mohammed ali and his house-第47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！


to　command　the　waves；　he　also　taught　them　to　handle　the　gun；　and　other　manly　accomplishments。　But　he　never　took　the　boys　to　that　part　of　the　shore　where　the　entrance　to　the　cave　lay；　and　the　foot　of　man　has　never　entered　it　again！　The　fissure　in　the　rocks　has　disappeared；　covered　with　stones。

No　one　saw　Mohammed　go　to　this　spot　on　the　evening　be　fore　his　marriage　with　Ada。　No　one　saw　him；　as　with　the　strength　of　a　giant　he　rolled　huge　stones　to　the　opening；　and　piled　them　up　before　the　grotto。　Nor　did　any　one　see　him；　before　he　had　done　this；　enter　the　grotto　with　bowed　head　and　folded　arms；　as　though　approaching　the　holy　mosque。　Nor　did　the　ear　of　man　hear　the　groans　and　lamentations　that　escaped　his　breast　as　he　lay　thereon；　the　spot　upon　which　the　light　of　the　moon　and　stars　of　heaven　shone　down　through　the　opening　above。　There　he　lay；　one　entire　night；　and　a　whole　world　of　suffering　lay　on　his　soul　throughout　that　night。　He　wished；　during　those　fearful　hours；　to　rend　from　his　heart　the　remembrance　of　all　the　anguish　and　all　the　bliss　associated　with　that　place　in　the　past。　Did　he　succeed？　Who　knows；　who　can　tell？

All　things　pass　away；　and　time　heals　all　wounds。

Mohammed　is　a　wealthy　merchant；　the　husband　of　a　charming；　lovely　woman；　and　the　father　of　three　strong；　handsome　boys；　who　look　out　boldly　and　defiantly　into　the　world　with　their　dark　eyes；　the　picture　of　their　father　in　earlier　days。

How　would　Sitta　Khadra　rejoice　could　she　see　these　boys！

Would　she　also　rejoice　if　she　could　see　her　son　gravely　and　silently　attending　to　his　duties；　speaking　with　the　men　who　come　to　see　him；　of　tobacco；　of　good　harvests；　of　future　prospects；　and　of　the　success　already　achieved　in　his　business？

Of　other　matters　Mohammed　never　speaks；　not　even　to　his　friend　Lion；　who　often　comes　to　see　him。　When　Mohammed　needs　advice　at　times　in　his　affairs；　he　seeks　it　of　him；　he　listens　smilingly　when　Lion　tells　him　of　what　is　going　on　in　the　world；　and；　without　letting　Mohammed　perceive　it；　attentively　observes　him；　endeavoring　to　read；　in　his　grave；　tranquil　countenance；　whether　new　feelings　are　awakening　in　his　soul；　whether　the　young　merchant　has　really　buried　the　former　ambition　of　the　youth。

But　he　detects　nothing　in　that　tranquil　face；　ambition　sleeps；　the　love　of　glory　is　dead　within　him。　This　is　Lion's　opinion；　and　the　opinion　of　all。　But　it　is　not　the　opinion　of　Osman；　who　understands　him　best。　He　has　sometimes　seen　Mohammed's　face　lighten　when　the　conversation　was　of　the　struggles　going　on　in　Egypt；　or　when　the　Turkish　fleet　was　spoken　of　that　had　gone　over　to　chastise　the　rebellious　Mameluke　beys！　He　had　seen　a　deathly　pallor　overspread　Mohammed's　face　when　on　a　recent　occasion　a　merchant；　who　came　from　Stamboul；　reported　that　the　grand…vizier　had　sent　a　great　pacha　to　Egypt；　one　who　had　been　banished；　the　now　so　mighty　Cousrouf　Pacha；　the　favorite　of　the　grand…admiral。　Yes；　Osman　had　observed　his　change　of　countenance　at　the　mention　of　this　name；　and　that　he　secretly　clinched　his　fists　and　grasped　the　hilt　of　his　dagger；　and　he　alone　knew　that；　though　Mohammed's　wrath　found　no　utterance；　it　still　lived　within　him。

Mohammed　had　suddenly　turned　away　on　this　occasion；　on　some　suddenly…conceived　pretext；　and　had　not　been　seen　again　that　day。

