mohammed ali and his house-第22部分

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ctors　threw　the　iron…bound　doors　together。

〃Now　I　turn　to　you；〃　said　Mohammed；　breathing　more　freely；　and　looking　toward　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas。

〃Will　you　murder　us？〃　asked　the　sheik　Alepp；　as　he　looked　with　calm　dignity　at　the　young　man。

〃No；　if　your　blood　must　flow；　so　be　it　upon　your　own　head；〃　answered　Mohammed；　earnestly。　〃You　alone　shall　decide　your　own　life　or　death；　and　that　of　your　three　companions。Come；　soldiers；　open　this　door；　we　go　out　this　way。〃

The　soldiers　obeyed；　and　opened　the　door　on　that　side　of　the　mosque　which　lay　nearest　the　mountain　stairway。

The　sheik　and　the　ulemas；　soldiers　accompanying　them；　passed　out；　Mohammed　in　front　of　them；　his　drawn　sword　in　his　hand。　Behind　them　came　the　collectors；　with　pikes　in　their　hands。

Silently　they　went　on　their　way　toward　the　mountain…path。

The　men　who　had　waited；　uncertain　what　to　do；　before　the　door　of　the　mosque；　now　went　round　to　the　side；　and　with　out…cries　of　rage　pointed　out　to　one　another　the　road　to　the　mountain…path。

When　Mohammed　heard　this　outcry；　he　stood　still；　and　motioned　to　the　soldiers　to　go　forward　with　the　prisoners。　〃Remain　at　my　side；　collectors；　we　will　cover　the　rear。　Forward；　now！　go　up　the　mountain。〃

And　while　those　went　upward；　Mohammed　remained　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain。　On　either　side　the　collectors；　and　in　front　of　him　all　the　fishermen　of　Praousta；　more　than　fifty　men；　with　threatening　looks　and　burning　eyes。　But　still；　although　they　muttered　and　quarrelled；　and　even　raised　their　fists；　they　dared　not　approach　this　young　man；　whose　countenance　was　so　determined；　so　full　of　energy；　whose　cheeks　were　so　pale；　and　on　whose　mouth　rested　so　threatening　an　expression。　He　must　have　appeared　to　them　like　the　angel　of　death；　and　each　one　feared　that　if　he　approached　he　would　sink　down　and　die。

Mohammed　paid　no　attention　to　the　threatening　group　of　men。　His　eye　looked　beyond　themthere；　behind　the　men；　where　the　veiled　white　figure　stood；　supported　by　two　women。

He　looked　toward　her；　and　the　ringing　tones　of　the　young　girl's　voice　sounded　in　his　heart；　and　he　seemed　to　hear　the　words：　〃If　you　have　a　mother　you　love；　then　think　of　her！〃

He　thought　of　her；　and　a　deep　sigh　escaped　his　soul。　But；　still；　he　must　be　a　man　now。　He　had　sworn　to　bring　the　rebels　of　Praousta　back　to　obedience。　He　must　keep　his　word；　and　he　will　do　it。　〃If　she　has　swooned　away；　she　will　awake　and　forget　her　grief。　Women　are　readily　grieved；　but　their　grief　is　easily　dissipated。　She　will　know　how　to　console　herself；　and　as　for　me；　I　will　forget　her；　I　will　never　give　her　another　thought。〃

He　said　this　defiantly　to　himself；　and　looked　again　at　the　men　of　Praousta；　who　were　still　standing　irresolute　and　murmuring　near　the　mosque；　not　daring　to　approach　the　three　armed　men。　〃He　certainly　would　not　have　come　alone；　he　would　not　dare　to　remain　standing　there；　if　his　comrades　were　not　concealed　somewhere　up　there　in　the　mountain。〃

〃Yes；　they　are　standing　there　listening；　and；　if　we　should　charge　upon　them；　they　would　fire　at　us；　and　we　should　all　be　lost。　No；　we　will　be　cautious；　but　this　is　certain；　we　will　not　pay　the　tax；　the　sheik　has　commanded　it；　and　the　ulemas　have　decided；　therefore　we　will　not　pay。〃

〃No；　we　will　not　pay；〃　repeated　all　the　other　men。　No　longer　loud　and　defiant；　but　in　low　voices　one　to　another；　and　their　eyes　turned　suspiciously　toward　the　three　figures；　and　then　up　the　mountain…　path；　toward　the　rocks　behind　which　they　believed　the　sharp…shooters　were　concealed。

