mohammed ali and his house-第44部分

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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　white　dove；　Masa！〃

All　is　still；　no　answer　comes；　no　voice　replies　in　tender　greeting　to　his　anxious　and　repeated　call。

〃Masa！　where　are　you；　Masa？〃

The　silence　is　profound。　He　utters　a　cry　that　resounds　fearfully　through　the　cave。　He　gropes　about　in　the　darkness。　Then　he　turns　again；　and　cries　out　loudly；　but　all　is　still　as　before。　He　goes　back　to　the　passage；　and　into　the　first　grotto；　the　one　with　the　large　opening　in　the　roof；　to　the　place　where　the　sky　can　be　seen。　The　clouds　have　disappeared；　and　the　moon　sheds　its　soft　light　into　the　cave。

〃Masa；　are　you　asleep？〃　he　cries；　as　he　kneels　down　beside　the　cushions。

But　they　are　empty；　and　things　are　thrown　about　in　disorder　in　the　grotto。　The　moonlight　shines　brightly　in　the　cave；　and　shows　that　a　terrible　struggle　has　taken　place　here。　The　carpets　and　cushions　are　thrown　together　confusedly；　fragments　of　broken　cups　and　saucers　strew　the　ground；　and　every　thing　is　overturned。　At　last　he　must　recognize　the　fact。　Masa　is　gone；　he　has　been　robbed　of　his　Masa。

He　sinks　down　upon　the　earth　and　cries　in　loud；　heartrending　tones：　〃Masa　is　gone；　the　slave…dealer　has　recovered　his　slave。　Oh；　horror；　Masa　is　gone！〃　He　springs　to　his　feet；　and　rushes　toward　the　entrance；　then　he　stands　still　again；　and　cries　in　piercing　tones　that　make　the　rocks　reverberate：　〃Masa；　where　are　you？〃　No　answer。　It　was　thus　that　her　father　had　cried　out　a　few　days　before：　〃Masa；　where　are　you？〃

Punishment　has　overtaken　the　undutiful　daughter；　and　him　who　had　harbored　her。

〃Masa；　where　are　you？〃　For　the　second　time；　the　agonized　voice　of　love　resounded　through　the　cave。　Masa　is　gone。

Ah；　where　can　she　be？　All　is　still。　A　struggle　has　taken　place　here。　Hired　assassins；　perhaps　robbers；　have　broken　into　this　paradise　here　beneath　the　earth　that　he　considered　so　secure。　But　nothing　is　secure　from　man；　cruel　men　have　broken　into　his　sanctuary　and　desecrated　his　paradise。

He　no　longer　groans　and　laments。　He　raises　his　clinched　fists；　and　swears　by　Allah　that　be　will　be　revenged　on　the　robbers　and　murderers　of　his　Masa。　Suddenly　he　is　seized　from　behind；　two　arms　encircle　him　like　iron　rings；　and　bind　his　arms　to　his　side。　Another　hand　seizes　the　pistol　be　carries　in　his　girdle；　and　draws　his　sword　from　his　scabbard。　Mohammed　opens　his　lips　to　cry　out；　but　a　hand　is　laid　on　them；　and　he　is　incapable　of　uttering　a　single　tone。

〃It　would　be　vain　to　cry　out；　Mohammed　Ali；　young　boulouk　bashi。　No　one　can　hear　you　but　we；　and　we　are　indifferent　to　your　cries。Be　quick；　Aga；　put　the　gag　in　his　mouth　and　bind　the　cloth　over　it。　Let　us　finish　our　work！　Day　is　breaking；　and　it　must　be　done　quickly！　Our　master's　orders　here　to　do　it　quickly。〃

Mohammed　is　securely　bound　and　motionless。　He　is　now　a　mere　package　borne　along　by　the　eunuchs；　but　a　package　that　thinks；　feels；　and　suffers。　His　eyes　are　wide　open；　and　up　at　his　enemies　with　a　fearful　expression。　He　knows　he　cannot　pierce　them　through　with　his　eyes；　for　they　are　not　daggers；　and　his　hands　are　bound。　But　he　swears　that　he　will　have　vengeance　on　his　enemies；　either　above；　before　Allah's　throne；　or　here　on　earth　already；　if　he　is　permitted　to　live。　He　has　no　fear　for　himself；　for　his　own　life。　For　that　he　cares　not。　He　cares　only　for　Masa；　he　thinks　only　of　her；　and　his　roving　glance　seeks　her　anxiously。

