mohammed ali and his house-第2部分

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ers；　and　over　the　black　spot。　Again　a　shout　and　a　cry　resound　on　the　shore　and　above　on　the　plateau。

Yes；　it　is　the　boat；　dancing　like　a　leaf　up　through　the　foam。　The　mother　and　the　men　are　waiting　on　the　shore　in　breathless　suspense；　as　it　approaches　nearer　and　nearer。　Yes；　it　is　the　boat　in　which　Mohammed　Ali　went　out　to　sea。

Yes；　it　is　he；　he　is　returning！

The　men　and　boys　are　now　rejoicing；　and　the　poor　woman　has　fainted　away。　While　the　mother's　heart　was　in　doubt；　it　throbbed　violently　in　her　breast；　now　that　she　knows　her　child　is　returning；　it　stands　still　with　joy　and　delight。

The　women；　who　had　vainly　endeavored　to　console　her；　have　now　come　to　recall　the　mother　to　consciousness；　and　to　cheer　her　with　joyous　words。

〃Your　son　returns！　Allah　has　protected　him！　The　ghins　had　no　power　over　him；　his　agathodaemon　watched　over　him！　Allah　be　praised；　Allah　is　great！〃

The　boat　comes　on　dancing　over　the　water。　The　boy　stands　alone；　no　one　to　assist　him　in　wielding　his　oar。　He　holds　it　firmly　grasped　in　his　hands；　using　it　lustily；　and　steering　in　defiance　of　the　waves　toward　the　shore。　And　now　the　men　hasten　forward　to　his　assistance。　They　throw　long　ropes　to　him；　and　hail　their　success　with　a　shout　of　joy；　when　one　of　them　happily　falls　into　the　boy's　boat。　The　latter　grasps　the　end　thrown　to　him；　and　holds　it　firmly。　The　men　draw　the　rope　and　thus　force　the　boat　to　the　shore；　and；　as　it　touches　the　rock；　ten　arms　grasp　it　and　hold　it　securely。　With　a　single　bound　the　boy　leaps　ashore。

His　face　is　perfectly　calm；　his　eyes；　lustrous　as　stars；　show　no　traces　of　terror；　they　are　fixed　on　the　men　with　a　kindly　glance；　but　they　darken　as　he　turns　to　the　boys。

〃You　see；　my　boys；〃　said　he；　with　a　calm　and　at　the　same　time　threatening　expression；　〃I　have　won　my　wager！　Here　is　the　proof　that　I　was　over　there。　The　knife　that　Ibrahim　lost　there　yesterday；　I　bring　back　to　him。　Here　it　is！〃

He　takes　the　knife　out　of　his　jacket；　thoroughly　drenched　with　water；　and　throws　it　down　before　the　boys。　〃I　have　won　my　wager！　You　men　are　witnesses　of　my　triumph！　Each　boy　is　bound　to　pay　me　tribute　from　to…day。　Each　one　must　furnish　me；　twice　a　week；　with　the　best　peaches　and　dates　from　his　garden；　and　when　we　go　out　to　the　chase　they　must　obey　me；　and　acknowledge　me　to　be　their　captain。〃

What　triumph　shone　in　his　eyes；　what　an　expression　of　energy　in　the　bearing　of　a　boy　scarcely　ten　years　old！

〃That　was　it！〃　exclaimed　Toussoun　Aga；　in　a　reproachful　tone。　〃For　this　reason　my　brother's　son　risked　his　life；　and　caused　his　mother　and　all　of　us　so　much　anxiety。Allah　forgive　you！　You　are　a　wild；　defiant　boy。〃

〃No；　uncle；〃　cried　the　boy；　〃no；　I　am　not　wild　and　defiant。　They　ridiculed　me；　and　said　I　was　not　as　good　as　they；　could　do　nothing；　didn't　even　know　how　to　steer　a　boat。　And　then　we　laid　a　wager；　and　I　won　my　wager；　and　they　shall　pay　the　tribute；　and　acknowledge　me　to　be　their　captain。　I　call　all　you　men　to　witness　that　I　am　the　captain　of　the　boys　of　Cavalla。〃

The　men　looked　at　each　other；　amused　and　astonished　at　the　same　time。　He　speaks　like　a　child；　and　yet　haughtily；　like　a　monarch。　His　words　are　childish；　and　yet　so　full　of　energy。　And　many　of　them　thought　they　could　read　in　the　book　of　the　future　that　a　great　destiny　awaited　the　poor　boy　Mohammed　Ali。　〃He　is　poor；　to　be　sure；　and　will　have　much　hard　fighting　to　do　with　the　storms　of　life。　May　the　same　success　he　has　met　with　against　the　storms　of　the　sea　to…　day　also　attend　him　hereafter　against　the　storms　of　life！〃

