mohammed ali and his house-第3部分

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She　shook　her　head。　〃There　was　no　one　there　to　witness　the　deed；　and；　when　your　father's　successor　was　appointed；　they　had　probably　long　since　crossed　the　sea。　Their　names　were　not　even　known；　and　your　father's　blood　is　unavenged　to　this　day。〃

〃Mother！〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　fiercely；　〃I　will　avenge　my　father！　I　swear　it！〃

〃Poor　boy！　You　avenge　him？　You　do　not　even　know　who　his　murderers　were；〃　said　she；　gently。

〃I　will　have　vengeance　on　the　whole　world！〃　exclaimed　the　boy。　〃All　my　enemies　shall　suffer　for　his　death！　What　did　you　do；　mother；　when　you　beheld　my　father's　body？　You　laid　your　hand　on　his　eyes；　and　swore　to　avenge　him；　did　you　not？〃

〃No；　my　son。　I　sank　down　by　your　father's　body；　kissed　his　hand；　and　took　leave　of　him　whom　alone　I　had　loved。　But　yet；　I　did　register　one　oath！　I　swore　that　henceforth　I　would　love　nothing　but　the　child　I　bore　under　my　hearthis　child。　I　also　swore　that　the　veil　with　which　he　had　covered　my　face　should　never　be　lifted　by　another　man。　Many　a　one　longed　to　take　Ibrahim　Aga's　widow　to　wife；　for；　talkative　as　love　and　happiness　always　are；　he　had　told　them　of　his　love　and　his　happiness；　and　they　thought　that　they；　too；　might　obtain　this　through　me。　But　I　rejected　them；　though　I　was　poor　and　possessed　nothing　but　this　hut　to　shelter　myself　and　my　child；　as　yet　unborn。　For　the　sake　of　this　child；　I　rallied　my　energies　and　dried　my　eyes。　A　mother　who　has　not　yet　given　birth　should　not　weep；　her　tears　would　fall　on　the　child　and　make　its　heart　sick　and　its　eyes　dim；　and　I　wished　my　child　to　see　the　world　with　his　father's　eyes；　to　begin　life　with　his　father's　heart。　Therefore　I　implored　Allah　to　give　strength　and　joyousness　to　the　life　that　was　to　be　devoted　to　my　child。　One　night　I　had　a　strange；　wondrous；　and　beautiful　dream。　On　a　sparkling　throne　I　saw　a　man　in　glittering　armor；　his　sword　high　uplifted；　his　eyes　flaming；　his　countenance　lustrous　with　beauty。　I　knew　this　man；　although　I　had　never　seen　him。　His　countenance　was　that　of　my　Ibrahim；　and　yet　it　was　another…　it　was　his　son！　In　my　dream　I　was　distinctly　conscious　that　it　was　my　son　I　beheld　before　me。　He　looked　not　at　me；　but　out　upon　the　world　with　an　angry　eye。　At　his　feet　thousands　lay　extended　upon　the　ground　in　deep　reverence。　Far　behind　him　I　saw　a　strange　landscape；　such　as　I　had　never　before　beheld。　On　a　wide；　yellow　waste　of　sand；　stood　towering　proud　and　mighty　structures　of　wondrous　form；　their　summits　glittering　in　the　sunshine。　And；　strange　to　say；　afar　off；　on　a　magnificent　palace；　I　saw　the　same　man　I　had　before　beheld；　his　sword　again　uplifted；　and　above　his　head　shone　the　crescent　with　the　three　stars。　All　at　once　the　man　became　transformed　into　a　child　that　shone　like　an　angel；　and　this　angel　stretched　out　its　arms　and　flew　toward　me。　In　my　dream　I　extended　my　arms　toward　this　vision；　and　cried；　'My　son…my　son！'　This　cry　awakened　me。　On　the　following　day　you　were　born。　When　I　saw　and　greeted　you　with　Allah's　blessing；　I　was　startled　to　find　the　child　I　held　in　my　arms　the　same　as　the　angel　that　had　flown　to　me　in　my　dream！　Oftentimes　since　I　have　thought　of　this　dream；　and　endeavored　to　interpret　it；　for　the　agathodaemon　that　watches　over　men；　and　protects　them　from　the　ghins　and　their　evil　pinions；　sometimes　sends　dreams　to　the　unhappy　to　announce　to　them　the　future。　I　thought　my　agathodaemon　had　sent　me　this　dream；　〃One　day　some　gypsies　came　to　Cavalla　on　a　ship　that　landed　here　to　procure　provisions。　They　remained　here　several　days；　and　made　a　business　of　fortune…telling。　I　went　to　an　old　woman；　said　to　be　the　greatest　prophetess；　held　out　my　hand；　and　demanded　that　she　should　announce　the　future　of　myself　and　my　son。　The　old　woman　gazed　at　me　with　a　strange　look；　and　said：　You　wish　your　dream　interpreted？'

