"
* * * * *
As soon as the head was in, and the hoops driven on, the aga desired
his slaves to fill the cask up again with the wine; and thus did my poor
master perish.
"Put in the bung, Greek," said the aga, in a stern voice.
I did so, and stood trembling before him.
"Well! what knowest thou of this transaction?"
I thought, as the aga had taken away the life of my master, that it
would not hurt him if I took away a little from his character. I
answered that I really knew nothing, but that, the other day, a black
slave had disappeared in a very suspicious manner--that my master made
very little inquiry after him--and I now strongly suspected that he must
have suffered the same fate. I added, that my master had expressed
himself very sorry that his highness had taken away the pipe of wine, as
he would have reserved it.
"Cursed Jew!" replied the aga; "I don't doubt but he has murdered a
dozen in the same manner."
"I am afraid so, sir," replied I, "and suspect that I was to have been
his next victim; for when I talked of going away, he persuaded me to
stay, and gave me this paper, by which I was to become his partner with
one-third of the profits. I presume that I should not have enjoyed them
long."
"Well, Greek," observed the aga, "this is fortunate for you; as, upon
certain conditions, you may enter upon the whole property. One is, that
you keep this pipe of wine with the rascally Jew in it, that I may have
the pleasure occasionally to look at my revenge.
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