Mohammed　looked　also　toward　the　mountain…path；　and；　seeing　that　the　prisoners　and　their　guard　had　reached　the　top　of　the　mountain；　he　turned　toward　the　fishermen

〃Ismail；　Marut；　Berutti；〃　he　cried；　〃do　you　not　recognize　me；　you　know　Mohammed　Ali；　son　of　Ibrahim？〃

〃Yes；　we　know　you；　and　we　would　not　have　believed　that　the　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga　could　have　become　a　spy　upon　his　old　friends。〃

〃I　am　not　a　spy；　I　am　only　a　servant　of　that　law　and　justice　which　you　wish　to　violate。　Step　nearer；　and　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say　to　you。〃

They　came　cautiously；　hesitatingly；　a　few　steps　nearer；　and　again　looked　anxiously　toward　the　mountain。

〃What　have　you　to　say；　Mohammed；　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga？but　remember　that　one　who〃

〃Silence！〃　commanded　Mohammed；　〃I　shall　remember　what　is　necessary；　and　I　do　not　need　the　advice　of　rebels　and　rioters。　I　did　not　call　upon　you　to　speak；　but　to　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say。　Hearken；　men　of　Praousta；　in　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji！　I　give　you　until　early　to…morrow　morning　to　decide；　if；　at　the　hour　of　second　prayers；　you　have　not　sent　three　men　to　the　palace　of　the　tschorbadji；　double　the　amount　that　you　have　formerly　paid；　the　sheik　and　the　three　ulemas　will　lose　their　heads　for　your　disobedience；　and　you　will　be　the　murderers　of　four　of　the　first　men　of　Praousta。〃

He　slightly　lowered　his　gleaming　sword；　and；　as　a　farewell　greeting；　turned　and　walked　up　the　mountain…path；　not　swiftly；　not　hastily；　as　if　he　feared　the　men　would　fall　upon　him；　but　slowly；　step　by　step；　not　even　glancing　back　to　see　if　the　crowd　were　following　him；　quietly；　sword　in　hand；　and　in　front　of　him　the　two　collectors。





BOOK　II。

PARADISE　AND　HELL。


CHAPTER　I

THE　FLOWER　OF　PRAOUSTA。


The　tschorbadji　was　in　great　uneasiness　since　Mohammed　had　gone　on　his　expedition　to　the　rebellious　village；　and　his　son　was　profoundly　troubled　and　apprehensive。　He　could　not　endure　to　remain　in　the　broad　hall　which　led　to　the　garden；　but　followed　his　father　to　the　great　saloon　which　commanded　a　view　of　the　court…yard　through　which　Mohammed　must　come。　He　laid　himself　upon　the　divan；　while　his　father　walked　up　and　down　with　heavy　steps；　pausing　occasionally　at　the　window　looking　into　the　court…yard；　and　then　rapidly　continuing　his　walk。　Suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　two　slaves　appeared　in　magnificent　Grecian　costume；　richly　embroidered；　and　placed　themselves　at　the　open　door。　Then　a　third　stepped　forth；　and　announced　in　a　loud　voice；　〃His　excellency　Cousrouf　Pacha！〃　His　excellency　entered；　splendidly　dressed；　in　a　long　velvet　mantle；　trimmed　with　rare　fur；　in　his　turban　a　star　of　the　most　brilliant　diamonds　flashed；　and　in　the　Persian　shawl　folded　around　his　waist　glittered　a　dagger；　studded　with　costly　gems。

It　was　a　splendid　sightthe　tall；　proud　man　as　he　stood　in　the　widely…opened　door；　the　richly…dressed　slaves　at　his　side；　and　behind　him　his　secretary；　in　white；　gold…embroidered　robe；　holding　the　staff　aloft。

The　tschorbadji　stepped　toward　him　with　a　respectful　air　and　a　forced　smile。　Osman　arose　slowly　from　the　divan；　and　bowed　profoundly　before　his　excellency。

The　sharp　glance　of　the　pacha　read　at　once；　in　the　face　of　father　and　son；　that　he　was　unwelcome；　and　told　them　so　in　a　soft；　friendly　voice。　The　tschorbadji　protested；　in　flowery　words　and　flattering　terms；　which　he　knew　would　please　Cousrouf　Pacha；　that　he　was　unutterably　happy；　inexpressibly　flattered　and　delighted；　at　the　presence　of　his　excellency。

