Chapters 3-4 Summary

Workers and equipment arrive in the spring, causing fear among the locals, especially the Christians. Abidaga is in charge, assisted by the mason, Tosun Effendi. Abidaga gathers the notables to warn that his reputation is not exaggerated; he is bloodthirsty and accepts no excuses. Trees are felled and the river banks excavated, mostly by conscript labor. Abidaga watches for malingerers, whom he points out with a green staff to be beaten, revived, and returned to work. In late autumn, Abidaga leaves, having threatened the whole town if the scaffolding is harmed by sabotage or natural forces. In the spring, they return with 30 Dalmatian stone masons led by Mastro Antonio, assisted by "the Arab." Quarrying begins in Banja and great stones are dragged to Višegrad. The following spring, roads are built and steady streams of men and material pour in. As...