mohammed ali and his house-第13部分

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men　and　slaves　of　his　excellency　Cousrouf　Pacha。　The　shutters　of　the　windows　have　long　stood　openthe　eunuchs　now　come　forward　and　fasten　them　securely。　The　vast　building　has　now　become　quite　still。

Mohammed　had　watched　the　procession　until　the　last　white　swan　had　disappeared　upon　the　plateau　above。　He　now　slipped　out　of　his　hiding…place；　and　walked　down　to　the　beach　to　look　at　the　ship。　He　had　not　observed　that　other　boats　had　put　off　from　the　ship　to　land　more　passengers。

〃I　should　like　to　know　the　destination　of　this　proud　and　beautiful　ship。　I　should　like　to　sail　with　it；〃　murmured　the　boy。

〃Then　do　so！〃　cried　a　loud　voice　behind　him。　〃If　you　wish　to；　my　lad；　come　with　us。　One　leads　a　splendid　life　on　such　a　ship。　You　are　tall　and　strong；　and　will　be　gladly　accepted。〃

His　countenance　beaming　with　joy；　Mohammed　turned　and　saw　at　his　side　a　boy　of　slender　figure；　in　simple　Turkish　garments；　but　his　hair　was　closely　cut；　and　not　covered　with　the　fez　and　kuffei。　Mohammed　glanced　fiercely　at　the　boy。

〃You　are　a　slave！〃　said　he。

The　boy　nodded　and　laughed。

〃I　am　a　slave。　But　I　don't　expect　to　remain　one　long；　I　have　already　heard　that　the　capitano　intends　to　sell　me　over　there；　and　there　one　can　make　his　fortune；　that　I　know！〃

〃Over　there？〃　said　Mohammed；　eagerly。　〃What　do　you　call　over　there？〃

〃Well；　the　place　we　are　going　to！〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　laughing。　〃To　Egypt　we　go；　carrying　rich　goods；　and　I　myself；　so　to　speak；　am　a　piece　of　goods　for　the　capitano。〃

〃You　go　to　Egypt？〃　asked　Mohammed；　〃to　the　land　of　wonders；　where　slaves　become　heroes；　and　heroes　princes？〃

〃Ah！　you　have　heard　it　spoken　of；　too！〃　said　the　boy；　laughing。　〃Yes；　the　sha…ers　everywhere　have　something　to　relate　about　Egypt。　In　Stamboul　I　have　often　heard　them　tell　of　the　Mamelukes；　too！〃

〃Of　the　Mamelukes？　Of　them；　too；　you　have　heard？〃

〃I　have　not　only　heard　of　them；　but　I　intend　to　make　a　Mameluke　of　myself。　As　you　know；　these　Mamelukes　are　the　slaves　of　the　beys　in　Egypt。　I　hope　to　have　the　good　fortune　to　be　purchased　by　a　bey。　I　know　all　that　is　necessary　to　become　the　servant　of　a　Mameluke。〃

〃And　what　is　necessary？〃　asked　Mohammed；　eagerly。　〃What　is　it　that　you　know？〃

〃I　can　ride　as　well　as　the　best　of　the　horsemen　of　the　grand…vizier。　On　a　bare　horse　I　can　fly　over　the　plains　with　the　speed　of　a　bird。　I　know　how　to　handle　the　sword　and　the　spear；　and　in　the　fastest　gallop　I　can　sever　the　head　of　a　horse　from　his　body。　These　are　arts　that　are　useful　over　there；　and　in　them　I　am　a　master。　You　may　look　at　me　in　astonishment　if　you　will！　I　am　not　as　tall　and　stout　as　you　are；　but　I　can　tell　you　I　have　the　strength　of　a　giant；　and；　in　spite　of　my　fourteen　years；　I　am　a　man。　I　expect　to　make　my　fortune　in　Egypt。〃

〃And　where　have　you　been　until　now？　From　what　place　do　you　come？〃

〃I　have　been　a　slave　from　my　youth；　I　was　well　brought　up　and　had　an　education；　I　know　how　to　wait　on　fine　gentlemen。　I　served　a　nobleman　as　first　valet　for　three　years；　but　couldn't　stand　the　dull；　effeminate　life。　I　longed　to　be　out　in　the　world；　and　committed　all　sorts　of　freaks　in　order　that　my　master　might　drive　me　off。　To　be　sure；　I　received　the　bastinado　daily；　but　I　stood　it　like　a　man。　I　determined　to　continue　to　annoy　my　gracious　master　until　he　should　sell　me。　Look　at　my　feet！〃

