mohammed ali and his house-第50部分

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gently　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　can　count　on　you；　my　friend；　can　I　not？〃

〃Tschorbadji；　you　can　count　on　me　at　all　times；　while　life　lasts！〃

〃You　will　watch　over　my　Osman？　〃　said　he；　in　low　tones。　〃You　will　not　permit　him　to　undertake　that　which　his　body　is　unable　to　bear；　though　his　spirit　be　well　equal　to　the　task？〃

〃I　will　care　for　him　as　though　he　were　my　better　self；　as　I　would　for　the　woman　I　love！〃　said　Mohammed。　〃I　well　know　that　his　spirit　is　strong；　but　his　body　is　delicate。　And　therefore　when　he　goes　into　danger；　and　I　cannot　prevent　it；　I　will　protect　him　unto　death；　with　my　own　body！　This　I　swear　to　you　by　Allah；　and　by　my　love　for　my　friend　Osman！〃

〃I　thank　you；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　deeply　moved。　〃My　Osman　is　my　only　joy　in　life。　You　are　a　father；　too；　Mohammed；　and　you　know　how　a　father　loves　his　child。〃

〃I　do；　tschorbadji；〃　replied　he；　〃and　as　a　father　I　beg　you　to　look　after　my　children　sometimes。　You　are　related　to　them　through　their　mother；　shield　and　protect　them；　and　if　the　news　should　come　that　destiny　has　been　unfavorable　to　me；　or　favorable　if　you　will；　and　I　shall　have　fallen　on　the　field　of　battle；　think　of　this　moment；　and　watch　over　my　boys！　They　will　be　well　provided　for；　as　far　as　the　goods　of　this　world　are　concerned。　I　have　made　over　all　I　possess；　and　all　I　have　earned　since　I　began　my　business；　to　my　wife；　from　this　hour　all　that　was　mine　is　hers。　I　take　nothing　out　into　the　world　with　me；　I　will　enter　it　as　a　new　man。　It　all　came　from　my　wife；　and　it　is　now　restored　to　her。　I　am　going　out　into　the　world　a　new　man；　but　the　old　love　will　remain　here　in　Cavalla　with　my　wife　and　with　you；　and　it　will　accompany　me　in　the　person　of　my　beloved　Osman。　You　need　have　no　fear　on　our　account。　While　I　live；　Osman　shall　be　protected　and　watched　over。〃

While　they　were　conversing　in　the　hall；　Osman　was　put　ting　on　the　uniform　of　the　bim　bashi。　His　faithful　slaves　were　assisting　him；　and　rejoiced　in　his　magnificence；　and　as　he　now　stood　before　them　in　his　gold…embroidered　uniform；　his　too　slender　waist　encircled　with　a　broad　leather　girdle；　from　which　dangled　his　sword　with　its　golden　hilt；　and　to　which　his　two　pistols；　with　jewelled　stocks；　were　attached；　his　slaves　cried　out　with　delight；　and　fell　on　their　knees　and　kissed　his　feet。

He　told　them　to　rise　and　to　get　themselves　ready；　as　these　two　faithful　servants　were　to　accompany　him。

When　they　had　gone；　Osman　sank　down　upon　his　cushions　exhausted。

〃0　Allah；　give　me　strength　sufficient　to　walk　down　to　the　shore　with　the　appearance　of　health。…Be　strong；　poor；　weak　breast；　suppress　your　pain　until　I　have　reached　the　ship！Make　me　strong；　Allah；　until　my　aim　is　attained；　until　I　have　proved　to　my　friend　that　I　love　him。〃

Hearing　footsteps　approaching；　he　sprang　to　his　feet　and　assumed　a　cheerful　and　composed　manner；　as　his　father　and　Mohammed　came　in　and　announced　that　all　was　in　readiness　for　their　departure；　and　that　the　soldiers　were　only　waiting　for　their　bim　bashi　to　march　down　to　the　shore。

〃I；　however；　my　bim　bashi；　have　come　with　a　request；〃　said　Mohammed；　quickly；　〃and　I　hope　he　will　not　refuse　his　boulouk　bashi's　first　request。　I　beg　you；　Osman；　to　go　with　your　father　in　advance　to　the　shore；　and　take　up　your　position　there。　I　will　then　follow　with　the　soldiers；　and　pass　with　them　in　review　before　you。　This　is　appropriate；　and　you　must　al　low　the　boulouk　bashi　and　the　soldiers　to　show　you　these　honors。〃

