mohammed ali and his house-第43部分

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She　kissed　him　passionately。　〃I　love　you；　Mohammed；　and　you　alone　will　I　love　on　earth！〃

He　looks　at　her　tenderly；　and　shudders；　for　her　countenance　is　still　deathly　pale。

〃I　can　no　longer　look　upon　your　dear　face；　I　cannot！〃　he　cries；　in　tones　of　anguish。　〃I　have　a　dread　foreboding　that　I　see　you　for　the　last　time。　Farewell；　Masa；　farewell！　Pray　for　me；　and　for　yourself；　and　for　our　love。　Farewell；　sweet　being；　my　white　dove；　farewell！〃

He　folds　her　to　his　heart　once　more；　and　then　away；　away　out　into　the　night。　He　still　hears　behind　him　the　tones　of　the　sweet　voice　crying；　〃Farewell；　farewell！〃

Then　all　is　still；　and　he　rushes　on　through　the　darkness　toward　the　stairway　in　the　rock。




BOOK　III。

THE　MAMELUKES


CHAPTER　I

REVENGE。


The　night　was　mild　and　warm；　the　sea　rested　in　silent　majesty　like　a　slumbering　lion；　and　the　wind　seemed　to　hold　its　breath　in　order　that　his　repose　might　not　be　disturbed。　To　be　in　the　open　air　on　such　a　night　was　good　for　the　weak　breast　of　an　invalid；　and　Osman's　father　was　therefore　not　surprised　when　his　son　expressed　a　desire　to　pass　the　night　in　the　garden　pavilion；　in　preference　to　remaining　in　the　close　apartments　of　the　palace。　He　would　be　protected　from　wind　and　rain　by　the　roof　of　the　pavilion；　and　from　all　other　sources　of　danger　the　two　slaves　that　had　been　his　faithful　and　devoted　servants　from　his　earliest　youth　would　guard　him。　The　two　servants　carried　his　cushions　down　into　the　garden；　and　Osman　now　lay　there；　wrapped　in　his　silken　coverlet；　the　two　slaves　were　crouched　down　at　his　side。　They　were　still　there　when　the　tschorbadji；　before　retiring　for　the　night；　came　down　to　see　his　son　once　more　and　bid　him　good…night；　and　there　they　remained　until　all　the　lights　were　extinguished　in　the　apartments　of　the　tschorbadji　as　well　as　in　those　of　the　pacha。　Then；　when　all　had　become　still；　one　of　them　stooped　down　and　addressed　his　master　in　low　tones；　after　they　had　carried　on　a　short；　whispered　conversation　the　slave　arose　and　glided　noiselessly　away　toward　the　garden…wall；　which　formed　no　obstacle　to　his　progressas　the　faithful　servant　could　climb　like　a　catand　he　was　soon　on　the　other　side。

Osman　remained　on　his　couch；　conversing　in　low　tones　with　the　other　servant。　Both　were　attentively　observing　the　pacha's　harem；　and　it　surprised　them　to　see　that　lights　were　being　carried　to　and　fro　in　the　lower　apartments　at　so　late　an　hour。

〃Something　extraordinary　is　surely　taking　place　there；〃　murmured　Osman；　〃and　we　must　be　on　our　guard；　and　listen　to　the　slightest　noise。〃

Hours　passed；　and　the　same　activity　was　still　being　displayed　in　the　harem；　and　from　time　to　time　the　attentive　servant　perceived　shadows　flitting　up　and　down　the　avenue　that　led　to　the　harem。

Footsteps　are　now　heard　approaching。　It　is　the　slave　Nadeg；　and　he　comes　swiftly　to　his　master's　couch；　kneels　down　and　speaks　to　him　for　some　time　in　low；　earnest　tones。　Osman　rises　from　his　cushions。

〃The　time　has　come；　we　must　warn　him；　we　must　help　him！　Be　quick；　both　of　you！Jabad；　hasten　to　the　summit　of　the　rock。　Here；　take　the　pistol　and　give　the　signal　agreed　upon；　three　shots　fired　at　short　intervals。But　you；　Nadeg；　hasten　down　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave　again；　and　when；　aroused　by　my　shots；　my　friend　comes　out；　call　him；　tell　him　I　am　awaiting　him；　and　bring　him　to　me　at　once。　Oh；　I　am　anxious　on　his　account：　be　quick；　that　you　may　get　there　in　time！〃