He　is　being　borne　to　the　sea…shore。　Do　they　intend　to　cast　into　the　waves？　Let　it　be　so。　Death　is　sweet；　divine；　when　one　has　lost　all　on　earth。　And　he　feels　that　all；　that　his　Masa；　is　lost。

If　she　is　lost　to　him；　what　further　need　of　the　stars　in　heaven；　of　the　moonlight；　of　the　bright　sunshine？　Then　all　is　darkness　and　desolation。　Will　they　kill　him？　Will　they　cast　him　into　the　sea？

The　waves　will　murmuringly　receive　him；　and　consign　him　to　their　depths。　There　he　will　rest　tranquilly。　They　have　now　reached　the　beach；　and　the　eunuchs　lay　him　down　on　the　sand；　not　carelessly　as　a　package　is　thrown　down；　but　cautiously　and　gently。

〃Remember；　Aga；〃　murmured　one　to　the　other；　〃that　we　have　orders　not　to　injure　a　hair　of　his　head；　or　to　cause　him　slightest　pain。　We　will　lay　him　down　here；　here　he　can　rest　easily；　and　can　raise　his　head　and　see。　The　eyes　of　the　young　boulouk　bashi；　accustomed　as　they　are　to　the　dark；　will　easily　be　able　to　detect　who　it　is　that　approaches　from　over　there。〃　And　the　eunuch　raised　his　hand　and　pointed　toward　the　path　that　led　to　Cavalla。

Yes；　his　eyes　are　accustomed　to　the　dark；　and　he　does　see　figures　advancing　from　that　direction。　Not　one　or　two；　but　a　crowd　of　figures　are　approaching；　and　in　their　midst　he　sees　something　white；　that　is　being　borne　along　by　others。

For　a　moment　his　heart　stands　still　with　horror；　and　then　beats　again　with　redoubled　violence。

The　procession　comes　nearer　and　nearer。　Now　he　hears　a　low；　wailing　voice。　It　is　she；　he　recognizes　Masa's　voice。　And　alas！　he　can　utter　no　tone；　he　cannot　rise　and　fly　to　her　assistance。　His　mouth　is　gagged；　his　hands　and　feet　are　securely　bound。　There　he　lies　perfectly　helpless；　he　can　do　nothing　but　swear　vengeance　to　himself。　Oh；　he　cannot　utter　a　single　word　to　tell　that　he　is　there；　and　that　he　shares　her　grief　and　anguish。

They　have　now　come　close　to　him。　Mohammed　sees　them　deposit　a　cot　on　the　ground。　He　sees　a　white　veiled　figure　lying　motionless　on　this　cot。　He　also　sees　and　recognizes　the　haughty　man　who　now　comes　to　the　side　of　the　cot。　It　is　Cousrouf　Pacha；　his　hated　and　now　dreaded　enemy。　Alas！　he　is　now　in　his　power。　The　young　lion　lies　bound　at　the　panther's　feet；　he　is　helpless　and　must　submit　to　all。

Cousrouf　commands　the　eunuchs；　who　had　stood　still　awaiting　his　orders；　to　retire　after　first　placing　the　cot　a　little　nearer　to　the　sea。

They　noiselessly　do　as　directed；　and　then　retire。　Now　they　are　aloneCousrouf　Pacha　and　the　two　bound；　helpless　creatures。

A　few　rosy　little　clouds　have　appeared　in　the　east；　it　is　growing　lighter；　and　the　dark　mantle　of　night　is　being　lifted。　The　sea　is　beginning　to　swell　with　the　breath　of　morning；　and　to　caress　the　beach；　and　murmur　at　the　feet　of　the　fettered　man。　He　looks　neither　at　the　sea　beneath；　nor　at　the　heavens　above。　He　gazes　up　with　flaming　eyes　at　him　who　stands　composedly　by　his　side；　looking　down　upon　him　contemptuously。

〃Mohammed；　you　have　a　friend　who　loves　you　well；　and　this　friend　was　too　shrewd　for　me。　I　had　sworn　with　the　triple　oath　that　I　would　grant　the　request　he　should　ask　of　me。　He　asked　for　your　life　and　your　safety。〃

A　low　groan　escaped　the　breast　of　the　bound　man。　Though　be　could　not　denounce　his　enemy　in　words；　he　could　nevertheless　give　expression　to　the　curse　that　burned　in　his　heart　in　the　proud；　fierce　glance　of　his　eye。　But　he　must　bear　his　enemy's　scornful　words　and　smiles　in　silence。

