mohammed ali and his house-第21部分

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a　with　Mohammed；　and　to　obey　him　in　all　things。

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

The　tschorbadji　detained　him　a　moment。　〃Will　you　not　take　a　weapon；　you　are　entirely　unarmed？〃

〃Yes；　I　will　take　a　weapon。　Not　that　I　fear　for　myself；　no；　I　have　no　fear；　but　I　will　make　one　more　combatant　against　the　rebels。　Give　me　a　sword　and　a　pistol。〃

The　tschorbadji　himself　brought　both　to　him；　and　then　bade　him　farewell。

Mohammed；　at　the　head　of　the　eight　soldiers　and　the　two　collectors；　went　down　the　mountain　path　to　the　village。　There　every　thing　had　become　quiet。　Obeying　the　words　of　the　sheik；　the　men　had　gone　to　their　huts；　and　did　not　see　that　Mohammed　and　his　followers　had　entered　the　great　mosque；　which　stood　at　the　entrance　of　the　village。　Then　Mohammed　bowed　down　within　the　holy　of　holies；　and；　turning　his　head　toward　Mecca；　prayed　in　a　low　voice　to　the　prophet　〃Thou　seest；　my　lord　and　God；　that　I　have　raised　my　foot　to　take　the　first　step　on　the　way　to　my　great　future。　Uphold　my　feet；　let　me　not　fall　into　the　abyss　of　forgetfulness。　Give　me　strength；　that　I　may　go　forward　without　fainting。　Be　with　me；　Mohammed；　thou　great　prophet。　Permit　thy　stars　to　be　a　light　unto　me；　and　be　merciful　to　the　poorest　of　thy　servants！〃

Then；　raising　himself　proudly　up；　he　ordered　the　soldiers　to　close　three　of　the　entrances　of　the　mosque；　and　to　leave　only　the　principal　door　open。

〃Now　draw　your　swords。　Four　of　you　remain　with　me　in　the　mosque…the　four　others　go　down　to　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas。　Inform　them　that　an　ambassador　has　come　from　the　tschorbadji；　to　bring　them　an　important　message。　Each　of　you　three　must　bring　one　of　the　ulemas　with　you；　and　the　fourth　must　bring　the　sheik　here　to　me。　Go　at　once；　and　return　quickly。…And　you；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　four　who　remained　behind；　〃swear　to　me；　in　the　name　of　Allah　and　the　prophet；　that　you　will　be　hewn　in　pieces　sooner　than　yield　to　the　rebels！〃

They　all　swore；　placing　their　hands　upon　their　swords；　that　they　would　be　hewn　in　pieces　sooner　than　yield。　Mohammed　nodded　graciously　to　them。

〃Good！　When　the　soldiers　bring　the　men　we　will　surround　them；　and　the　rest　will　follow。〃

Their　hands　upon　their　swords；　the　soldiers　stood　waiting　beside　the　door。

Mohammed　remained　silent　and　thoughtful　in　the　middle　of　the　mosque。　He　felt　that　a　great；　an　important　moment　had　come　for　him。　He　thought　of　his　mother。　〃She　hovers　over　me；　she　looks　down；　and　sees　her　son　enter　on　a　new　life。　When　I　leave　the　mosque；　I　will　be　no　longer　the　poor；　despised　boy；　I　will　have　proved　myself　a　man。　O　my　mother；　look　down　on　me；　and　pray　to　Allah　to　be　merciful　to　me！〃

A　dark　shadow　crossed　the　rays　of　the　sun　which　fell　through　the　open　door。　It　was　one　of　the　soldiers　who　came　in　with　the　sheik。

Mohammed　did　not　step　forward　to　meet　him；　as　he　should　have　done；　out　of　respect　for　the　old　man；　with　his　white　beard。　To…day　he　was　no　longer　the　poor　boy；　who　must　bow　down　before　his　superiors。　He　was　himself　one　of　the　powers　that　be。　He　held　his　head　aloft　while　the　sheik　approached。

〃I　was　summoned　in　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji；〃　said　the　sheik；　looking　with　astonishment　at　Mohammed。　〃It　is　very　strange　that　I　find　here　no　one　but　Mohammed　Ali；　the　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga。　Had　I　known　that　the　tschorbadji　had　sent　a　boy　to　me；　I　would　have　required　him　to　bring　me　the　message。〃

