Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/194

men, had been captured by the Turks for the third time. As they had forced their way out of prison twice, they were placed, the third time, in the Black Tower, as an eternal prison, and had already been there three years; but, being very cunning, were day and night scheming how to escape for the third time. But as no one was allowed to go to them, and they were very well watched by the guards, one of them fell ill, and having some money, sent it as a present to the governor of the Black Tower, begging him, for God’s sake, to allow a draught of wine or spirits, to be brought by a Christian. Permission being given for this, though with great difficulty, a Greek Christian brought a small bottle of spirits into the prison for him, and this cunning fellow immediately persuaded him to promise to deliver a small note, which he wrote secretly, to a friend of his not far from the island, and, in fact, he did deliver it. A few weeks afterwards, just as the two Greek prisoners wished, some unknown Greek peasants brought a good sheep, some honey, rice, oil, olives, melons, and all kinds of fruit to the governor to take what he liked of it himself, and distribute the rest among the prisoners. These peasants also brought a small cask of wine, and requested that it might be given to the sick as strengthening medicine, declaring that they gave it as alms on account of their sins. The governor was delighted at these presents, took the sheep and what he liked, and sent the prisoners the rest, though in tolerably small amount, as well as the cask of wine, because the Turks do not drink it. In this cask was a false bottom, under which was concealed a letter from the friends of the two Greeks, who asked to know what else they were to send