Toussoun　Aga　stretches　out　his　hand　to　take　that　of　his　nephew　Mohammed；　to　lead　him　to　the　rock　above；　to　his　mother；　but　the　boy　quickly　rejects　the　proffered　assistance。

〃I　can　ascend　the　rock　to　my　mother　alone；　I　am　not　weak　and　terrified；　uncle。　Go　on；　I　will　follow。〃

And；　as　he　says　this；　he　crosses　his　hands　behind　his　back。　The　rest　now　cry　out：

〃Look　at　his　hands！　Look；　they　are　bleeding！〃

Toussoun　now　takes　the　boy's　hands　in　his　own；　against　his　will；　and　opens　them。　They　are　covered　with　blood；　that　oozes　out　of　the　raw　flesh。

〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　the　boy；　〃nothing　at　all。　I　had　to　hold　fast　to　the　oar；　the　skin　stuck　to　it；　and　that　made　my　hands　bleed。〃

The　men　gaze　on　him　admiringly；　and　whisper　to　each　other：　〃He　is　a　hero；　if　he　is　only　ten　years　old。〃　And　they　respectfully　step　back；　and　allow　the　boy　to　pass　on　up　the　rocky　path　that　leads　to　Cavalla。




CHAPTER　II

MOTHER　AND　S0N。


〃Here　he　is　again；　Sitta　Khadra。　I　bring　your　son；〃　said　Toussoun　Aga；　as　he　entered；　with　the　boy；　the　hut　into　which　some　kind…　hearted　women　had　brought　Mohammed's　mother。　〃Scold　the　naughty　youth　well；　and　tell　him　what　anxiety　he　has　caused　us　all。〃

Sitta　Khadra；　however；　did　not　scold　him；　but　only　extended　her　open　arms；　drew　her　son　to　her　bosom　with　a　joyous　cry；　and　kissed　him　tenderly。　Toussoun　gazed　smilingly　at　the　two；　and　then　noiselessly　left　the　hut。

〃It　is　best　to　leave　them　alone；　that　Allah　only　may　hear　what　the　mother　says　to　her　son；〃　he　murmured；　as　he　returned　to　his　own　hut；　where　he　industriously　began　to　apply　himself　to　making　fishing…　nets；　with　which　occupation　he　earned　his　livelihood。

Now　that　Mohammed　was　left　alone　with　his　mother；　the　boy　who　was　always　so　reserved　and　timid　in　the　presence　of　others；　knelt　down　before　her；　and　entreated　her　tenderly　not　to　be　angry　with　him　for　having　made　her　anxious。

〃But　you　see；　mother；　it　had　to　be　done；〃　said　he；　excitedly　and　imploringly　at　the　same　time；　〃else　they　would　have　ridiculed　me　again　as　they　so　often　do。〃

〃How　can　they　ridicule　you；　my　beloved　son？　〃　murmured　Khadra；　regarding　him　tenderly；　〃are　you　not　handsomer　and　stronger　than　all　of　these　pale；　weak　boys？　Can　you　not　steer　a　boat　and　use　a　gun　better　than　they？　Are　you　not　a　man　among　these　boys？〃

〃Not　yet；　Mother　Khadra；　but　I　shall　become　one；〃　said　he；　rising　from　his　knees　and　lifting　his　head　proudly。　〃Yes；　I　will　become　a　man　among　these　boys；　and　they　shall　all　be　my　subjects。　We　had　laid　a　wager；　and　that　wager　had　to　be　won；　and　won　for　you；　Mother　Khadra；〃　he　added　with　a　glad　smile。

〃For　me？〃　she　asked；　wonderingly。　〃How　can　your　victory　over　these　boys　be　of　use　to　me；　except　that　I　rejoice　in　your　greater　strength？〃

〃There　is　something　else；　mother；〃　he　replied；　joyously。　〃They　must　pay　a　tribute；　and　the　finest　dates　and　peaches；　and　the　most　beautiful　flowers　in　their　gardens；　are　mine；　two　days　in　the　week；　and　for　three　monthsthis　was　the　wager。　Now　you　have　fruits　and　flowers。　Do　you　remember　how　you　complained；　while　we　were　sitting　on　the　rock　looking　at　the　sea；　that　we　had　only　this　poor　little　hut；　and　no　garden　and　no　field？　I　said　to　myself；　'I'll　get　them　for　her。'　And；　mother；　you　shall　have　all　the　rest　besides。　Now　you　have　fruits　and　flowers；　but；　if　Allah　is　gracious；　you　shall　soon　have　your　own　garden　and　your　own　house；　handsomer　than　all　the　houses　of　Cavalla。　I　will　build　my　mother　a　palace；　she　shall　have　slaves　and　servants；　all　shall　bow　down　before　her　as　before　their　mistress；　none　shall　rule　over　her　but　Allah　and　the　prophet。〃

