Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/213

 Constantinople, on board the war-boats, and even on the surrounding islands, and about twenty guns from our tower. This firing surprised us, and, not knowing what it meant, we inquired, and received for answer that the mighty Synan Pasha had taken from the Christians the fortress of Wanek, or Raab, the key of Christendom, the strongest fortress in the land of Hungary, which we were in no wise willing to believe.

After a week came fifteen Turks of rank, distinguished heroes, from Anatolia, on their return back from Hungary, and wished to speak with us. Our aga made haste and ordered us to be fastened to the blocks by both feet, and came to us with them. They asked us whether we knew that Raab was taken? and whether any of us had been there? When we answered that we had, and would not believe that it was lost, but asked how they got possession of it, they replied:—“You dogs, they say, do everything for money; and what a fool your king is to entrust such an impregnable fortress to that little count, who, being led by avarice, sold so important a fortress to Synan Pasha for a sum of money, and evacuated it; whereas we could not have taken it had we lain before it two years without intermission. And thus it is that you Christian dogs build and fortify all your forts for us, for, as soon as we march up to them, we get possession of them either by force or for money.”

After this they told us how much artillery, provisions, and booty of all kinds they found in Raab. We were at last obliged to believe, with sorrow, that Raab was lost. These Turks brought us a basket of bread, divided it amongst us, and encouraged us to trust in God, for He was able to deliver us even out of that grievous prison.