Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/180

 the place where we sat down, and to repose in the stench. That day they gave us two loaves of bread each, and a small can of water; but I dared not and could not eat or drink anything either that day or the next, but besought God that it might please Him to release me from my misery by death.

The next day the chief superintendent of the prisoners came into our prison himself with several guards, and, seeing me lying thus naked in this wretched condition, had compassion upon me. On seeing him standing by me, I quickly drew my Hungarian mantle over me, and covered myself above, having no other clothing, for none of my comrades had taken so little clothing from home as I. Thus covered with this mantle, I kissed the foot of the pasha of the guard, and besought him with tears to have compassion upon me, and, if it were possible, to release me from the chain, so long as I was ill. But he said, “Olmas, olmas, giaur!” " It cannot, it cannot be, pagan!” but if I wished to be fettered to some one who was healthier and stronger, he said he would permit it. Not knowing to whom else to have myself fettered, I looked at our chaplain, my countryman, and asked him to have me fettered to the papas, which is the name there given to the priests. The papas, who had a healthy companion, was anything but pleased, and looked sour at me, but was obliged, nevertheless, to allow himself to be fastened to me by the chain, and also to go with me and carry the chain, whenever my illness compelled me. At the beginning he was patient; once, twice, a third time, he held his peace: but when he was obliged to go with me very frequently, and with great annoyance to himself, he began to revile me, and to call