mohammed ali and his house-第36部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ght　about；　halt！〃　resounds　Mohammed's　word　of　command；　and　his　soldiers　stand　there　like　a　wall。

〃Well　done；〃　said　Cousrouf　Pacha；　with　a　gracious　inclination　of　the　head。　He　then　added　in　a　loud　voice；　in　order　that　Mohammed　should　hear　him：　〃You　see；　governor；　street　boys　can　watch　soldiers　exercising　to　some　purpose。　Mohammed　has　not　stared　at　them　on　the　street　in　vain。〃

He　turns　and　leaves　the　court…yard；　repairs　to　his　private　apartments；　and　calls　the　two　eunuchs　who　had　held　the　fruitless　watch　at　the　gate　the　previous　night。

〃When　the　soldiers　have　left　the　court…yard；　twelve　of　their　number　will　be　placed　at　your　disposal。　Let　them　load　their　muskets　and　unsheath　their　swords。　Then　go　to　Praousta；　to　the　sheik's　house；　and　demand　the　restoration　of　my　slave。　Demand　it　in　my　name。　If　her　father　refuses；　search　the　house　and　every　place　connected　with　it。　Break　open　the　doors　if　he　refuses　to　unlock　them。　If　you　do　not　find　her　there；　search　the　other　houses　of　the　village。　I　must　have　her！　If　you　do　not　find　her　to…day；　then　find　her　to…morrow　or　the　next　day。　I　will　allow　you　a　week's　time　in　which　to　get　possession　of　this　runaway　slave。　If　you　do　not　return　her；　your　heads　shall　fall！　Remember　that！　Stop；　one　thing　more：　observe　and　watch　the　new　boulouk　bashi。　Select　some　of　my　servants　to　follow　him　day　and　night；　and　to　observe　every　thing　he　does；　yet　without　letting　him　become　aware　of　it；　for　he　is　a　shrewd　lad　and　a　daring　one；　too。　Now；　you　can　go。〃

While　the　company　is　still　standing　drawn　up　in　the　court…yard；　the　tschorbadji　beckons　Mohammed　Ali　to　his　side；　and　enters　the　palace　with　him。

〃Mohammed；　it　is　evident　that　you　will　become　a　brave　and　efficient　soldier。　You　have　courage；　now　learn　to　control　your　anger；　to　govern　yourself；　and　then　you　will　know　how　to　command　others。　See；　this　purse　filled　with　gold…pieces　is　the　captain's　salary　for　three　months；　which　I　pay　in　advance；　as　the　young　boulouk　bashi　will　have　to　incur　some　necessary　expenses；　and　will　therefore　be　glad　to　accept　a　payment　in　advance。〃

Mohammed　thanked　the　governor；　and　received　the　first　salary　of　his　new　dignity　with　perfect　composure；　though　a　sudden　sparkling　in　his　eyes　indicated　how　much　he　rejoiced　over　it。

Osman；　however；　can　read　his　friend's　countenance　well。　As　the　governor　turns　away；　Osman　throws　his　arms　around　Mohammed's　neck　and　whispers　in　his　ear：　〃You　stand　there　radiant　like　a　hero；　and　all　the　bliss　of　the　world　and　of　love；　too；　is　reflected　in　your　countenance。　O　Mohammed；　father　says　you　should　learn　to　control　yourself；　and　I　am　satisfied　you　can。　When　my　friend　is　harassed　with　sorrow　and　care　his　countenance　bears　no　evidence　of　it；　but　happiness　is　not　to　be　repressed　and　driven　back　to　the　heart　in　this　way。　It　illumines　the　face　of　man　like　the　sun。　But　I　warn　you；　Mohammed；　it　is　sometimes　dangerous　to　let　one's　countenance　shine　so。　It　easily　awakens　suspicion　in　the　breast　of　an　enemy；　and　he　meditates　revenge。　Beware！　Beware！

Mohammed　regards　his　friend　as　though　he　did　not　understand　him。

〃What　do　you　mean；　Osman？〃

〃Nothing；　nothing　at　all；　Mohammed；　except　that　it　is　sometimes　dangerous　to　allow　one's　happiness　to　be　observed。　Bear　this　in　mind；　my　friend；　and　draw　a　veil　over　your　radiant　countenance。〃