He　had　gone　alone　to　the　summit　of　the　rock；　and　Osman　alone　knew　that　the　dark　speck　which　he　saw　on　the　crest　of　Bucephalus　was　the　figure　of　his　friend　who　had　sought　this　solitude　for　the　purpose；　perhaps；　of　easing　his　heart　of　its　anguish　and　to　enjoy　the　holy　festival　of　remembrance；　up　there　alone　with　God　and　Nature！




CHAPTER　III

THE　BIM　BASHI。


Mohammed's　countenance　was　graver　and　paler　than　usual　when　he　came　down　from　Bucephalus。　But　it　seemed　that　his　heart　had　there　received　milder　and　softer　impressions。　He　spoke　to　his　wife　in　more　gentle　and　cordial　tones；　and　instead　of　repairing；　as　was　his　custom；　to　a　coffee…house；　where　merchants　assembled　and　exchanged　their　views　and　opinions；　smoked　the　chibouque　together；　and　discussed　the　news　received　from　foreign　countries；　he　remained　at　home　in　the　family　circle。　At　his　request；　Osman　had　come　to　pass　the　evening　with　them；　for　Mohammed　well　knew　that　this　was　the　young　man's　only　happiness。　These　ten　years　did　not　benefit　Osman's　health；　he　was　still　the　withered　stalk　that　bows　its　head；　but　is　not　torn　down　by　the　wind；　but　only　swayed　to　and　fro　by　it　at　its　pleasure。

Yes；　Osman　was　weak；　and　firm　and　constant　in　one　thing　only；　in　his　love　for　his　friend。

With　him　this　feeling　took　the　place　of　all　else；　Mohammed　was　to　Osman　what　the　latter　was　to　his　fatherhis　only　joy　in　life！　And　for　these　two　Osman　sustained　himself；　bore　his　ill　health　and　suffering；　and　let　the　sunlight　shine　upon；　and　the　storms　of　life　sweep　over　him。

Osman　understood　why　Mohammed　was　so　kind　and　genial　to…day。　He　knew　that　the　day　had　its　significance；　and　that　the　wound　bled　within　secretly　and　incessantly。　In　silence　Mohammed　is　praying　for　forgiveness；　for　having　on　this　day　permitted　his　thoughts　to　wander　back　to　the　past；　for　having　sunk　down　in　sadness　upon　the　spot　on　the　brow　of　the　rock　that　had　once　witnessed　his　happiness；　and　he　desires　to　be　mild　and　gentle　to　his　family　this　evening。　His　wife　Ada　is　thankful　and　very　happy。　Mohammed　so　rarely　laughs　and　jests　with　her；　so　rarely　plays　with　the　boys！　To　be　sure　he　has　never　grieved　her；　has　always　been　kind　and　gentle；　and　has　never　opposed　her　wishes。　But　yet　she　knows　she　has　no　share　in　his　inmost　heart。　He　talks　with　her　of　the　daily　affairs　of　life；　he　allows　her　to　participate　in　all　such　matters；　but　he　never　speaks　to　her　of　his　heart's　inmost　thoughts；　and　whether　he　suffers　and　longs　to　leave　these　desolate　cliffs；　or　whether　he　is　discontented　with　the　monotonous；　matter…of…fact　life　he　is　leadingshe　knows　not！　Mohammed　has　never　complained　to　her；　neither　has　he　to　his　friend。　But　the　latter　has　read　his　friend's　heart；　and　understands　it　better　than　Mohammed　himself。　And　a　day　was　soon　to　come　which　proved　this。

A　message　came　from　Stamboul。　A　large　ship　arrived　at　Cavalla；　and　her　sailors　related　that　a　number　of　ships　still　larger　and　handsomer　had　arrived　in　the　Bay　of　Sta。　Marmara。　The　ship　put　out　a　boat；　which　came　to　the　shore　and　landed　a　richly…attired　officer　who　went　up　to　Cavalla。　He　repaired　to　the　palace　and　delivered　a　letter；　secured　with　magnificent　seals；　to　the　tschorbadji。　The　letter　was　from　Cousrouf　Pacha　to　his　host　of　former　years。　He　had　not　been　heard　from　since　that　time；　and　the　tschorbadji　had　supposed　himself　long　since　forgotten。　He　was　familiar　with　the　ways　of　the　great；　whose　lips　are　ever　ready　to　utter　promises；　which　are　forgotten；　the　next　hour。　Ten　years　have　elapsed；　and　but　rarely　have　Cousrouf　Pacha；　his　new　grandeur；　and　the　great　things　the　future　had　in　store　for　him；　been　heard　of　in　Cavalla。　And　now　a　letter　announces　that　Cousrouf　Pacha　still　remembers；　and　gladly　remembers；　former　days。