Cousrouf　Pacha　replied　with　a　gracious　inclination　of　his　stately　head；　and　appeared　to　find　it　perfectly　natural　that　every　one　should　feel　delighted　when　his　excellency　approached。

〃Tell　me；　tschorbadji；〃　he　said；　taking　the　place　of　honor　on　the　divan；　and　motioning　the　slave　to　bring　him　his　gold…and…diamond…　studded　chibouque〃　tell　me；　tsohorbadji；　is　it　true　that　the　village　of　Praousta　is　in　revolt？〃

〃Unfortunately；　your　excellency；　it　is　true；〃　sighed　the　tschorbadji；　〃the　men　have　revolted；　they　will　not　pay　the　double　tax。〃

〃Dogs！　dogs！　that　are　barking　a　little；〃　said　Cousrouf；　with　a　contemptuous　shrug　of　his　shoulders。　〃I　think；　tschorbadji；　you　would　do　well　to　quiet　them　quickly。〃

〃I　hope　my　messenger　will　succeed　in　repressing　the　revolt；　in　quieting　the　men；　and　in　inducing　them　to　do　their　duty。〃

〃What！〃　exclaimed　Cousrouf；　with　a　contemptuous　curl　of　his　lip；　〃you　intend　to　make　terms　with　the　rebels？〃

〃I　shall　try　to　induce　the　men　to　do　their　duty。〃

〃You　surely　do　not　consider　that　rebels　are　criminals　most　deserving　of　death；〃　said　Cousrouf；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃Dogs　are　shot　when　they　are　mad；　and　rebels　are　but　mad　dogs。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　excellency；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　his　gentle　face　assuming　a　severer　expression　than　it　had　yet　worn　before　his　excellency〃　I　beg　your　pardon；　but　this　small　island　is　not　so　rich　in　men　that　we　can　afford　to　shoot　them　like　dogs；　and；　moreover；　excepting　this；　the　people　are　good；　industrious；　and　willing　to　provide　for　their　families。　This　year　they　have　had　a　bad　harvest；　and　but　little　profit；　and　were　incensed　at　having　to　pay　double　taxes。〃

〃And　why　double　taxes？〃　asked　Cousrouf　Pacba；　with　a　contemptuous　smile。

〃Do　not　ask　me；　excellency；〃　replied　the　tschorbadji；　with　a　bow；　〃one　portion　of　the　taxes　goes　as　usual　to　Stamboul；　into　the　coffers　of　his　highness；　the　other　portion〃

〃Ah；　I　understand；〃　said　Cousrouf；　with　a　proud　smile；　〃the　other　portion　is；　through　an　order　from　Stamboul；　destined　for　me。　That　is　so；　is　it　not；　tschorbadji？〃

〃Yes；　excellency；　if　you　wish　to　know　the　truth；　it　is。〃

〃And　these　dogs　refuse　to　pay　for　the　benefit　of　Cousrouf　Pacha；　the　grand…vizier　of　his　highness；　the　friend　and　comrade　of　the　Admiral　Hussein；　and　you　will　not　shoot　them　down　like　mad　dogs；　tachorbadji；　you　wish　to　negotiate　with　these　audacious　men；　who　mock　at　my　greatness　in　refusing　me　the　tribute！　These　slaves　believe　that；　because　Cousrouf　Pacha　condescends　to　live　in　this　desolate　placethis　miserable　nest　they　can　mock　and　deny　me　their　respect　with　impunity。　But　I　tell　you；　tschorbadji；　I　tell　you；　and　all　the　men　of　Praousta　and　Cavalla；　you　shall　remember　this　day！　If　these　men　do　not　submit；　if　they　do　not　pay　what　they　ought　to　pay；　then　you　may　all　beware；　for　a　day　will　come；　and；　by　Allah；　it　is　not　far　off；　when　Cousrouf　Pacha　will　leave　his　exile　with　new　honors！　Remember　this；　tschorbadji；　and　act　accordingly。〃

〃I　shall　remember　it；　excellency；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　respectfully；　〃I　have　never　failed　in　reverence　and　respect　to　the　noble　guest　whom　his　highness　graciously　sent　here；　I　accepted　it　as　a　favor；　and　during　my　entire　life　I　shall　remember　the　days　that　it　pleased　Cousrouf　Pacha　to　become