mohammed ali and his house-第20部分

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a。〃

An　overwhelming；　thundering　huzza　interrupted　the　sheik。

〃Speak　on；〃　was　then　the　cry。　〃Let　us　hear　what　the　good　sheik　has　to　say　to　us！〃

Once　more　there　was　breathless　silence；　and　the　sheik　proceeded　in　solemn　tones：

〃State　to　the　tschorbadji　that；　by　the　will　of　Allah；　we　have　been　pursued　by　storms　and　misfortunes。　We　submit　to　the　will　of　Allah；　and　pray　to　the　prophet；　to　implore　him　to　be　merciful　to　us。　If　he　hears　our　prayers；　and　the　next　harvest　is　blessed；　and　the　fish　are　plentiful　in　our　nets；　and　if　then　the　purses　of　the　people　of　Praousta　are　again　filled；　they　will　gladly　pay　the　tschorbadji　the　accustomed　tax；　but　not　a　double　tax。〃

〃No；　not　a　double　tax！〃　shrieked　the　men。　〃We　must　pay；　that　the　tschorbadji　may　live　in　pride　and　splendor　with　his　aristocratic　guest；　who　keeps　a　harem；　and　has　himself　borne　about　in　a　palanquin；　or　rides　a　splendid　horse　through　the　streets；　while　we　have　to　content　ourselves　with　humbly　walking。　No；　we　pay　no　more　for　the　tschorbadji　and　his　aristocratic　guest。　Long　live　our　sheik；　who　stands　by　us！　Go　up；　officers；　and　deliver　the　message　he　has　given　you。〃

The　officers；　frightened　and　trembling；　were　well　pleased　to　escape　unharmed　from　the　raging　crowd。　They　passed　hurriedly　through　the　narrow　passage　which　was　opened　for　them　on　the　way　toward　Cavalla。

〃Long　live　our　sheik！　Allah　be　praised　for　him！〃　cried　the　men；　raising　him　and　the　three　ulemas；　in　their　enthusiasm；　on　their　shoulders；　and　carrying　them　to　their　dwellings。

〃You　stood　by　us；　0　sheik；　and　we　wish　to　thank　you；〃　said　Abdallah；　speaking　for　all；　when　they　had　put　the　sheik　down　before　his　house。

〃I　stand　by　you；〃　answered　the　sheik；　giving　his　hand　to　all；　〃but　you　must　stand　by　each　other。　We　have　held　a　council　through　the　entire　night；　and　we　have　concluded　that　the　demand　is　unjust；　and　have　therefore；　in　the　name　of　the　people；　declined　to　meet　it。　Now；　however；　you　must　not　be　intimidated；　you　must　be　firm。　Then　no　one　will　dare　to　molest　us。〃

〃We　will　be　firm　in　what　we　have　determined；　and　not　give　way；〃　cried　they　all。　〃Long　live　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas！〃

〃Now　return　quietly　to　your　houses；　and　wait　to　see　what　the　tschorbadji　will　do；〃　said　the　sheik。　〃We　shall　see　if　he　is　content　with　your　refusal。〃

The　men　obeyed　the　order　of　the　sheik；　and　went　to　their　huts；　to　await　there　the　next　movement。

The　two　officers　returned；　with　rapid　steps；　to　Cavalla。

The　governor　was　seated　in　the　hall；　with　his　favorite；　his　Osman；　by　whose　side　was　Mohammed；　who　had　yielded　to　the　entreaties　of　his　friend；　and　spent　the　last　few　months　with　him。

Osman　considered　it　a　great　kindness　that　Mohammed　had；　at　last；　agreed　to　his　wishes；　and　had　remained　with　him　at　night。　When　the　governor　looked　joyfully　at　his　son；　and　said　he　had　never　seen　him　so　gay　and　happy；　Osman　smiled　and　nodded　toward　Mohammed。　〃You　should　thank　Mohammed；　as　long　as　he　remains　in　our　house；　the　air　seems　purer　and　fresher　to　me。　He　alone　understands　how　to　make　me　well；　and；　if　I　could　always　have　him　with　me；　I　would　be　the　happiest　of　men。〃

The　tschorbadji　offered　his　hand　to　Mohammed；　bowing　and　smiling　kindly。　〃Mohammed；　I　wish　you　would；　at　last；　yield　to　the　united　prayers　of　my　son　and　myself；　and　would　consent　to　live　in　this　house。　Let　me　have　two　sons；　and　I　shall　be　doubly　rich。〃