He　took　off　his　shoes　and　showed　Mohammed　the　scarred　soles　of　his　feet。

〃These　are　the　scars　with　which　I　have　purchased　my　future。　Yes；　but　why　do　you　look　at　me　in　such　astonishment？　By　Allah！　I　should　not　like　to　live　on　this　rock　here；　like　you！　I　must　out　into　the　world；　must　go　to　Egypt；　and　make　something　great　of　myself。〃

〃But　how　will　you　begin　it？〃　asked　Mohammed。　〃I　should　like　to　do　so；　too。〃

〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　replied　the　boy；　carelessly；　〃it　will　depend　upon　how　I　succeed　in　recommending　myself　to　a　bey　with　my　horsemanship　and　sword。　One　thing　I　can　tell　you；　if　I　once　become　a　Mameluke；　I　shall　rise。　In　case　you　should　hear　of　me　some　day；　in　case　my　celebrity　should　reach　even　this　desolate　rock；　I　will　tell　you　my　name。　My　name　is　Osman；　and　in　mockery；　because　I　served　a　nobleman；　they　added　bey　to　it。　But　I　tell　you；　I　will　make　of　the　name　given　me　in　derision　a　real　title！　If　you　hear　of　me　some　day；　I　shall　be　called　Osman　Bey　in　earnest。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　my　name；　too；〃　said　Mohammed；　proudly；　〃and　if　you　ever　hear　of　me；　you　shall　know　that　you　once　met　me　here　upon　the　beach。　My　name　is　Mohammed　Ali；　and　I　am　Ibrahim　Aga's　son。　I　am　a　freeman；　you　must　know；　and　have　never　bowed　my　head　beneath　the　yoke　of　another！　Remember　my　name；　little　Osman；　and；　if　Allah　wills　it；　you　shall　hear　of　me　someday。　My　name　is　Mohammed　Ali。〃

He　nodded　to　the　boy　contemptuously；　and　walked　off。

Osman　laughed；　and　cried　after　him：

〃You　will　probably　hear　of　me　first；　you　bold　boy；　you　beggar…　prince！　I　shall　probably　never　hear　of　the　beggar…prince；　Mohammed　Ali；　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga；　but　of　me　you　shall　hear；　you　silly　lad！　Don't　forget　my　name：　I　am　called　Osman　Bey。〃

If　they　both　could　now　have　known　the　future！　If　a　prophet　had　permitted　the　two　boys　who　met　here　for　the　first　time；　in　order　that　they　might　angrily　impress　their　names　on　each　other's　memory；　to　look　into　the　future；　what　would　they　have　seen　in　its　mirror？

Two　heroes　opposed　to　each　other　in　ardent　love；　and　in　wild　enmity。　Both　equally　great；　equally　ambitious；　and　equally　greedy　of　glory。　They　would　have　seen　blood　flowing　in　streams　for　their　sake。　They　would　have　seen　how　Osman　Bey；　called　by　the　name　of　Bardissi；　dashed　onward；　flourishing　his　cimeter　at　the　head　of　thousands　of　devoted　followers。　They　would　have　seen　Mohammed　Ali　in　a　glittering　uniform；　mounted　on　his　proud　steed；　at　the　head　of　thousands　charging　with　uplifted　sword　against　Bardissi。

Here　on　a　rock　in　the　bay　of　San　Marmora；　the　boys　met　for　the　first　time；　and　instinct　permitted　them　to　feel　the　enmity　that　existed　between　them　throughout　their　entire　lives；　and　which　caused　thousands　to　fall；　and　blood　to　flow　in　streams。

They　know　nothing　of　this　now。　Osman　whistles　a　merry　air　and　jumps　into　the　boat　that　bears　him　back　to　the　ship。　Mohammed　Ali　ascends　the　rock　to　a　quiet　and　solitary　spot。　There　he　will　rest　and　meditate　on　what　he　has　seen　and　heard　to…day。

The　ship　sails　out　to　sea。　Like　a　giant　swan；　proudly；　majestically；　it　glides　over　the　blue　waves；　until　at　last　it　rises　up　in　the　distance　with　its　masts　and　spars　against　the　horizon；　faintly；　like　a　mere　vision　of　the　air。

Above；　on　the　Ear　of　Bucephalus；　stands　Mohammed　Ali；　leaning　on　his　gun；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ship。　He　sighs　profoundly　as　it　now　disappears　without　leaving　the　slightest　trace　behind；　as　though　engulfed　by　the　waters。