The　two　walk　stealthily　and　rapidly　down　the　garden…path。　Osman　listens　to　their　retreating　footsteps；　and；　as　they　die　away　in　the　distance；　he　draws　a　breath　of　relief。　They　are　good；　zealous　servants；　and　will　obey　his　instructions　faithfully。　He　listens　again　eagerly；　and　again　looks　over　toward　the　harem；　where　be　sees　the　lights　still　flitting　about　and　shadows　passing　the　windows。

Osman's　heart　tells　him　that　something　unusual；　something　that　bodes　no　good　to　his　friend；　is　going　on　there；　and　his　love　gives　strength　to　his　poor；　weak　body。　He　rises　from　his　cushions；　his　limbs　are　stiff；　and　his　breast　pains　him；　but　he　is　heedless　of　this。　Cautiously　he　descends　the　steps　into　the　garden；　and　walks　noiselessly　down　the　pathway。　He　knows　that　a　high　hedge　separates　the　garden　of　the　harem　from　the　rest　of　the　park　at　the　end　of　this　path。　Hitherto　all　have　respected　this　boundary；　and　no　one　has　dared　to　cross　it；　may　the　good　spirits　pardon　the　young　man　for　venturing　to　do　so　now！　He　is　in　the　garden　of　the　harem。　It　is　certainly　dangerous　to　enter　it；　and；　if　the　eunuchs　should　discover　him　there；　they　would　seize　him。　But；　fortunately；　he　is　the　tschorbadji's　son；　and　that　will　protect　him。　He　is　on　his　father's　property。　He　walks　onward；　no　longer　painfully；　he　no　longer　feels　that　his　breast　hurts　him；　he　is　only　thinking　of　his　friend；　he　can　perhaps　discover　something　for　him；　perhaps　something　for　him。　He　now　stands　still　and　listens。　In　the　distance　he　hears　the　reports　of　the　pistol。

〃Ah；　Mohammed　is　warned！　He　has　been　aroused　from　his　sweet　repose；　and　will　come　to　me。〃

But　he　must　know　what　all　this　disturbance　and　running　about　means。　Osman　has　approached　close　to　the　harem；　and　stands　at　the　iron　gate　that　opens　into　the　court…yard。　He　stands　there　for　a　moment　and　listens；　and　then　crosses　the　court…yard　and　looks　toward　the　door　in　the　wall　that　opens　into　the　street。　All　is　still　in　the　house；　as　in　the　yard；　but　now　he　hears　a　noise　at　the　door　that　opens　into　the　vestibule　of　the　building。　It　is　opened；　and　two　dark　figures　appear；　and　descend　the　steps　into　the　yard。　They　are　carrying　something；　it　looks　like　a　cot；　it　is　a　cot　covered　with　white　sheets；　but　it　is　empty。　They　carry　it　across　the　yard；　and　out　into　the　street。

He　hears　them　lock　the　door　from　the　outside；　hears　the　murmuring　of　voices；　and　then　all　is　again　quiet。　What　was　the　cot　intended　for？　What　could　it　all　mean？

He　listens；　and　looks　around　anxiously；　but　all　is　still。　Perhaps　his　care　and　anxiety　have　been　groundless；　perhaps　these　are　only　things　the　servants　are　carrying　to　the　ship　to　prepare　for　Cousrouf's　departure　on　the　morrow。

He　again　listens　awhile；　and　then　returns　through　the　garden　to　the　pavilion。　Wearily　he　throws　himself　on　his　cushions；　and　lies　there；　for　a　moment；　with　closed　eyes。

Now　he　hears　footsteps　approaching。　Who　can　it　be？　he　asks　in　a　low　voice；　and　the　two　servants　emerge　from　the　darkness；　come　to　his　side；　and　whisper　something　in　his　ear。　Osman　draws　a　breath　of　relief。

〃Allah　be　praised；　he　is　coming；　he　is　saved！〃

Yes；　other　footsteps　are　now　rapidly　approaching；　and；　in　a　moment；　Mohammed　is　at　his　friend's　side。

〃You　called　me；　my　friend；　and　here　I　am！　What　has　happened？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　Mohammed。　It　seems　to　be　nothing；　and　yet　my　heart　was　filled　with　care　and　anxiety　on　your　account；　and　I　could　not　resist　the　inclination　to　call　you。　Listen：　Nadeg　was　among　the　cliffs　not　far　from　the　entrance　of　your　cave；　to　which　you　came　late　at　night。　He　was　standing　guard　there；　but　be　was　not　alone；〃

