mohammed ali and his house-第45部分

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The　two　unhappy　creatures　cannot　pour　out　their　anguish　in　each　other's　ears；　or　exchange　their　vows　of　undying　love。　And　yet　for　a　moment　they　are　blessed；　for　their　hearts　understand　each　other；　and　their　souls　are　filled　for　an　instant　with　ineffable　love　and　happiness　and　anguish。

Mohammed　knows　that　Masa　refuses　what　the　haughty　man　requires　of　her。　Mohammed　knows　that　Masa　prefers　death　to　life　at　the　side　of　another　man；　and　he　feels　some　consolation　in　his　heart　at　the　thought　that　she　is　there；　and　that　her　death　is　but　the　manifestation　of　the　immortality　of　her　love。

He　is　the　witness　of　her　death　and　of　her　fidelity；　and　this　soothes　his　anguish。　Ah！　it　is　sweet　to　die　under　the　glance　of　love；　heavenly　and　blissful　to　sink　into　the　grave　with　gaze　fixed　on　the　countenance　of　the　beloved　one；　heart　communing　with　heart；　though　lips　can　find　no　utterance。　It　is　a　grand　and　elevating　sight　to　him　who　loves　to　behold　so　faithful　and　heroic　a　death。　After　long　years　have　elapsed；　Mohammed　will　still　think　of　this　hour　when　Masa　stood　firm　and　immovable　in　her　vows；　nobly　and　disdainfully　rejecting　life。

Blessed　be　the　love　that　is　strong　even　unto　death！　Blessed　be　death　when　such　a　spirit　hovers　over　and　consecrates　it。

A　long　pause。　And　Cousrouf　Pacha　speaks　again　in　harder　and　more　imperious　tones　than　before：

〃Raise　your　hand；　Masa；　and　give　the　sign　I　require。〃

Masa　remains　motionless。　Death　awaits　her；　she　knows　this；　and　is　glad。　Oh；　that　her　face　were　not　veiled！　Mohammed　might　then　read　her　love　in　her　eyesin　these　stars　fallen　from　heaven；　as　he　had　called　them　a　few　short　hours　before。

〃Masa；　give　the　sign；　this　is　your　last　opportunity。〃

She　does　not　move。

〃Then　I　curse　you；　and　you　die！　You　have　pronounced　judgment　on　yourself！Here；　ye　slaves！〃

They　flutter　to　his　side　like　the　ravens　of　the　night；　greedily　seeking　their　prey。

〃Take　hold　of　her　and　tie　her　up　in　the　sack。〃

Mohammed's　hands　and　feet　are　bound；　and　he　cannot　rise；　but　he　can　lift　his　head　and　gaze　at　the　dread　deed　that　is　being　done；　and　he　does　so。　Yes；　he　sees　his　white　dove　disappear　in　the　sack　in　the　black　grave　that　is　closed　over　her。

〃Thus　are　unfaithful　slaves　punished；　and　thus　the　law　allows　and　commands。　Tie　the　mouth　of　the　sack　securely。　Is　it　done？　Is　the　boat　ready？〃

They　murmur　that　all　is　in　readiness。

〃Good！　Row　her　out　on　the　water。　Yet　not　too　far；　in　order　that　this　boy　may　see　what　takes　place。〃

He　must　bear　it；　and　look　on　while　the　black　ravens　drag　his　white　dove　down　to　the　shore；　and　cast　the　living　burden　into　the　boat。

They　row　with　rapid　strokes　from　the　shore；　but　not　far　out；　for　they　know　the　sea　is　deep　at　this　place；　and　that　it　greedily　swallows　all　that　is　confided　to　it。　To　the　rope　with　which　the　mouth　of　the　sack　is　tied　up　they　have　secured　two　heavy　iron　balls；　that　it　may　sink　rapidly　into　the　deep。　They　stop。

〃Take　in　the　oars！　Now　lift　the　sack；　cast　it　into　the　sea！〃

The　waves　receive　their　prey；　and　the　water　foams　and　eddies　for　a　moment　over　the　place　where　it　went　down。　All　is　still　again。　The　boat　is　turned　and　rowed　back　to　the　shore。

Cousrouf　Pacha　has　stood　there；　composedly　gazing　at　this　fearful；　horrible　burial。　Now　he　steps　to　the　side　of　the　poor；　bound　man；　and　takes　leave　of　him　in　cruel；　mocking　words。