〃I　gave　my　word　that　you　should　suffer　no　bodily　injury；　and　I　will　keep　it。　But　you　shall　see　how　Cousrouf　Pacha　punishes　where　no　oath　binds　him；　and　how　he　avenges　himself　on　those　who　dare　to　defy　him　and　his　authority。　Yes；　you　shall　see；　and　shall　carry　with　you　throughout　life　the　remembrance　of　what　you　have　seen。　Thus　Cousrouf　avenges　himself　on　you。　Now　look　and　hear。　Incline　your　head　a　little；　and　look　down　at　that　cot　on　which　the　white　figure　lies。

Oh；　why　is　the　sun　so　cruel　as　to　begin　to　shed　its　light　around　them；　and　illumine　this　figure；　that　the　poor　bound　man　may　see　it　distinctly！

It　is　she；　it　is　Masa！　So　near　and　yet　so　far；　so　widely；　eternally　separated　from　him。　No　longer　can　they　grasp　hands　or　exchange　vows　of　undying　love。　A　grave　lies　between；　a　fearful；　impassable　barrier。　That　they　both　know。　For　they　know　the　lawthe　law　of　the　land　that　permits　the　master　to　punish　the　slave　he　has　purchased。　Yes；　to　punish　her　according　to　the　law　if　he　finds　her　unfaithful。　She　is　tied　up　in　a　sack　and　cast　into　the　sea；　that　no　mound　may　designate　the　spot　where　a　poor　traitoress　has　found　her　place　of　burial；　that　she　may　disappear　from　the　world　untalked　of　and　unnoticed。

Cousrouf　stands　haughtily　erect　beside　the　cot　on　which　the　figure　lies。

〃Masa；　daughter　of　the　Sheik　of　Praousta；　confess　that　you　are　rightfully　and　according　to　the　law　my　slave。　I　paid　you　the　purchase…money；　and　you　accepted　it。　I　was　gracious；　and　granted　your　request　that　you　might　pass　the　day　with　your　father。　I　was　a　fool；　and　trusted　to　human　faith。　Because　you　swore　by　the　spirit　of　your　mother　and　by　Allah；　and　all　you　held　sacred；　that　you　would　return　to　me　in　the　evening。　as　it　beseemed　a　purchased　slave；　to　my　harem；　where　the　eunuchs　awaited　you。　I　granted　you　this　delay　out　of　kindness。　You　mocked　at　my　mercy　and　scorned　my　kindness。　You　broke　your　oath。　And　you　fled　from　your　master　with　this　boy　in　shameless　infidelity。〃

He　paused　and　looked　down　at　the　white　figure；　as　if　expecting　an　answer；　although　he　knew　that　Masa；　too；　had　been　gagged　in　order　that　no　cry　for　help　might　escape　her　pale　lips。　They　are　both　bound。　The　same　fate　has　overtaken　both；　and　they　must　bear　it　in　silence。　Their　fearful　anguish　can　find　no　utterance。

〃Masa；　I　repeat　what　I　said　before。　Repent　and　attempt　to　repair　the　wrong　you　have　done；　show　your　master　that　you　will　belong　to　him　in　love；　show　this；　as　he　requires　it　of　you。　Go　with　me　voluntarily　to　the　sheik；　your　father；　tomorrow；　and　say　to　him：　'Cousrouf　Pacha　has　purchased　me；　and　I　will　follow　him　out　into　the　world；　of　my　own　free　will　and　love。'　Say　this　to　the　boy；　too；　who　lies　there；　tell　him　that　henceforth　you　will　be　your　master's　faithful　slave；　and　will　serve　him　in　love　and　joyousness。　Do　this；　Masa；　and　I　will　pardon　you　for　the　sake　of　your　youth　and　beauty；　and　because　my　heart　prompts　me　to　do　so。　Raise　your　hand　three　times　in　token　of　your　assent；　and；　I　repeat；　I　will　forgive　you。　Yet　your　repentance　must　be　public。　I　demand　this　in　justice　to　myself；　and　on　account　of　that　proud　boy；　that　he　may　receive　his　punishment　through　you。　Now；　answer！　Give　the　sign！〃

He　pauses　and　waits。　Nothing　breaks　in　upon　the　stillness　but　the　murmuring　of　the　waves　upon　the　shore。

The　two　unhappy　creatures　cannot　pour　out　their　anguish