〃The　Sublime　Porte　has　determined；〃　so　read　the　pacha's　letter　to　the　governor；　〃the　Sublime　Porte　has　determined　to　oppose　the　French　occupation　of　Egypt　with　energy。　The　rich　land　of　Egypt　belongs　to　the　Sublime　Porte；　and　without　any　color　of　right　France　takes　possession　of　it　as　its　own　property。〃

Yes；　the　republic　of　France　had　done　this；　had　landed　at　Alexandria　with　large　armies；　and　had　inundated　almost　the　whole　of　Egypt　with　its　soldiers。　But　the　Mameluke　Beys；　who　have　so　long　considered　themselves　the　masters　of　the　country；　had　taken　the　field　and　fought　the　invaders。　In　Stamboul；　also；　they　had　long　been　preparing　for　war；　and　now　that　all　preparations　were　made；　and　an　army　ready　to　take　the　field　against　the　French；　each　province；　yes；　each　village　of　the　empire；　was　to　furnish　its　quota　of　soldiers　in　addition。　Messengers　had　been　sent　out　to　every　city　and　village　in　the　empire　to　call　on　the　young　men　in　the　name　of　the　grand…sultan　to　flock　to　the　flag　to　defend　Egypt。

Cavalla　was　also　to　furnish　its　quota；　and　the　pacha's　instructions　were；　that　the　governor　should　with　all　speed　uniform　three　hundred　young　men；　and　send　them　to　him。

Cousrouf　Pacha　had；　however；　also　written；　〃That　the　governor　may　see　in　what　glad　remembrance　I　hold　the　past；　and　that　I　am　grateful；　I　request　that　his　son　Osman　be　placed　at　their　head　as　captain；　and　come　with　them。　And；〃　continued　the　pacha；　〃as　his　lieutenant；　young　Mohammed　Ali；　if　still　living；　may　be　serviceable。　However；　I　suppose　that　his　own　violence　and　passion　have　consumed　this　young　man；　as　he　persistently　labored　at　his　own　destruction。　If　this；　how　ever；　is　not　the　case；　and　his　extraordinary　strength　of　constitution　has　preserved　him；　the　youth　must　have　become　a　strong　man；　and　we　need　such　men　for　our　army。〃

The　governor　informed　Mohammed　and　his　son　of　what　the　pacha　had　written。　He　requested　Mohammed　to　assist　him　in　recruiting　and　equipping　the　men；　and　Mohammed　willingly　gave　his　assistance。　He　repaired　to　Praousta　and　the　neighboring　places　and　assisted　in　the　work。　He　soothed　the　displeasure　of　the　men　called　on　to　take　the　field；　spoke　of　the　heroic　deeds　they　could　perform；　and　of　the　beautiful　land　to　which　they　were　to　go；　so　distant　from　the　quiet；　desolate　Praousta。

And　in　a　few　days　the　three　hundred　men　were　ready　to　embark。　But　how　was　it　with　regard　to　the　captain　and　his　lieutenant？　Osman　had　reserved　his　decision　for　the　last　day；　and　Mohammed　seemed　to　have　entirely　forgotten　that　he　was　selected　as　the　captain's　lieutenant。　He　had　not　spoken　of　it　during　these　days；　Cousrouf's　mention　of　him　seemed　to　have　made　no　impression　on　him；　and　his　attention　appeared　to　have　been　directed　wholly　to　the　equipment　of　the　soldiers。　Now　that　all　was　in　readiness；　Osman　sent　his　friend　word　to　come　to　him；　as　he　wished　to　converse　with　him　on　a　matter　of　grave　importance。　Mohammed　willingly　acceded　to　this　request　and　repaired　at　once　to　the　garden…house；　where；　since　the　days　of　his　childhood；　a　couch　had　at　all　times　stood　in　readiness　for　the　governor's　poor；　sickly　son；　and　seated　himself　at　his　side；　as　he　was　in　the　habit　of　doing。

〃You　wished　to　see　me　about　something；　Osman。　What　is　it？〃

〃What　is　it？〃