CHAPTER　IX

WHERE　IS　SHE？


In　Praousta；　all　was　again　uproar　and　confusion。　Eight　eunuchs　of　the　mighty　pacha；　Cousrouf；　accompanied　by　a　detachment　of　twelve　soldiers；　came　down　from　Cavalla　at　noon。　They　went　directly　to　the　house　of　the　sheik；　and　demanded　to　see　him。

Djumeila；　her　eyes　red　with　weeping；　came　to　the　door　and　told　them　her　master　was　ill　with　grief　and　anxiety　on　account　of　the　disappearance　of　his　daughter。

The　eunuchs　pushed　her　aside；　and　penetrated；　in　spite　of　her　cries　and　attempts　to　bar　their　passage；　into　the　room　where　the　sheik　lay　on　his　divan；　with　pallid　face　and　staring　gaze。　His　lamentations　were　heartrending。　His　quivering　lips　continually　cried：　〃Where　is　my　daughter；　where　is　my　child？〃

They　roughly　forced　him　to　his　feet；　and　with　savage　threats　demanded　of　the　old　man　that　he　should　deliver　over　to　them　their　master's　slave；　his　daughter　Masa。　Aroused　from　his　torpor；　he　stares　at　them　in　amazement：

〃Slave！〃　cried　he。　〃And　you　call　her　Masa；　and　my　daughter；　and　you　say　it　is　she？　Who　calls　Masa；　daughter　of　the　sheik；　his　slave？〃

〃Our　master　does；〃　said　they〃our　master；　Cousrouf　Pacha。〃

〃How　can　the　stranger　dare　to　call　the　daughter　of　a　free　man；　a　free　girl；　his　slave？〃

〃He　dares　do　it　because　it　is　so；〃　replied　the　eunuchs；　shrugging　their　shoulders；　〃Masa　sold　herself　to　his　excellency；　our　gracious　master；　to　Cousrouf　Pacha；　when　she　procured　your　release　by　paying　the　second　tax。　You　thought　it　was　done　out　of　kindness。　No；　Masa　sold　herself　to　our　gracious　master；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　for　one　hundred　gold　sequins。〃

〃That　is　false；　you　lie；　you　wretches！　You　lie　in　all　you　say！　You　lie！〃　cried　the　sheik。　He　now　stood　erect；　regarding　them　threateningly。　〃Do　not　dare　to　speak　to　me　thus　again！　Justice　and　law　still　live！　No　one　can　say　that　Masa；　my　daughter；　is　a　slave；　and　may　he　who　says　it　stand　accursed　before　Allah　and　the　prophets！〃

The　two　eunuchs　threw　themselves　upon　him　and　held　him　fast。　They　then　called　two　of　the　soldiers　to　their　assistance；　and　bound　him　hand　and　foot。　This　done；　they　threw　the　old　man　contemptuously　down　upon　his　divan；　and　proceeded　to　ransack　every　part　of　the　house　in　search　of　Masa；　their　master's　runaway　slave。

There　lay　the　sheik；　bound　and　helpless；　groaning　and　lamenting：　〃I　am　mad！　I　hear　that　which　is　not。　I　hear　voices　say　that　which　cannot　be。　No；　I　am　mad！　It　is　impossible　that　Masa；　the　daughter　of　the　Sheik　of　Praousta；　is　the　slave　of　the　stranger　Turk！　Impossible　that　I　can　have　heard　such　a　thing！　Death　or　even　madness　is　approaching　me。　It　creeps　stealthily　toward　me　and　stares　at　me　wildly。　O　Masa；　my　daughter；　come　save　your　father！〃

About　him　all　was　still；　but　in　the　rooms　above　was　an　uproar。　He　heard　the　heavy　footsteps　in　the　upper　apartments；　into　which；　until　now；　no　man　save　the　father　had　ever　entered。　They　are　going　from　room　to　room；　throwing　the　daughter's　things　about；　ransacking　her　bedchamber；　overthrowing　furniture；　and　looking　under　carpets　and　mattresses；　searching　everywhere　for　the　only　daughter　of　the　poor　sheik。　Then　they　go　to　the　yard；　to　the　stables。　Masa　is　sought　everywhere。　But；　Allah　be　praised；　she　cannot　be　found！

Without；　before　the　door；　stand　the　men　and　women　of　the　village　in　a　wide　circle；　gazing　with　dismay　upon　the　eunuchs　and　the　twelve　soldiers；　who　now　come　out　of　the　door；　fall　in　line　before　the　house；　and　demand　of　the　people　to　tell　them　where　Masa；　the　sheik's　daughter；　is。