〃In　veneration　I　will　be　your　son；〃　replied　Mohammed；　pressing　the　governor's　hand　to　his　brow；　〃I　will　obey　you　in　all　things！　One　thing　alone　do　not　demandthat　I　shall　irrevocably　relinquish　my　freedom。　Let　me　come　and　go　at　my　pleasure。　Love　always　draws　me　back　to　my　Osman；　even　when；　in　the　restlessness　of　my　heart；　I　wander　on　the　sea；　or　in　the　mountains；　or　remain　solitary　in　my　silent　hut。　Friendship　for　you　has　bound　chains　about　my　soul；　and　I　must　always　return。　Leave　to　me　the　feeling　of　independence；　or　I　shall　not　be　happy。〃

Osman　nodded　smilingly　to　him。　〃It　shall　be　as　you　wish；　and　we　will　never　weary　him　again；　my　father；　with　our　prayers。　He　will　return　to　us；　he　says；　and　Mohammed　always　keeps　his　word。　But　look；　father　what　can　be　the　matter　with　these　two　officers　who　are　hurrying　toward　us？〃

〃They　seem　to　have　met　with　some　misfortune；　they　look　pale　and　excited；　and　are　coming　here　without　being　announced；〃　he　said；　rising　from　his　cushions；　and　beckoning　to　the　collectors；　who　had　remained　respectfully　standing　at　the　entrance；　to　come　forward。　〃Well；　what　is　the　matter？　You　look　as　disturbed　as　if　something　dreadful　had　happened　to　you！〃

〃Yes；　governor；　something　dreadful　has　happened；〃　they　answered；　bowing　deeply。　〃We　have　been　down　to　Praousta；　as　your　excellency　ordered；　to　collect　the　double　tax。〃

〃And　you　have　brought　the　gold　with　you；　and　given　it　to　my　treasurer？〃

〃No；　we　have　not　brought　it。〃

〃Not　brought　it！〃　exclaimed　the　tschorbadji；　with　the　utmost　astonishment；　〃I　send　you　to　collect　the　taxes；　and　you　return　without　the　money。　Have　thieves　fallen　upon　you；　and　robbed　you？　My　collectors　have　allowed　the　gold　to　be　taken　from　them；　and　now　dare　to　appear；　empty…handed；　before　me！〃

〃O　governor；　we　are　innocent；〃　replied　the　men。　〃No　thieves　took　the　money　from　us；　but　the　men　of　Praousta　have　revolted；　they　have　assembled　together　in　the　market　place；　and　have　solemnly　declared　that　they　will　never　pay　the　double　tax！〃

While　they　were　making　their　report；　Mohammed　sprung　from　his　seat；　and　listened　breathlessly　to　them。

〃They　refused　to　pay　the　tax；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　in　an　angry　voice。　〃And　did　you　not　go　to　the　sheik　and　ulemas？〃

〃The　men　of　Praousta　went　themselves；　and　brought　out　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas；　that　they　might　speak　decisively　for　all。　We　were　to　take　their　answer　to　the　tschorbadji。〃

〃And　they　did　this？〃　cried　Mohammed；　forgetting　all　proper　reverence；　and　speaking　to　the　men　in　the　presence　of　the　governor。

〃Yes；　they　did　this；〃　returned　the　collectors；　breathing　hard。

〃What　did　they　say！〃　demanded　the　tschorbadji；　excitedly。

〃The　sheik　looked　at　us　contemptuously；　and　ordered　us　to　state　to　the　tschorbadji　that　Praousta　had　no　thought　of　paying　either　the　double　or　the　simple　tax。〃

〃And　the　ulemas？〃　asked　Osman；　rising　from　his　couch；　〃did　they　confirm　what　the　sheik　said？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　they　confirmed　what　the　sheik　said；〃　answered　the　collectors。

〃It　is　then　an　open　revolt；〃　cried　the　outraged　tschorbadji。　〃They　refuse　obedience　to　my　commands！〃

〃Yes；　they　refuse　to　obey　you！〃　repeated　the　collectors。　〃Every　fisherman　has　armed　himself　with　sword　and　knife；　and　swears　to　die　sooner　than　pay　this　unjust　tax；　as　they　call　it。〃

〃And　you　allowed　yourselves　to　be　frightened　by　such　words；〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　flaming　eyes。　〃　And　you　did　not　fall　upon　them；　sword　in　hand；　to　force　them　to　their　duty！〃

