Fabiano said that he was going to send them home on the
_Benedetto_.
The captain of the port sent back word that we could have a boat
immediately--much to Fabiano's surprise. But most of the party were at
Alessio. We hurried off to see the captain of the port. Explanations,
certainly when the luggage came; and off went Jan with a guide to get
pack ponies. Halfway back to Alessio was the stable, but the steeds were
not ready, so Jan was ushered up into a top room where was a huge fire,
over which an Albanian was stewing a cormorant with all its feathers on.
There were other Albanians and a very old Montenegrin soldier. He
admired everything English, even Jan's tobacco which he had bought in
Pod.
We got to Alessio and packed everything hurriedly, paid the bill, tipped
an old soldier two dinars, and off. As we passed over the bridge the
clerk came running behind us. We had not paid the bridge fees, he said.
"How much?" asked Jan.
He hesitated.
"Two dinars," said he. He had been talking to the soldier.
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