〃He　was　not　alone？　What　does　that　mean？〃　asked　Mohammed；　in　dismay。

〃Not　alone；　for　in　the　vicinity；　hidden　in　the　shadow　of　a　rock；　stood　two　dark　figures；　and　he　heard　them　whispering　and　telling　each　other　that　you　were　there；　and　that　they　were　now　sure　of　their　prey。　When　Nadeg　had　heard　this；　he　returned　hastily　to　me；　and　told　me　of　it。　I　then　sent　both　servants　out；　the　one　to　stand　guard　near　the　cave；　the　other　to　the　summit　of　the　rock　to　fire　the　pistol；　and　give　the　warning　signal。　Nadeg　found　the　two　men　still　near　the　cave；　lying　in　wait　like　panthers；　and　he　saw　that　they　were　gradually　creeping　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　cave。　In　the　meanwhile；　I　had　gone　into　the　harem…garden；　where　I　saw　two　eunuchs　carry　a　cot　out　into　the　street。　Now　you　know　all；　and　now　it　seems　to　me　that　all　is　well。　I　was　anxious　on　your　account；　fearing　these　men；　who　were　lying　in　wait；　might　attack　and　kill　you。　This　was　why　I　sent　my　servants　out。　But　now　I　am　happy；　for　you　are　safe；　and　with　me。　I　beg　you　to　stay　with　me　until　to…morrow；　stay　here；　that　every　one　may　know　where　you　have　passed　the　night。　Do　not　refuse　me。　This　is　the　last　night　of　danger　and　anxiety。　Cousrouf　departs　to…morrow；　and　then　you　will　be　safe。〃

〃No；　Osman；　no；　it　is　impossible！〃　said　Mohammed；　who　could　not　himself　account　for　the　anxiety　that　made　his　heart　throb　so　wildly。　〃I　thank　you　for　your　warning；　and　beg　you　to　let　me　have　your　pistol。　Is　it　loaded？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Nadeg。　〃I　loaded　it　again　after　firing。〃

〃Yes；　give　it　to　him！If　you　will　not　remain；　Mohammed；　take　the　weapon；　and；　if　I　hear　a　shot；　I　shall　know　you　are　attacked　and　in　danger；　then　I　will　wake　my　father；　and　beg　him　to　send　the　soldiers　to　your　assistance。　But　stay　with　me　yet　awhile；　my　friend！〃

〃No；　Osman；　I　can　remain　no　longer。　I　must　be　off！　My　heart　is　filled　with　a　sense　of　impending　evil；　with　gloomy　forebodings。〃

〃Then　go；　Mohammed；　and　may　Allah　bless　and　protect　you！　Oh；　that　this　fearful　night　were　at　an　end！〃

Mohammed　hastens　away　down　the　garden　path；　and　soon　disappears　in　the　darkness。

〃Stay　with　me；　you　good；　faithful　servants。　Oh；　how　anxious　I　am；　how　wildly　my　heart　beats！　Yet　I　do　not　fear　for　myself；　but　for　my　dear　friend　Mohammed。　Pray　to　Allah　for　grace　and　mercy！　Yes；　let　us　all　pray　to　Allah！〃

Mohammed　rushes　on　through　the　night；　down　the　stone　stairway。　He　flies　with　the　speed　of　an　arrow　from　rock　to　rock。　Now　he　is　down　by　the　cave。　He　looks　behind　him　once　more。　There　is　nothing　to　be　seen；　nowhere　a　human　figure。　Nothing！　Osman　must　have　been　mistaken；　no　one　observed　him；　no　one　was　there！　He　creeps　through　the　fissure　in　the　cliff；　to　the　inner　grotto　to　the　place　where　the　passage　becomes　narrow；　and　where　Masa　was　to　have　rolled　the　stone　before　the　opening。　He　feels　for　this　stone　to　push　it　back。　But　what　does　this　mean？　The　stone　is　no　longer　there；　the　cave　is　open！

He　recoils　for　a　moment　with　terror。　He　then　resolutely　creeps　on　through　the　opening。　Masa　must　have　forgotten　it；　that　is　all！　He　calls　herno　answer。

But　he　had　told　her　to　retire　into　the　second　grotto；　and　await　him　there。　There　she　will　be；　there　she　must　be。

〃Masa；　where　are　you？　Masa；　my　wh