〃I　summoned　you　in　the　name　of　the　tscborbadji；　and　in　his　name　I　stand　here！〃　said　Mohammed；　proudly。　〃I　am　not　a　boy；　as　you　are　pleased　to　call　me；　but　an　acknowledged　authority。　I　have　received　my　authority　from　the　tschorbadji；　and　I　demand　submission　from　you！〃

〃Submission　to　you！〃　exclaimed　the　sheik；　with　a　contemptuous　glance。

Mohammed's　eyes　flashed　fiercely；　as　he　placed　his　hand　threateningly　on　his　pistol。

〃Yes；　you　the　sheik；　must　yield　to　me。　See！　there　are　the　others　who　dared　to　revolt。　…Guard　the　sheik　well；　you　men；　the　ulemas　also！〃

The　latter　had　now　approached；　accompanied　by　the　soldiers；　and　Mohammed　informed　them　that　he；　in　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji；　insisted　upon　their　gathering　in　the　taxes。

〃We　cannot　and　will　not　do　it！〃　answered　the　sheik；　proudly。　〃It　is　an　injustice　to　demand　the　double　tax；　and　it；　would　be　folly　to　pay　it。　It　is　our　duty　to　protect　the　community；　and　we　will　do　it！〃

〃Well；　do　as　you　will！〃　cried　Mohammed；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃Who　dares　to　preach　rebellion　shall　surely　die！Hold　fast　these　rebels；　my　men；　bind　their　hands　behind　their　backs　with　their　own　scarfs；　and　lead　them　to　the　governor's　house。　There　let　their　heads　fall；　that　all　may　know　how　justice　punishes　the　rebellious。〃

〃Help！　help！〃　cried　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas。　〃Help！〃

Their　cries　resounded　far　and　wide；　and；　while　the　soldiers　were　binding　the　ulemas　and　the　sheik　with　their　own　scarfs；　the　armed　people　came　pressing　forward　to　the　open　door　of　the　mosque。

Mohammed　looked　toward　them　with　the　raging　glance　of　a　lion。

〃Who　enters　here；　meets　his　death！〃　he　cried；　in　a　voice　of　thunder。　The　men　without　shrunk　back　before　the　soldiers'　gleaming　weapons；　and　hastened　to　the　other　doors；　but　they　found　them　all　closed；　only　the　one　entrance　was　open；　the　one　at　which　the　collectors　stood。

Within　lay　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas；　all　bound；　upon　their　knees；　praying　the　men　of　Praousta　to　come　to　their　help。　The　men　sought　once　more　to　storm　the　entrance；　and　once　more　they　were　repulsed。

〃I　swear；　by　Allah　and　the　prophet；　that　the　rebels　shall　die　if　they　do　not　submit！〃　cried　Mohammed；　aloud。　〃Place　your　daggers　at　their　breasts。〃

The　soldiers　did　as　they　were　ordered；　and　their　prisoners　lay；　with　widely…extended　eyes；　and　shrieks　on　their　parted　lips　which　they　dared　not　utter；　for　fear　the　sword…points　would　pierce　their　breasts。　Mohammed　stood　erect　beside　them；　his　hand　on　his　sword。

Suddenly　a　piercing；　terrific　cry　arose　from　the　midst　of　the　crowd；　and　a　slender　female　figure；　clad　entirely　in　white；　the　face　concealed　by　a　veil；　rushed　into　the　mosque。　The　soldiers　dared　not　repulse　her　as　they　had　done　the　men；　as　she　flew　past　them　toward　that　dreadful　group。

〃My　father；　my　father！〃　she　cries；　in　wildly…imploring　tones。　〃If　you　must　die；　I　will　die　with　you！〃

A　strange　tremor　seizes　on　Mohammed；　that　wonderful　voice　thrills　him　to　his　very　heart。

The　veiled　one　sinks　down　at　his　feet；　and　raises　her　arms　pleadingly　to　him。

〃If　you　kill　him；　kill　me　also！〃

In　her　passionate　gestures　she　seizes　her　veil　with　her　clasped　hands　and　tears　it　from　her　face。

Mohammed　saw　now　for　the　first　time　the　youthful　and　beautiful　face　of　the　fair　girl　who　was　called　the　〃Flower　of　Praousta。〃　Her　great　black　eyes　were　fastened　imploringly　on　his。　Her　scarlet　lips　quivered　as　she　repeated；　〃Oh；　kill　him　not；　but；　if　you　must；　then　let　me　die　with　him！〃

He　looked　at　her　as　if　he　felt　some　witchcraft　at　work；　then　suddenly　bent　down　and　drew　the　veil　over　her　face；　as　if　he　dared　no　longer　look　on　her　beauty。