The　mother　gazed　in　wonder　at　her　son's　excited　countenance；　he　seemed　to　her　at　this　moment　not　a　child；　but　a　man；　a　hero。

〃Yes；〃　she　murmured　to　herself；〃　he　will　make　what　he　says　come　true：　all　that　the　dream　announced　and　the　prophetess　foretold。〃

〃What　is　that　you　are　saying；　mother？〃　asked　he。　〃What　was　that　dream；　what　did　the　prophetess　foretell？〃

She　gently　shook　her　head。　〃It　will　not　be　well　to　tell　you；　my　son。　Your　heart　is　bold　and　passionate。　And　yet；〃　she　continued；　after　a　moment；　〃it　may　be　well　that　you　should　know　it；　for　to　the　daring　belongs　the　world；　and　Allah　blesses　those　who　have　a　passionate　and　earnest　heart。　Sit　down　at　my　side；　my　son；　and　you　shall　know　all。〃

〃Speak；　mother；　speakI　am　listening。　How　was　the　dream？〃

〃It　was　more　than　twelve　years　ago；〃　said　the　mother；　thoughtfully。　〃At　that　time　I　was　a　young　married　woman；　and　was　beautifulso　the　people　saidfor　I　was　so　poor　that　I　could　not　even　buy　myself　a　veil；　and　Allah　and　the　prophets　forgave　me　for　going　uncovered　before　men。　Then　it　was　that　your　father；　the　Boulouk　Baschi　of　the　police；　saw　me；　his　eye　rested　lovingly　on　the　poor　girl；　and　he　did　me　the　honor　to　make　me　his　wife；　and　he　covered　my　face　with　a　veil；　that　no　other　man　might　henceforth　see　me。　It　was　a　great　honor　for　me　that　Boulouk　Baschi　considered　me　worthy　to　be　his　wife；　even　his　only　wife。　For　he　made　no　use　of　the　privilege　accorded　by　the　prophet　and　our　religion；　which　allows　a　man　to　conduct　several　women　to　his　harem。　He　said　the　one　woman　of　his　heart　should　be　the　one　woman　of　his　house。　It　was　a　happy　year；　my　son　this　first　year　of　our　married　life。　We　were　not　rich；　we　had　nothing　but　the　salary　which　your　father　received　from　the　tschorbadji；　but　it　was　sufficient；　when　we　are　happy　we　do　not　need　much。　You　must　know；　my　son；　that　my　heart　is　not　fixed　on　splendor　and　show；　it　was　not　my　own　thoughts　that　conjured　up　these　proud　dreams。　We　lived；　as　I　have　said；　in　quiet　bliss；　hoping　that　our　happiness　might　soon　be　increased　by　the　birth　of　a　child；　by　you；　my　son。　One　circumstance　only　dimmed　our　happiness：　this　was　your　father's　service。　A　bad　service；　my　son！　Bands　of　robbers　infested　our　peninsula；　and　it　was　a　dangerous　calling　to　lie　in　wait　for　them；　and　follow　them　up　into　the　mountains。　I　always　trembled　when　your　father　went　out　with　his　men　in　pursuit　of　robbers；　and　I　had　good　cause　to　tremble。　Allah　had　implanted　in　my　soul　a　foreboding　of　coming　evil。　One　day；　while　engaged　in　preparing　our　simple　repast；　I　heard　heavy　footsteps；　and　a　subdued　murmur　of　voices　approaching。　I　knew　that　some　misfortune　was　impending；　and　there　was。　Your　father　was　brought　in　a　bleeding　corpse！　He　had　followed　the　robbers　far　up　into　the　mountains　alone；　his　men　refusing　to　accompany　him。　The　robbers　had　surrounded　and　slain　him；　disfiguring　his　dear　face　so　that　I　could　scarcely　recognize　it。〃

〃What　was　done　with　the　murderers？〃　asked　Mohammed；　fiercely。　〃Were　they　punished；　executed？〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃There　was　no　one　there　to　witness　the　deed；　and；　when　your　father's　successor　was　appointed；