and twenty-four of them are constantly employed in watching the prisoners in turn, day and night, never go to war, and are as free from duties as the men belonging to the fortress of Karlstein. This is the case in order that they may have nothing to do but watch the fortress and prisoners; a duty which they perform diligently. Therefore, save by the working of Divine Providence itself, no man ever comes out thereof to the day of his death, neither is it recorded that any one ever made his way out of that tower, except in our time, of which I will give an account in its proper place.

Afterwards, we made excursions whenever we liked to those beautiful Greek and Turkish gardens, enjoyed all manner of amusements, and were able to obtain for money all that the heart desired. We got oysters and all kinds of shells out of the sea for ourselves, shot water-birds and various other fowls, on these islands, and also conies, of which there are abundance in one of the islands, and were as happy as kings, without any want, for about a year, so that we did not wish to go home, but longed that we might enjoy so merry, carefree a life to the day of our death.

It once happened in Galata, the city opposite Constantinople, that the son of one of the principal Greek merchants, a well-grown and well-favoured young man, wished to marry. He fell in love with the daughter of another Greek merchant, a very beautiful maiden of about sixteen years old, negotiated with her parents and friends, obtained a favourable answer, and the day was named for the wedding festivity. In order to be the better able to honour his friends, he prepared to sail