〃Leave　this　place；　I　do　not　fight　with　women；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　sounded　almost　like　that　of　a　man。

〃Be　merciful；〃　she　prayed；　but　there　was　a　change　in　her　voice　also；　it　was　no　longer　so　humble；　but　trembled　with　inward　emotion。

He　turned　from　her。

〃Return　to　your　home；〃　he　said；　in　a　commanding　voice。　〃First；　however；　tell　your　father　that　he　must　submit　himself；　and　prevail　upon　these　rebels　to　become　obedient。　If　he　succeeds；　I　swear；　in　the　name　of　Allah；　that　he　shall　return　with　you　to　his　home。　Speak　to　him；　and　prove　the　power　of　your　words。〃

〃Return；　Masa；〃　said　the　sheik；　in　an　unfaltering　voice。　〃It　was　most　improper　for　you　to　come　here。　You　did　it　from　love　to　me；　therefore　it　must　be　pardoned。　Now；　however；　I　order　you　to　go　home；　and　remain　there；　as　it　becomes　a　woman。　I；　however；　praise　Allah；　he　alone　must　decide　my　fate；　and　the　fate　of　all。〃

〃No；　father；　I　cannot　leave　you；〃　cried　Masa；　breathlessly；　pressing　her　father's　hands　to　her　lips。　〃Remember；　you　are　the　Lord　of　my　life；　the　light　of　my　eyes！　Remember　that　I　have　no　one　but　you　in　all　the　world；　and　that　your　Masa　is　as　solitary　as　in　a　wilderness　when　you　are　not　beside　her。　Remember　that；　O　my　father！〃

〃Enough！〃　interrupted　Mohammed；　in　a　harsh　voice。　〃Enough　words。　You　there；　you　men　of　Praousta；　will　you　pay　the　tax；　the　double　tax；　as　the　tschorbadji　has　ordered？〃

The　men；　who　had　pressed　close　against　the　high　porch　outside　the　mosque；　remained　silent　for　a　moment　and　looked　hesitatingly　before　them。

〃Will　you　pay　it？〃　repeated　Mohammed。　〃You　will；　I　am　sure。〃

〃No！〃　cried　the　sheik；　aloud。　〃You　will　not；　you　shall　not；　pay　this　tax！〃

〃No；〃　repeated　the　three　ulemas。　〃No；　you　will　not；　you　shall　not；　pay　this　tax！〃

Then　suddenly；　as　if　inspired　by　the　bold　words　of　the　four　prisoners；　the　men　held　themselves　more　erect；　and；　looking　threateningly　at　Mohammed　and　at　the　soldiers；　repeated　what　the　ulemas　had　said。　〃No；　we　will　not；　we　will　not　pay　the　tschorbadji　the　double　tax！　We　will　pay　neither　the　double　nor　the　simple　tax！〃

〃Good！　you　have　spoken；〃　said　Mohammed。　〃Your　fate　is　decided；　and　that　of　these　men　also！Collectors；　lock　the　door。〃

Masa　uttered　a　cry；　and；　rushing　to　Mohammed；　clung　wildly　to　his　knees。

〃Mercy；　lord；　have　mercy！　Think　of　your　own　father；　think　of　your　mother！　If　you　have　a　mother　that　you　love；　oh；　think　of　her！〃

He　pushed　her　roughly　and　hastily　from　him。　That　word　pierced　his　heart　like　a　knife；　and　still　he　dared　not　listen　to　it。

There　was　a　threatening　murmur　among　the　men；　and　several　sought　to　press　forward；　but　the　collectors　threatened　them　with　instant　death　if　they　came　forward　a　single　step。

Two　of　the　soldiers　approached　the　young　girl　to　carry　her　out。

〃Let　no　one　dare　touch　me；　or　I　will　throw　myself　on　your　swords！〃　she　cried。　〃If　I　must　go；　I　will　do　so。　But　on　you　be　the　blood　of　my　father　if　it　is　shed！　I　tell　you；　if　you　murder　him；　I　will　die　also；　and　if　you　have　a　father　or　a　mother　in　heaven；　I　will　accuse　you；　young　man！〃

She　uttered　these　words　in　a　ringing　voice；　then　flew　toward　the　door。　The　soldiers　pushed　her　out；　and　the　collectors　threw　the　iron…bound　doors　together。

〃Now　I　turn　to　you；〃　said　Mohammed；　breathing　more　fre