〃If　such　is　the　custom；　then　let　it　be　so；〃　said　Osman；　smiling。　〃Let　us　now　go；　father；　as　Mohammed　requests。〃

〃But　I　also　have　a　request　to　make；　my　son；〃　said　the　tschorbadji。　〃I　have　met　with　an　accident：　in　crossing　the　court…yard　I　sprained　my　ankle　slightly；　and　I　cannot　walk；　as　it　pains　me。　You　must　therefore　do　me　the　kindness　to　al　low　yourself　to　be　carried　down　with　me　in　the　palanquin。　It　will　excite　no　surprise；　the　soldiers　saw　me　when　the　accident　occurred；　and　no　one　will　suppose　it　is　on　your　account。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；　father；〃　replied　Osman；　gravely；　〃that　the　bim　bashi　should　walk　down；　and　await　his　soldiers　standing。〃

〃And　he　shall；〃　said　his　father；　quickly。　〃Below　he　shall　await　his　soldiers；　standing；　while　the　poor　tschorbadji　must　remain　seated　in　his　palanquin。…Oh；　the　pain！　Let　me　support　myself　on　your　arm；　Mohammed！　You　have　no　idea　how　my　foot　hurts！〃

Osman　averted　his　face；　that　they　might　not　see　the　tears　that　stood　in　his　eyes。　He　discerned；　only　too　well；　that　they　both　knew　his　weakness　and　were　tenderly　caring　for　him！

But；　in　spirit　at　least；　he　must　be　a　man；　and　he　turns　and　looks　at　them　firmly　and　composedly。

〃Then　come；　father。　I　will　go　down　with　you　in　the　palanquin。〃

The　slaves　and　servants　saw　the　tschorbadji；　supported　by　Mohammed；　limp　to　the　palanquin；　Osman　followed　them　with　firm　footstep；　his　head　proudly　erect。　The　people　rejoiced　in　his　stately　appearance；　and　in　the　glittering　uniform　that　became　him　so　well。

Osman　was　carried　down　to　Praousta　at　his　father's　side。　The　fishermen；　who　stood　there　awaiting　him；　greeted　the　young　bim　bashi　with　loud　huzzas。　They　wished　him　happiness　and　success　in　his　military　career。

Osman　thanked　them　in　a　loud；　clear　voice；　and　no　one　knew　what　pain　the　effort　cost　him。　Arrived　at　the　shore；　he　stepped　out　of　the　palanquin　with　an　appearance　of　joyous　haste；　and　took　up　his　position　beside　his　father　to　receive　from　the　soldiers；　who　were　now　approaching；　Mohammed　at　their　head；　the　military　honors。　And　now　the　hour　of　leave　taking　had　arrived。　The　admiral's　boat　had　come　to　convey　the　bim　bashi　to　the　ship。　The　tschorbadji　insisted　on　accompanying　his　son　on　board；　and　seated　himself　beside　him　in　the　boat　into　which　the　slaves　and　servants　who　were　to　go　with　Osman　now　also　entered。

Mohammed　had　declined　to　go　with　them　to　the　vessel。　The　soldiers　must　first　be　embarked；　and　the　boulouk　bashi　will　be　the　last　to　leave　the　shore；　for　this　the　military　law　requires。

The　boats　were　soon　filled　with　the　soldiers；　and　the　bay；　covered　with　all　kinds　of　skiffs；　boats；　and　barks；　now　presented　a　very　gay；　lively　spectacle。　The　entire　population　of　Praousta　and　Cavalla　were　assembled　on　the　shore　to　witness　the　embarkation。

Ada　and　her　boys　had　also　come　down；　and　were　gathered　around　the　husband　and　father　to　take　leave　of　him；　beside　them　stood　Mohammed's　old　friend；　the　merchant　Lion。　As　the　boats　now　began　to　put　off　from　the　shore；　Mohammed　took　his　wife's　hand　and　led　her　aside；　away　from　the　others。

〃Ada；　my　wife；〃　said　he；　〃I　bid　you　a　last　farewell！〃

She　sobbed　beneath　her　veil；　and　tears　poured　in　streams　from　her　eyes。

〃You　weep　on　my　account；〃　said　he；　〃that　proves　that　I　have　at　least　not　made　my　wife　unhappy；　and　that　she　is　not　glad　to　be　alone。〃

〃Ah；　Mohammed；〃　murmured　she；　〃happy　have　you　made　me；　and　I　owe　you　thanks　for　many　glad　years！〃