〃We　know　not。　We　have　not　seen　her。　How　can　we　tell　you　what　has　become　of　Masa；　the　sheik's　only　daughter？　She　was　as　pure　and　good　as　ever　girl　was。　No　one　looked　at　her。　Who　can　tell　where　she　is？〃

〃This　is　all　pretence。　Enough！　we　will　go　from　house　to　house　and　search　for　Masa！〃

With　cries　of　rage　the　men　attempt　to　oppose　them；　but　the　strange　soldiers　who　have　just　arrived　know　no　pity。　They　use　their　swords　vigorously　upon　those　who　oppose　them；　the　sight　of　blood　terrifies　the　others；　and　the　cries　of　the　wounded　silence　them。　The　eunuchs'　soldiers　are　allowed　to　enter　each　house；　for　the　men　of　Praousta　are　too　poor　to　be　able　to　provide　for　more　than　one　wife；　and　the　poor　man's　wife　has　no　separate；　secluded　apartments。　She　goes　about　in　the　house　unveiled；　and　attends　to　her　domestic　occupations　while　her　husband　is　out　hunting　or　fishing。　The　search　of　the　eunuchs　and　soldiers　for　the　girl　is　therefore　easily　conducted；　in　each　house　there　is　but　one　wife　and　she　is　unveiled；　as　are　also　the　children；　the　maidens；　however；　timidly　shrink　back　and　draw　their　veils　more　closely　about　them。　The　strange　soldiers；　however；　do　not　go　so　far　in　their　boldness　as　to　raise　the　veils　of　the　girls。　And　what　would　it　avail　them　to　do　so？　Neither　they　nor　the　eunuchs　have　ever　seen　the　face　of　the　sheik's　daughter。

〃It　is　useless　to　search　farther；〃　murmured　the　eunuchs；　after　having　looked　through　the　last　house　in　the　village；　without　finding　Masa。　〃It　is　useless。　It　was　useless　to　look　for　her　elsewhere　than　in　the　sheik's　house；　and　there　we　did　not　find　her。　The　law　forbids　our　doing　more；　and　the　tschorbadji；　when　he　placed　the　soldiers　at　the　disposal　of　our　gracious　master；　and　ordered　them　to　accompany　us；　expressly　commanded　that　we　should　not　enrage　the　men　of　Praousta　to　desperation；　or　to　any　thing　contrary　to　law。〃

〃But　remember；　brother；〃　said　the　other　eunuch；　〃what　our　master　said。　We　must　bring　him　back　this　runaway　slave　or　we　lose　our　heads！　And　truly　I　would　much　rather　keep　my　head　on　my　shoulders　than　have　it　rolled　to　the　ground。〃

〃And　so　would　I　mine；〃　said　the　first。　〃Therefore　we　will　do　all　we　can　to　get　possession　of　this　slave。　A　week　is　a　long　time；　and　I　hardly　think　we　shall　have　to　wait　so　long。〃

〃There　is　one　other　matter　we　must　not　lose　sight　of；〃　murmured　the　first　eunuch；　as　they　ascended　the　stairway　to　Cavalla；　followed　by　the　soldiers。　〃We　are　to　watch　the　crazy　young　captain；　the　boulouk　bashi；　and　report　all　he　does；　to　our　master。　It　seems　to　me　there　may　be　some　connection　between　the　young　boulouk　bashi　and　the　flight　of　the　slave。　Let　us　keep　our　eyes　open；　for　our　heads　are　at　stake。〃

And　with　gloomy　looks　they　presented　themselves　to　their　master　on　their　return　to　the　palace；　to　inform　him　that　they　had　made　thorough　search　for　Masa　in　the　sheik's　house；　and　had　not　found　her。

〃And　have　you　nothing　to　report　concerning　the　young　man；　Mohammed　Ali？〃　asked　the　pasha。

The　eunuchs　informed　him　that　they　had　not　yet　seen　him；　having　as　yet　been　wholly　occupied　with　their　search　for　the　escaped　slave；　they　would；　however；　have　something　to　report　to　his　excellency　concerning　the　boulouk　bashi　on　the　following　morning；　or　that　very　evening；　perhaps。

〃Who　knows　where　Mohammed　Ali　now　is？〃

〃He　has　not　been　seen　at　the　palace　since　the　reception　of　the　soldiers　in　the　court…yard。〃

〃He　must　have　gone　to　the　hut　his　mother　once　occupied；　as