〃This　startled　me；　for　I　had　rarely　spoken　of　my　dream；　and　the　old　woman　could　not　have　heard　of　it。　She　had　been　in　Cavalla　but　two　days；　and　who　should　have　told　her　of　the　poor；　obscure　woman；　Sitta　Khadra？　But　this　question　startled　me　to　the　very　soul；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　this　woman　must　tell　me　the　truth。　I　motioned　to　her　to　tell　me　my　dream。　She　related　the　entire　dream　with　every　circumstance；　and　interpreted　it。〃

〃How　did　she　interpret　it？〃　asked　Mohammed；　in　breathless　suspense。

〃She　said　to　me：　'Your　son　will　one　day　become　a　prince　and　a　hero；　he　will　see　a　whole　nation　bowed　down　at　his　feet；　he　will　wield　the　sword　over　this　people；　and　bring　them　under　his　yoke。　Your　son　shall　be　a　ruler；　palaces　shall　be　his；　and　among　the　mighty　he　shall　be　the　mightiest。　Destiny　announced　this　to　you　through　the　man　transformed　into　the　angel　that　flew　to　you；　and　who　is　your　son。　All　hail；　Khadra；　for　you　shall　be　the　mother　of　the　mightiest；　of　the　master　of　the　earth！'〃

〃Is　this　true？　Am　I　to　be　a　prince；　a　mighty　ruler？〃　asked　Mohammed；　in　ecstasy。　〃I　am　to　behold　nations　at　my　feet？　Repeat　it　again；　what　did　she　say？〃

〃Yes；　she　said　this：　A　prince　shall　he　become；　nations　shall　he　behold　at　his　feet；　and　the　whole　world　shall　talk　of　and　praise　him。'〃

〃I　swear　to　you；　mother；　that　she　shall　have　told　the　truth！　I　swear　to　you；　by　the　spirit　of　my　father；　by　Allah　and　by　the　prophets；　I　will　make　the　old　woman's　prophecy　the　truth！　I　shall　be　a　prince；　a　great　ruler；　and　whole　nations　shall　bow　down　in　the　dust　before　me。　I　thank　you；　mother；　for　having　foretold　my　future；　and　I　only　implore　that　Allah　may　graciously　permit　my　mother　to　live　to　see　the　fulfilment　of　the　prophecy。　Now　I　know　what　I　have　to　do；　and；　when　the　boys　ask　me　again　what　is　to　become　of　poor　Mohammed；　I　shall　tell　them：　I　will　make　of　him　a　prince；　a　hero；　a　king。'　Yes；　I　will　speak　thus　to　them；　and　thus　it　shall　be！　And　with　them　I　shall　begin！　These　cowardly　boys　shall　be　my　subjects；　and　woe　to　them　if　they　do　not　pay　the　tribute！　O　mother；　beautiful　days　are　in　store　for　you！〃

〃My　dear；　foolish　boy；〃　said　the　mother；　regarding　him　tenderly；　〃you　dream　of　a　brilliant　future；　but　it　is　impossible　to　realize　this　dream。　We　are　poor；　and　Fortune　seldom　resides　with　the　poor。〃

〃I　will　make　us　rich！〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　〃yes；　I　will　make　us　rich；　though　as　yet　I　know　not　how　I　am　to　do　it。　But　do　you　know　who　shall　assist　me　in　doing　so？〃

〃I　think　I　do；〃　replied　the　mother；　smiling；　〃you　will　ask　your　good　friend　Mr。　Lion？〃

Mohammed　nodded　assent。　〃Rightly　guessed；　mother！　To　him　I　shall　go　and　ask　him　how　to　begin　to　become　a　rich　man。　Let　me　do　so　at　once；　my　heart　is　burning　to　ask　this　question。〃

He　seized　his　red　cap；　pulled　it　over　his　brown　hair；　took　leave　of　his　mother；　hurried　into　the　street；　and　out　of　the　poverty…stricken　little　suburb；　toward　the　main　thoroughfare；　where　the　wealthy　lived。　He　walked　on；　reflecting　profoundly　over　what　his　mother　had　related；　and　without　noticing　the　boys　who　were　coming　toward　him。　When　they　perceived　him；　they　stepped　aside　as　if　ashamed　to　meet　the　boy　who　had　excelled　and　conquered　them；　slipped　into　the　next　house；　closed　the　door　which　extended　only　half…way　up　the　doorway　behind　them；　and　looked　out　over　it。