〃Gone；〃　he　murmured〃gone！　What　was　the　name　of　the　boy；　the　slave　who　so　defiantly　charged　me　to　remember　his　name？　I　remember；　it　was　Osman。　Yes；　Osman　Bey；　he　said。　Well；　he　may　depend　upon　it　I　shall　remember　his　name；　and　he　may　also　count　on　remembering　that　my　name　is　Mohammed　Ali；　if　we　should　ever　meet　again。　Oh；　I　envy　him；〃　said　he；　in　low　tones；　looking　longingly　at　the　horizon。　〃Oh；　I　would　so　gladly　have　gone　with　him　to　the　wondrous　land　the　scha…er　told　of；　where　slaves　become　heroes；　and　heroes　princes。　He；　the　slave；　goes　thither；　and　I；　who　am　free；　am　bound　to　this　rock　by　my　poor　mother；　and　must　remain！〃

The　ship　sailed　on　farther　and　farther　on　the　bright　waves。　It　glided　onward　over　the　deep…blue　sea　two　days　longer；　on　the　third　day　the　sailors　shouted　with　joy；　for　the　water　had　become　green；　and　this　announced　to　the　experienced　seamen　that　they　should　soon　see　land。

When　the　waves　of　the　Mediterranean　Sea　change　from　blue　to　green；　the　yellow　coast　of　Africa　is　near。　Another　day　passed；　and　the　ship　entered　the　harbor　of　Alexandria。　The　black　and　brown　people　came　out　to　the　ship；　howling　and　yelling　in　their　little　boats；　and　with　them　came　the　slave…dealers　to　look　for　human　wares；　to　bargain　for　the　living　as　well　as　for　the　dead　freight。

The　captain　shows　the　slave…dealers　his　line　piece　of　goods；　the　boy　Osman　Bey；　and　offers　him　as　a　good　article　of　merchandise。　〃He　is　a　splendid　servant；　and　knows　how　to　color　the　chibouque；　and　how　to　wait　on　his　master　with　soft　words。〃

〃He　knows　more　than　that！〃　exclaimed　the　boy　Osman　Bey；　indignantly。　〃He　knows　how　to　scour　across　the　desert　on　his　steed　without　saddle　or　bridle；　and　loves　to　flourish　the　cimeter　and　lay　the　heads　of　men　and　animals　at　his　feet　with　a　single　blow。〃

The　slave…dealer　regards　him　with　favorable　glances。　That　is　what　he　needs。　The　great　Mameluke　prince　Mourad　needs　many　servants　and　warriors；　and　he　gave　the　dealer　authority　to　purchase　men　for　him；　young；　strong；　and　healthy　men。　The　ranks　of　his　Mamelukes　need　recruiting。　He　will　make　a　fine　Mameluke；　this　slender　young　man　with　the　keen；　glittering　eyes。

〃What　will　you　have　for　the　boy？〃

The　captain　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃He　is　really　beyond　all　price；　for；　as　I　tell　you；　he　is　a　splendid　servant；　and；　as　he　tells　you　himself；　he　is　a　fine　horseman；　and　knows　how　to　wield　the　cimeter。　He　is　priceless；　and　I　hardly　think　we　shall　come　to　terms。〃

They　now　began　to　bargain　for　this　human　merchandise。　They　made　a　great　deal　of　noise；　quarrelled；　and　shook　their　fists　in　each　other's　faces；　while　young　Osman　Bey　stood　at　their　side；　his　arms　folded　on　his　breast；　calmly　looking　on　and　smiling　at　the　uproar　created　on　his　account。　At　last　they　came　to　terms。　The　dealer　received　his　living　goods；　young　Osman　Bey；　and　paid　the　captain　the　price　agreed　upon。

If　young　Mohammed　Ali　could　see　this：　if　his　dark　brown　eye　could　send　a　glance　with　the　speed　of　an　arrow　across　the　waves　and　through　the　days　and　nights　；　and　if　he　could　hear　how　the　slave；　Osman　Bey；　is　traded　off　for　sugar　and　coffee；　if　he　could　see　Osman　standing　in　the　slave　market　awaiting　a　purchaser；　if　he　could　see　Mourad；　the　Mameluke　bey；　at　last　approach；　smile　approvingly　on　young　Osman；　and　finally　purchase　and　place　him　among　his　followers；　if　he　could　have　seen　this　and　the　future；　he　would　have　felt　proud　and　happy　in　being　a　free　man；　although　a　poor　one。　His　hands　are　not　fettered；　he　serves　no　master；　and　he　cannot　be