Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/96

 had gone to the sea, the chiaouses and janissaries immediately mounted their horses, and, taking their weapons, raised a shout, and galloped to the sea. There they found us admiring the boat, which was still about three hons from us, and drove us to the town. Upon this the pirates shot about three arrows from a bow at the shore, and a janissary fired his gun at them in return. Here we were welcomed by my lord the ambassador; some of the elder of our party were beaten with a stick, and I was to have a whipping with a horsewhip, because no birch grew in that place. However, I had first a long lecture from my lord, and he was then going to have me whipped, although, conformably to my uncle’s orders, I had always endeavoured to conduct myself so faithfully and obediently towards him that he might not have any reason to scold me. I was always ready to perform his wishes, if I did but know them; and day and night I endeavoured to serve and satisfy him above all others, and he was consequently very kind to me. On the present occasion, being dreadfully frightened, I did not know what else to do but humble myself, and promise that, to the day of my death, I would never allow myself to do anything of the kind without his leave and knowledge. The Turks also spoke in my favour, laying it to my youth and folly, so that I was excused the whipping; but, nevertheless, a lecture was read me till my ears tingled. Thus my curiosity and running wild, because I wanted to see the sea before the rest, almost brought me to the point of being captured by those sea-thieves; and had our friends not known of us in good time. God knows whither I