mohammed ali and his house-第23部分

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favor；　and　during　my　entire　life　I　shall　remember　the　days　that　it　pleased　Cousrouf　Pacha　to　become　a　guest　in　my　house。〃

The　words　of　the　tschorbadji；　humbly　and　respectfully　as　they　were　spoken；　rankled　in　the　sensitive　soul　of　the　proud　pacha。　He　started；　and　his　brow　darkened。　He　had　partaken　of　the　tschorbadji's　hospitality；　and　had　never　thanked　him　for　it；　and　never　returned　it。　The　tax　that　the　men　of　Praousta　were　commanded　to　pay；　was　by　an　order　from　Stamboul；　destined　for　Cousrouf　Pacha；　and　this　was　a　sign　to　the　proud　man　that　his　sun　was　in　the　ascendant；　that　he　would　soon　be　released　from　his　exile；　and　therefore　he　was　defiant　and　haughty　toward　the　tschorbadji。

At　the　angry　words　of　the　pacha；　Osman；　the　usually　mild　and　gentle　youth；　arose　from　the　divan；　and　placed　himself　at　his　father's　side；　as　if　he　wished　to　defend　the　tschorbadji　from　the　proud　and　mocking　words　of　the　stranger。

The　father　felt　and　understood　what　was　passing　in　the　youth's　soul；　he　laid　his　hand　softly　upon　his　shoulder。　〃Calm　yourself；　my　son；　may　the　rights　of　a　guest　be　as　sacred　to　you　as　to　mehis　excellency　has　been　our　esteemed　guest　for　three　years；　remember　this；　and　forget　that　he　was　a　little　hard　just　now。　Allah　be　with　him！　Allah　make　all　our　hearts　tender　and　gentle！〃

〃You　must　remember；　pacha；　that　here；　in　our　small　portion　of　the　great　world；　we　cannot　make　so　great　and　magnificent　a　display　as　you　can　make　in　your　brilliant　career　in　the　great　city　of　Stamboul。　We　have　no　soldiers　here　except　my　small　body…guard　of　eight　men；　the　rest　of　our　small　military　force　is　now　stationed　elsewhere。　It　would　be　very　unfortunate　if　I　should　incite　to　violence　the　men　who；　even　if　armed　with　knives　only；　would　still　be　able　to　overpower　us　all。　It　will　therefore　be　better　to　negotiate　with　them　than　to　proceed　to　extreme　measures。〃

〃Well；　what　course　have　you　decided　upon？〃　asked　Cousrouf；　in　a　milder　tone。

〃Mohammed　Ali；　the　friend　of　my　son；　Osman；　has　pledged　himself　to　bring　the　rebels　to　reason；　I　have　given　him　my　body…guard　of　eight　men；　and　he　has　gone　down　to　Praousta。〃

〃Gone　to　this　seditious　village；　where　more　than　fifty　strong　men　are　in　revolt！〃　exclaimed　Cousrouf。　〃Truly　such　daring　reflects　honor　upon　the　young　lad。〃

〃Upon　what　young　lad？〃　asked　Osman；　in　seeming　surprise；　〃of　whom　does　your　excellency　speak？〃

〃Of　the　young　lad　your　father　spoke　of；　he　who　volunteered　to　settle　this　difficulty。　Is　he　your　slave；　or　your　freedman；　of　whom　you　make　a　companion　because　unfortunately　you　can　find　here　no　better　social　intercourse？〃

〃He　is　my　friend；〃　said　Osman；　in　a　calm；　firm　voice；　〃my　best　friend；　and　I　trust　that　all　who　honor　my　father's　house　with　their　visits　will　observe　a　proper　respect　to　the　friend　of　his　son。　I　expect　this；　and；　if　need　be；　will　require　it；　for〃

