His immense treasures were the real reason of the war waged against him, and these might induce his own soldiers to rebel, in order to become masters of them.

He resolved to protect them from either surprise or conquest.

The sum necessary for present use was deposited in the powder magazine, so that, if driven to extremity, it might be destroyed in a moment; the remainder was enclosed in strong-boxes, and sunk in different parts of the lake.

This labour lasted a fortnight, when, finally, Ali put to death the gipsies who had been employed about it, in order that the secret might remain with himself.
While he thus set his own affairs in order, he applied himself to the troubling those of his adversary.

A great number of Suliots had joined the Ottoman army in order to assist in the destruction of him who formerly had ruined their country.