〃And　I　thank　you　for　these　words；〃　said　he；　gently。　〃I　will　take　them　with　me　as　an　amulet　to　protect　me　without；　in　the　world。　Think　of　me；　and　watch　over　my　children。　Care　for　them；　and　do　not　let　them　become　the　drones　or　drudges　of　existence。　Remember　that　their　father　is　a　soldier；　and　that　he　remains　one　to　the　end！　Raise　my　children　with　reference　to　this！　Have　them　instructed；　Ada；　for　my　sons　must　not　come　as　ignorant　soldiers　to　my　army！〃

〃To　your　army？〃　exclaimed　Ada；　regarding　him　in　astonishment〃your　army？〃

He　started；　his　inmost　thoughts　had　for　a　moment　escaped　his　lips。　〃The　army　in　which　I　serve！〃　said　he；　quickly。　〃Have　my　boys　taught　to　read　and　write；　this　is　necessary；　believe　me。　And　now；　farewell；　and　receive　my　thanks　for　all　the　beautiful　days　and　years　which　you　have　sought　to　bless　me　with！〃

He　did　not　say；　〃which　you　have　blessed　me　with。〃　He　did　not　wish　to　take　leave　of　her　with　a　falsehood　on　his　lips；　and　his　eye　glanced　over　toward　the　place　where　Masa　had　sunk　beneath　the　waves。　There　lay　his　happiness　buried；　and　from　that　grave　it　had　never　risen。　Ada　knew　it　not；　he　had　never　complained；　and　never　seemed　discontented；　she　had　thought　him　happy。　His　love　and　thirst　for　revenge　had　hitherto　slumbered；　but　now　they　were　awakened　to　new　life。　He　would　have　vengeance　on　him　who　had　murdered　her　he　loved；　and　heaped　insult　upon　himself！　He　is　now　going　out　into　the　world；　where　he　must　meet　Cousrouf　Pacha；　and　on　him　will　he　wreak　vengeance　for　all　his　wrongs　and　sufferings！　Yes；　his　Masa；　his　white　dove；　shall　be　avenged！

With　such　thoughts；　Mohammed　enters　the　boat　that　rapidly　conveys　him　to　the　ship　where　Osman　stands　on　the　deck　awaiting　him。

〃Welcome；　Mohammed！　We　are　on　the　road　to　honor　and　renown！〃

〃Yes；　my　Osman；　to　honor　and　renown；〃　responded　Mohammed。

〃And　may　Allah's　blessing　accompany　you！〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　holding　his　son　in　his　arms　in　a　farewell　embrace。　He　then　enters　the　boat　that　awaits　him；　and　is　rowed　back　to　the　shore。

Osman　stands　on　the　deck　beside　his　friend；　the　soldiers　stand　around；　silent　and　respectful　in　the　presence　of　their　bim　bashi；　and　now　the　farewell　gun　is　fired。

The　governor；　Ada；　and　the　merchant；　who　stand　in　a　group　on　the　shore；　wave　their　handkerchiefs：　〃Farewell；　farewell！〃

Mohammed　turns　to　Osman。　〃Be　joyous；　my　friend！　We　have　done　with　the　past；　and　a　brilliant　future　awaits　us！　Look；　there　rests　my　Masa；　and；　I　tell　you；　a　monument　prouder　and　grander　than　was　ever　erected　to　woman；　shall　rise　over　her　grave！　The　whole　sea　shall　be　her　monument；　and　on　the　coast　of　Egypt　will　I　erect　one　to　my　Masa；　to　my　love；　and　my　revenge！〃




CHAPTER　V

THE　CAMP　AT　ABOUKIR。


THE　life　of　the　Mameluke　beys　had　for　months　been　a　continuous　festival。　Nothing　but　pleasure　and　festivity；　nothing　but　assurances　of　love　and　friendship　on　the　part　of　their　former　enemies；　the　Turks。

Since　the　hated　Franks；　after　so　many　struggles；　so　many　defeats　and　fruitless　shedding　of　blood；　had　embarked　in　their　proud　ships　and　returned　to　Europe；　the　prospects　for　peace　in　the　land　that　was　bleeding　from　a　thousand　wounds　seemed　to　be　bright。　Friends　and　enemies　had　made　these　wounds；　friends　and　enemies　had　torn　the　once　fair　form　of　the　beautiful　land　of　the　Pharaohs；　and　converted　it　into　a　hideous　corpse。

The　battle…fields　of　Abouk