〃Here　comes　Mohammed！〃　cried　the　governor；　rejoicing　at　any　occurrence　which　interrupted　his　son's　speech。　〃Here　comes　Mohammed；　and　with　him　four　prisoners。　By　Allah！　it　is　the　sheik　and　the　three　ulemas　of　Praousta！　The　soldiers　are　conducting　them；　their　hands　are　bound　behind　their　backs。　Mohammed　is　a　bold　fellow；　he　has　made　prisoners　of　four　of　the　richest　and　most　influential　men　of　the　village；　and　is　bringing　them　here。　I　must　speak　with　him。〃　The　governor　arose　hastily；　but　Cousrouf　Pacha　seized　his　arm　and　held　him　back　forcibly。　〃Tschorbadji；　it　becomes　your　ambassador　to　seek　you　and　give　an　account　of　his　mission。　I　myself　will　hear　him。〃　Still　holding　the　tschorbadji's　arm；　he　stepped　to　the　divan；　seated　himself；　and　drew　the　governor　down　beside　him。　And　now　the　door　was　opened；　and　Mohammed；　with　glowing　cheeks　and　ardent　eyes；　holding　his　sword　aloft；　entered　the　room。　He　advanced　rapidly　across　the　spacious　saloon　to　the　tschorbadji；　lowered　his　sword　before　him；　and　bestowed　a　kindly　glance　on　his　friend　Osman；　who　came　forward　to　greet　him。　With　a　few　hasty　words　he　explained　to　the　tschorbadji　the　events　which　had　taken　place；　only　when　he　spoke　of　the　young　girl　did　his　voice　falter；　but　he　made　slight　mention　of　her；　and　passed　on　to　narrate　the　conclusion　of　his　bold　adventure。

〃So　you　have　really　made　prisoners　of　four　of　the　first　men　of　Praousta　and　brought　them　here！〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　completely　taken　by　surprise。　〃Tell　me　what　shall　be　done　with　them？　It　surely　cannot　be　your　intention　to　put　these　men　to　death　if　the　tax　is　not　paid？〃

〃Most　certainly；　sir；　that　is　my　intention；〃　said　Mohammed；　throwing　back　his　head　proudly。　〃They　are　all　rebels；　and　the　ulemas　and　the　sheik　were　their　leadersthese；　sir；　were　the　men　who　counselled　the　people　not　to　pay　the　taxes。　It　is　according　to　law　that　the　heads　of　the　leaders　of　a　rebellion　should　fall；　and　fall　their　heads　shall；　for　I　have　sworn　it；　if　three　men　are　not　sent　to…　morrow　morning　from　Praousta；　at　the　hour　of　prayer；　with　the　double　tax；　the　heads　of　the　prisoners　shall　answer　for　its　payment！〃

〃But　this　is　impossible；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　whose　tender　heart　was　moved　by　Mohammed's　threatening　words。　〃This　is　impossible；　I　cannot　allow　these　men　to　be　executed。〃

〃I　have　sworn　it　shall　be　done；　and　it　must　be　done；　unless　you　wish　to　see　your　authority　overthrown。〃

〃But　how　can　it　be　done？〃　exclaimed　the　tschorbadji；　pale　with　anxiety　and　horror。　〃Who　will　put　these　men　to　death？　I　have　no　executioner。〃

〃If　necessary；〃　said　Mohammed；　his　eyes　flashing　with　resolve〃If　necessary；　I　will　behead　them　myself。〃

〃Bravely　said！〃　cried　Cousrouf　Pacha；　rising　from　his　seat。　〃Truly；　Mohammed　Ali；　I　begin　to　be　pleased　with　you。〃

〃That；　sir；　is　more　than　I　desire；〃　said　Mohammed；　calmly；　he　gave　one　threatening　glance　at　the　proud　pacha；　and　then　turned　quickly　to　the　tschorbadji。

〃Remember；　sir；　that　you　gave　me　absolute　authority　to　act　as　I　thought　best。　I　gave　you　my　word　of　honor　to　bring　back　these　rebels　to　reason　and　obedience。　In　return；　you　promised　that　I　alone　should　decide　the　matter。　It　must　therefore　be　so。　I　have　sworn　to　the　men　of　Praousta　that；　unless　they　submit；　the　heads　of　the　sheik　and　the　three　ulemas　shall　fall；　and　I　repeat；　so　must　it　be；　even　if　they　fall　by　my　hand；　if　to…morrow；　at　the　hour　of　prayer；　the　gold　is　not　produced。〃

〃Then　may　Allah　mercifully　bring　the　rebels　to　repentance！〃　sighed　the　tschorbadji。　〃May　they　submit　to　your　decision；　and　bring　the　gold　at　the　appointed　time。　Until　then　we　must　put　the　prisoners　in　some　place　of　safety。　Give　orders；　Mohammed；　that　they　be　taken　to　the　prison；　and　carefully　guarded。〃

〃And　why　to　the　prison；　sir？〃　asked　Mohammed；　quietly。　〃Here　in　the　middle　of　the　court…yard　is　a　space　encircled　with　an　iron　railing。〃

