This pointed to a solution, and an investigation made the whole thing clear.

The dragoman's man-servant had taken the gun out on the balcony which looked out on the port, and fired a shot at a white stone on the edge of the wall, in the direction of the village where the boy was hit.
The _kaimakam_ of Retimo sent an express to Canea to ask Ismael what he should do, and received reply to prosecute the affair with the utmost vigor.

He therefore summoned the entire household of the dragoman, except him and myself, to the konak, to be examined.

As they were all under my protection I refused to send them, but offered to make a strict investigation and tell him the result; but, knowing the rigor of the Turkish law against a Christian who had wounded a Mussulman, even unintentionally, I insisted on being the magistrate to sit in the examination.

The pasha declined my offer, and I forbade any one in the house to go to the konak for examination.