〃We　were　but　two　against　fifty！〃

〃Two　men　against　fifty　cowards！　I　should　think　the　men　would　have　carried　the　day。　But　you　are　not　men；　you　did　not　even　draw　your　swords　and　fell　this　seditious　sheik　to　the　earth！〃

〃The　people　would　have　torn　us　to　pieces！〃　exclaimed　the　collectors；　〃if　we　had　attempted　it。〃

〃You　would　have　perished　in　the　fulfilment　of　your　duty！〃　cried　Mohammed。　〃Far　better　that；　than　to　return　home　with　the　knowledge　that　you　had　acted　as　cowards！〃

Osman　looked　wonderingly　at　his　friend；　while　the　tschorbadji　stood　lost　in　thought；　his　countenance　growing　darker　and　darker。

〃This　is　revoltrebellion！〃　he　said；　after　a　pause。　〃What　shall　I　do？　The　men　of　Praousta　are　remarkable　for　their　strength；　as　well　as　for　their　free　and　independent　opinions。〃

He　ordered　the　collectors　to　leave　the　room；　and　await　his　call　without；　then　paced　thoughtfully　up　and　down。　The　two　young　men　dared　not　disturb　him。

〃I　do　not　know　what　to　do；〃　he　said；　after　a　long　silence。　〃I　have　no　military　force；　and　in　Praousta　dwell　more　than　fifty　brave；　bold　men。　You　know　I　have　only　fifty　collectors　in　my　service　in　all　the　districts　of　the　peninsula。　I　do　not　know　where　to　begin；　even　if　I　had　the　men；　I　would　very　unwillingly　use　force。　I　believe　the　best　thing　I　can　do　would　be　to　go　down；　with　a　few　servants；　to　the　village；　and　seek；　by　kind　words；　to　quiet　the　people；　and　induce　them　to　pay　the　tax。　What　do　you　think；　my　son；　Osman？〃

Mohammed　listened；　with　flashing　eyes；　to　the　tschorbadji；　and　breathlessly　awaited　Osman's　answer。　But　Osman　only　looked　at　his　friend；　and　said　to　his　father；　〃Ask　Mohammed　what　he　thinks。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　speak；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　〃what　do　you　think　of　my　proposition？〃

〃I　think　that　such　a　thing　should　never　be　permitted。　It　does　not　become　you　to　go　and　beg；　when　you　should　command；　governor；〃　he　cried。　〃Will　you　empower　me　to　collect　the　tax？〃

〃How　will　you　do　it？〃　asked　the　tschorbadji；　with　a　doubting　smile。

〃That　is　my　secret；　governor。　Give　me　authority　to　treat　with　the　rebels；　and　give　me；　in　addition；　two　collectors　and　six　armed　soldiers。〃

〃I　will　give　you　my　small　body…guard。　They　are　eight　in　number；　and　I　give　you　full　authority　to　collect　the　tax。〃

〃I　thank　you；　governor；〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　a　beaming　face。　〃You　have　given　me　a　weighty　commission；　and　you　shall　see　that　I　will　justify　the　confidence　you　place　in　me。　I　will　go　at　once。〃

〃Do　so；　and　I　will　order　my　men　to　obey　you　in　all　things；〃　said　the　tschorbadji。

〃Farewell；　my　Osman；〃　cried　Mohammed　his　whole　being　as　full　of　energy　and　determination　as　if　he　were　going　to　battle。　He　bowed　smilingly　to　his　friend；　and　passed　from　the　hall　with　a　firm　step。

The　collectors　received　the　tschorbadji's　order；　to　return　to　Praousta　with　Mohammed；　with　bowed　heads　and　anxious　countenances。

〃They　will　murder　us。〃　groaned　one　of　them。　〃They　are　all　armed　with　swords　and　knives；　and　they　will　tear　our　arms　from　us　at　once。〃

〃If　they　should　tear　your　arms　from　you；　and　you　do　not　fall　upon　them；　with　tooth　and　nail；〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　determined　look；　〃you　are　nothing　but　cowards；　and　I　will　kill　you　with　my　own　hand。〃

The　tschorbadji　had；　in　the　mean　time；　called　his　small　body　guard　together；　and　commanded　them　to　go　down　to　Praousta　with　Mohammed；　and　to　obey　him　in　all　things。

〃Come；　then；　my　men；　let　us　go；〃　cried　Mohammed。