〃So　there　is；〃　replied　the　tschorbadji；　〃it　was　prepared　as　a　cage　for　my　beautiful　lion；　and　he　had　lived　within　that　railing　for　four　years；　when　some　miserable　wretch；　who　knew　I　loved　the　noble　animal；　poisoned　it。〃

〃Well；　I　think　the　cage　your　lion　occupied　is　large　enough　to　afford　lodging　for　one　night　to　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas。〃

〃What！　confine　them　here　in　the　open　air？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　that　is　what　I　suggest。　〃Cannot　the　iron　door　be　locked？〃

〃Yes；　it　can　be　locked；　the　key　is　in　the　palace。〃

〃In　this　way　we　can　spare　your　body…guard　a　weary　watch；〃　said　Mohammed。　〃I　will　conduct　them　to　their　prison。　It　seems　to　me　best　that　the　prisoners　be　placed　where　all　the　world　can　see　them；　all　the　passers…by　can　here　look　upon　these　men　and　take　warning　how　the　tschorbadji　punishes　rebels　and　rebellions。　I　alone　will　keep　watch　over　these　prisoners；　and　explain　to　all　who　pass　why　they　are　here；　they　will　then　go　down　to　Praousta；　and　announce　that　the　block　is　prepared　upon　which　the　heads　of　these　men　will　fall　early　on　the　morrow；　unless　the　taxes　are　paid。〃

〃Mohammed；　you　are　terrible！〃　murmured　Osman；　as　he　gazed　with　amazement　and　anxiety　into　the　eyes　of　his　friend。

〃You　are　right；〃　whispered　Cousrouf　Pacha；　aside；　〃this　is　a　bold；　brave　youth；　and　something　can　be　made　of　him。　He　is　ambitious　and　daring。　The　time　may　come　when　he　would　be　of　use；　I　will　try　to　win　him　over　to　my　interests。〃

Mohammed　heard　nothing　more；　he　had　already　gone　to　the　court…yard　and　opened　the　door　of　the　cage。　He　now　ordered　the　soldiers　to　conduct　the　prisoners　inside　the　enclosure。

Calmly　and　silently　they　entered。　Not　one　word　had　been　uttered　by　them　since　they　left　Praousta；　with　heads　erect；　and　with　proud　bearing；　they　entered　their　prison。

〃Force　conquers　even　the　philosopher。　He　who　feels　himself　in　the　right　is　silent；　and　utters　no　complaint；〃　so　exclaimed　the　sheik　in　a　loud　voice；　as　he　was　thrust　inside　the　enclosure　by　the　soldiers。　The　ulemas　bowed　their　heads　and　followed　him。　〃Allah　be　praised；　and　may　the　prophet　look　down　in　mercy　upon　the　most　insignificant　of　his　creatures！〃

The　door　of　their　prison　closed　behind　them；　Mohammed　took　the　key　and　concealed　it　about　his　person。　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃pray　and　meditate　upon　your　crimes　and　their　punishment。　I　will　myself　make　known　to　the　men　of　Praousta　that　they　may　find　you　here；　and　all　who　wish　can　come　to　see　you。　It　rests　with　you　to　tell　the　people　that　they　must　submit　to　the　law；　or　else　bring　your　heads　to　the　block。　Think　well　of　this；　and　rest　assured　the　tschorbadji　will　confirm　what　he　has　declared　through　me。　To…morrow；　at　the　hour　of　prayer；　must　the　double　tax　be　paid　by　the　men　of　Praousta；　or　your　heads　shall　be　placed　on　the　cliffs　where　everybody　can　see　them；　and　your　bodies　thrown　upon　the　rock　Bucephalus；　that　the　vultures　and　ravens　may　feed　upon　them。〃




CHAPTER　II

MASA


The　sea　lay　like　a　sleeping　lion　reposing　after　a　conflict；　and　curled　its　waves　dreamily　upon　the　mountain…rock　Bucephalus。　The　sun　was　burning　hot；　and　no　breath　of　air　cooled　the　atmosphere；　and　not　one　cloud　or　shadow　afforded　protection　from　the　glowing　rays　of　the　sun；　which　fell　full　upon　the　uncovered　space　within　which　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas　had　been　confined　since　early　in　the　morning。　But　they　stood　firm；　and　no　complaint　escaped　their　lips。　With　their　heads　turned　to　the　east；　they　knelt　and　prayed；　their　whole　bearing　expressing　dignity　and　high　resolve。

At　the　command　of　Mohammed；　one　of　the　governor's　collectors　was　se