62 DESCRIPTION OF A DAy's 



pistol, and taken prisoner the luckless guardian, 

 who chanced to loiter behind the rest of the party. 

 Why or wherefore there is no time to ask. Some 

 one rushes up to the Albanian with both barrels 

 cocked, and forces his immediate release ; others 

 quickly join him, and the Albanian is obliged 

 to retire sulkily, threatening future vengeance. 

 Perhaps he may have failed in his attempts to 

 obtain gunpowder from some of the sportsmen, 

 who, engaged in their sport, have dismissed him 

 with a rough answer. Perhaps he may expect to 

 extort some gunpowder from us by threatening to 

 touch the guardian, and consequently put all 

 into seven or more days quarantine. Perhaps 

 some of our dogs may have attacked or frightened 

 his sheep. Be it as it may, an instant appeal 

 to arms is the Albanian method of remonstrating ; 

 and a person may find a yataghan (a short sword 

 which they wear) glittering closer then agreeable 

 to his breast, without being able to divine the 

 cause of such a hostile move, whilst, in reality, 

 the Albanian may merely wish to make a remon- 

 strance, or call his attention in an energetic man- 

 ner. I have often had curious adventures with 

 them, but I never saw any thing serious occur. 