Does　he　hear　them？　His　widely…opened　eyes　stare　out　fixedly　upon　the　waters。　He　is　motionless；　no　quivering　muscle　indicates　that　he　has　understood　the　pacha's　words　of　triumph　and　mockery。　Cousrouf　turns　and　beckons　to　the　slaves。

〃Leave　him　lying　there！　He　will　be　found　in　the　morning；　for　he　will　be　looked　for。　Nothing　has　been　done　to　him；　and　I　have　kept　my　word。　Now　let　us　go；　the　ship　is　ready　to　sail；　is　it　not？〃

〃Yes；　gracious　master；　all　is　in　readiness；〃　replied　the　eunuchs。

He　turns　and　walks　off　toward　Cavalla。　An　hour　later；　Cousrouf　Pacha　leaves　the　governor's　house；　and　leaves　it　to　return　no　more。

His　harem　had　been　conveyed　to　the　ship　before　the　morning　dawned；　and　all　his　treasure　and　baggage　had　been　packed；　and　taken　on　board　the　day　before。　All　is　in　readiness　to　weigh　the　anchor　and　sail　as　soon　as　the　pacha　shall　have　come　on　board。

Cousrouf　Pacha　walks　proudly　down　toward　the　harbor；　at　his　side　the　governor；　who　insists　on　accompanying　his　honored　guest　to　the　shore。　The　servants　in　gold…embroidered　liveries；　and　the　slaves；　follow　his　excellency。

And；　gayly　smiling；　Cousrouf　chats　with　the　governor　all　the　way　down　to　the　shore；　grasps　his　hand　in　parting；　and　thanks　him　for　his　hospitality。　He　then　enters　the　boat　covered　with　costly　carpets　that　is　to　convey　him　to　the　ship。

The　tschorbadji　stands　on　the　shore　gazing　after　him；　vainly　endeavoring　to　display　a　sorrowful；　countenance；　and　repress　all　evidence　of　gladness　that　fills　his　heart　at　the　thought　that；　after　long　years；　the　haughty　pacha；　who　entered　his　house　as　master；　has　at　last　departed。　Ah；　it　will　be　delightful　to　be　able　to　walk　in　the　park　and　garden；　with　his　Osman；　without　the　fear　of　meeting　his　proud　guest。

Hastily　the　tschorbadji　returns　to　Cavalla；　to　his　son　who　is　still　reclining　in　the　garden　house；　and　relates　that　Cousrouf　has　departed；　and　that　he　has　sent　his　dear　Osman　the　kindest　greetings；　and　the　best　wishes　for　his　welfare。

Osman　listens　with　an　air　of　indifference　and　anxiety；　and　his　father　regards　him　with　dismay。

〃Osman；　what　is　the　matter；　what　is　it　that　grieves　you？〃

〃Father；　I　must　say　it。　Something　fearful　has　taken　place　this　night！〃

〃What　can　have　happened；　Osman？　Tranquillize　yourself！　You　are　trembling！　What　has　occurred？〃

〃Father；　I　do　not　know　as　yet；　I　have　been　listening　for　the　shot　Mohammed　was　to　fire。　I　have　not　yet　heard　it；　and　yet　I　feel　that　some　misfortune　has　happened　to　him；　and　that　something　dreadful　has　taken　place。〃

〃But　what　can　have　happened　to　Mohammed？〃

〃I　cannot　speak　of　it　now；　and　I　am　a　poor；　unhappy　being　whose　feet　are　too　weak　to　bear　him。　I　pray　you　go　down　to　Praousta　yourself。　Oh；　go　to　the　cliffs；　father；　go　to　the　caves　and　openings　in　the　rock！　Take　the　servants　with　you！　I　conjure　you；　father；　do　not　delay　a　moment！〃

He　could　speak　no　further；　and　the　tschorbadji　saw；　with　dismay；　that　his　son's　face　was　deathly　pale。

〃Be　courageous；　my　Osman！　It　shall　be　as　you　say。　I　will　call　the　servants。　See；　I　am　already　going！〃

He　hastily　left　the　palace　with　his　servants。　All　is　still　quiet　in　Praoustathe　walk　among　the　cliffs；　and　down　to　the　shore。　Then　suddenly

〃What　is　that　on　the　beach？　O　Allah；　the　merciful！　Is　that　not　a　dead　body？　Is　it　not　Mohammed？　Bound　and　gagged！　He　does　not　move！　Quick；　cut　the　ropes；　take　the　gag　out　of　his　mouth！〃

