Page:Enterprise and Adventure.djvu/213

Rh a French outpost, they had a narrow escape of being arrested. On the following day, they reached the Turkish town and castle of Antivari, where their numbers and their armed appearance created so much distrust, that they were in great danger of being attacked by the guard before they could give an explanation; but by throwing down their arms, and making signs of submission, they were hospitably received. Indeed, the soldiers who had deserted from the infidel army in Dalmatia caused a great excitement in the town, where the people of every rank crowded forward to see them as they passed along. But the unfortunate Italians soon found that their troubles were not yet at an end. The governor had determined that they should embrace the Mohammedan religion, and enlist in the Turkish army; and to this end he assailed them incessantly with coaxing and menaces. Finding them obstinate, he sent them to work in the quarries, where, under a hot sun, they performed daily tasks, which were generally assigned to convicts. Having dragged on this wretched existence for more than three months, their spirit was broken, and their strength exhausted, so that it seemed impossible for them to persevere and live. Wearied out at last, the sergeant of the party one day addressed his fellow-prisoners, pointing out to them (which there was little need to do) the wretchedness of their present situation, and that to continue in it must inevitably shorten their lives. After some further remarks of this kind, his hearers appear to have been convinced, and, outwardly at least, consented to conform to the wishes of their oppressors.

Finati now took the name of Mahomet, and thenceforth