〃Only　look　at　him！〃　they　cried；　derisively。　〃He　is　good　for　nothing。　He　can　do　nothing。　What　is　he　to　become　but　a　beggar？　Who　will　pity　him　when　his　uncle　is　dead；　and　his　mother　sick　and　bedridden？　Then　he　will　have　to　serve　us；　and　pay　us　tribute。〃

They　continued　to　laugh　at　him；　but　he　walked　on　quietly。　Their　malicious　words　had　not　escaped　him；　but　he　took　no　notice　of　them。　Proudly　and　composedly　he　walked　on；　murmuring　to　himself　in　a　low　voice：　〃They　shall　pay　for　this　some　day！　They　too　are　my　enemies；　on　whom　I　intend　to　be　avenged；　fearfully　avenged！〃

These　thoughts　were　still　expressed　in　his　features　as　he　entered　the　great　store　of　the　merchant　Lion。　Hastily　he　threaded　his　way　down　the　narrow　path　that　lay　between　the　bales　and　barrels；　toward　the　light　that　shone　at　the　end。　There　stood　the　merchant's　office。　Now　he　hears　a　kindly　voice　welcoming　him。

〃Behold　the　hero　of　Imbro；　the　daring　conqueror　of　the　sea！　Welcome　my　hero；　welcome！〃

He　stood　still；　listening　to　these　tones；　a　happy　smile　over…　spreading　his　countenance。　How　beautiful　it　is　to　be　thus　welcomed！　To　be　sure；　as　yet　it　is　only　a　friendly　greeting；　and　half　in　mockery；　but　this　greeting　shall　one　day　resound　from　the　throats　of　whole　nations；　and　not　in　mockery。　Shall　they　hail　him；　〃Welcome；　thou　hero！〃　This　he　swears　shall　be；　as　he　steps　up　to　Mr。　Lion；　who　extends　both　hands　to　him　over　his　counter；　and　regards　him　tenderly。

〃Here　again；　my　Mohammed！　They　have　been　speaking　of　you　all　day；　and　three　men　have　already　been　here　to　tell　of　your　heroic　deed。　Let　me　see　your　hands。　Yes；　they　are　torn　and　bleeding。　Yes；　my　boy；　I　have　rejoiced　with　you；　and　am　proud　with　you　for　having　put　those　boys　to　shame。〃

〃I　thank　you；　sir；〃　said　he；　earnestly；　〃yet　it　is　not　enough　to　conquer　boys；　one　must　also　conquer　men　and　nations！〃

Mr。　Lion　regarded　him　with　wonder。　〃What　is　this　you　are　saying？　What　are　you　busying　your　brain　with　now？〃

〃With　many　things；　sir；　I　desire　you　to　help　me　provide　for　my　future。〃

〃I　am　delighted；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　merchant；　regarding　him　with　a　friendly　smile；　〃I　am　delighted　to　see　you　thoughtful　of　your　future。　I　have　often　scolded　your　mother　about　you；　you　are　tall　and　sensible　for　your　age；　are　almost　a　young　man；　and　it　would　become　you　to　be　taking　care　of　yourself。　But　both　your　mother　and　your　Uncle　Toussoun　are　spoiling　you　in　their　anxiety　to　strew　your　pathway　with　rose…leaves；　and　guard　you　from　every　hardship。〃

〃They　would；〃　said　the　boy；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃if　I　allowed　them；　but　I　will　not！　I　will　bare　my　face　to　the　storm；　and　walk　on　thorns　instead　of　rose…leaves；　in　order　that　my　feet　may　become　hardened。　Therefore；　tell　me；　dear　sir；　what　I　am　to　do　to　provide　for　my　future。〃

〃That　is　hard　to　tell；〃　replied　Lion；　with　a　sigh。　〃For　every　thing　a　certain　something　is　necessary；　which　you；　unfortunately；　do　not　possess。〃

〃And　what　is　this　something？　〃　asked　the　boy；　hastily

〃Money；〃　replied　the　merchant。　〃It　is　not　enough　to　pray　to　Allah；　and　to　receive　into　one's　soul　the　precepts　of　the　Koran；　one　must　also　use　one's　hands　industriously；　and　learn　the　precepts　of　wor