Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/186

 till, finally, he was so overwhelmed with stones that he could not help falling to the ground. The Turks then seized him, and dragged him struggling to the major-domo, who ordered the poor wretch to receive 1,000 blows with a stick, so that he swelled up all over like a frog, or a bladder. The prisoners then took him, half buried him in a dunghill, and let him lie till the third day, when he gradually came to, like a fly, so that he did not die, but was always pale as a sheet, and had a swollen belly. Incredible, but true, that a man could suffer so much.

At this time news arrived that our friends had obtained a glorious victory over the Turks in Hungary, and cut to pieces many thousands of them. On hearing this we were again in great terror, for the Turks looked sour at us, gnashed their teeth, and threatened to have us hung on the hooks. Then came the imperial kihaja, had us all called out, and said that they would cut off our noses and ears, because our friends, brothers, and cousins had slain so many Mussulmans. We excused ourselves as well as we could, saying that it was not our fault. On his departure others came, informing us in confidence, and assuring us with great oaths, that they were really going to cut off our noses and ears. Upon this, sorrowful and afflicted as we were, and not knowing what to do for terror, we heartily bewailed our noses and ears, and bound ourselves together by an oath