This　is　speedily　done；　but　still　Mohammed　does　not　move。

〃Is　he　dead？　There　are　no　wounds　to　be　seen　on　his　person！　No；　not　dead；　he　is　only　insensible。　Bring　water；　wet　his　temples；　cool　his　forehead！〃

Allah　be　praised！　He　moves；　he　lives！　Yes；　he　lives；　and　he　bounds　suddenly　to　his　feet；　and　he　gazes　around　with　the　expression　not　of　a　man；　but　of　a　tiger。　He　then　utters　a　cry　so　fearful；　so　terrible　a　cry；　that　the　tschorbadji's　heart　is　filled　with　anxiety　and　compassion。

With　outstretched　arms；　Mohammed　walks　down　to　the　verge　of　the　sea。

The　servants　rush　after　him；　and　endeavor　to　hold　him　back。　He　clinches　his　fists　and　strikes　them；　but　they　grasp　him　firmly；　and　at　last　succeed　in　overcoming　him。

〃Mohammed；　compose　yourself　and　be　strong！〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　clasping　his　arms　about　him。　〃Friend　of　my　son；　take　pity　on　me；　and　remember　that　Osman　dies　if　you　die。〃

He　shakes　his　head；　but　cannot　speak。　He　looks　at　the　sea；　the　terrible　sea！　His　eyes　stare　in　horror　at　the　place　where　Masa　sank；　then　close；　and　he　falls　to　the　ground　insensible。　The　servants　now　raise　him　in　their　arms；　and　carry　him　to　the　governor's　house。

His　countenance　deathly　pale；　Osman　stands　at　the　gate　awaiting　them。　He　sees　the　sad　procession　approaching。　He　knows　they　are　bringing　his　friend；　and；　hastening　forward　to　meet　them；　he　receives　the　motionless　body；　hot；　glowing　tears　pouring　from　his　eyes。

Awakened　by　the　dew　of　his　friend's　falling　tears；　Mohammed　opens　his　eyes　and　looks　up。　His　lips　part；　and　murmur　softly；　〃Dead；　Masa　is　dead！〃nothing　more！

The　whole　history　of　his　anguish　lies　in　the　words；　〃Dead；　Masa　is　dead！〃




CHAPTER　II

ALL　THINGS　PASS　AWAY。


Ten　years　had　passed　since　the　painful　event　that　had　consigned　the　daughter　of　the　sheik；　the　Flower　of　Praousta；　to　so　early　a　grave；　and　caused　him　who　had　loved　her　a　long　and　severe　illness。

Ten　years！　To　the　happy；　when　he　looks　back　at　them；　they　are　but　a　few　days　of　sunshine；　the　contemplation　of　which　delights　him；　and　the　memory　of　which　softens　his　heart。　To　the　unhappy　they　are　as　a　cold；　desolate　eternity　of　torment；　and　he　looks　back　with　reluctance　at　them；　and　the　misery　he　has　endured；　measuring　the　days　of　anguish　that　are　still　to　come。

Ten　years！　In　Cavalla　they　had　changed　nothing。　They　had　only　left　their　handwriting　on　the　faces　of　those　who　had　been　living　ten　years　before；　and　had　witnessed　those　painful　events。　The　faces　of　men　had　changed；　but　the　sea　then；　as　at　that　time；　shone　in　the　beauty　and　freshness　of　eternal　youth；　and　still　surged　in　majesty　along　its　rock…bound　coast；　and　over　the　deep；　the　unknown　grave　of　the　beautiful　Masa；　the　forgotten　one。

Yes；　the　forgotten　one！

All　things　pass　away；　grief　as　well　as　joy　is　forgotten。　The　years　roll　on　over　both；　like　the　waves　of　the　deep　over　the　bodies　consigned　to　its　keeping。

All　things　pass　away！　Man　has　only　to　learn　and　to　wait　in　patience。　No　matter　how　pain　may　rend　his　soul；　if　he　only　knows　how　to　wait　in　patience；　the　balm　of　time　will　gradually　heal　his　wounds　and　soothe　his　soul。　All　things　pass　away！

To　be　sure　there　are　hopeless　and　weak　natures　who　refuse　to　wait　for　this　soothing　balm　of　time；　natures　which　destroy　themselves　in　fiery　torture；　or　in　their　cowardly　weakness　are　destroyed　by　the　dark　genius　of　despair。

The　poor　sheik　had　not　been　able　to　bear　the　loss　of　his　only　child；　his　Masa。　He　had　died　of　grief。　He　had　called　for　his　Masa　with　his　last　breath。

N