mohammed ali and his house-第52部分

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inly　stated。　And　if　they　will　not　name　them；　then　embark　in　your　boats　before　the　sun　sets；　and　return　to　Cairo；　for；　believe　me；　there　alone　will　you　be　safe！　I　come　to　you　in　the　name　of　Destiny；　by　whom　I　have　been　warned！　My　lord　and　master　appeared　to　me　last　night　in　a　dream；　showed　me　his　bleeding　wounds；　and　said　to　me：　'Go　and　save　my　friends。　Say　to　them　that　the　last　battle　has　not　yet　been　fought　at　Aboukir；　and　tell　them　that；　if　they　do　not　hasten　to　depart；　the　waves　that　encircle　Aboukir　will　soon　be　reddened　with　their　blood；　as　was　the　said　of　Aboukir　a　few　years　ago！'　And　therefore　have　I　come；　O　Osman；　to　warn　you！　Put　away　from　you　your　confidence　in　these　treacherous　Turks。　Do　not　hearken　to　the　whisperings　of　the　English　men；　do　not　rely　on　the　promises　of　your　enemies。　Require　a　decision　this　very　day；　and　if　it　is　not　given；　depart　at　once；　before　the　setting　of　the　sun。　Danger　threatens　you　all；　great；　fearful　danger。〃

〃Impossible；　Sitta！〃　replied　Osman　Bey；　composedly。　〃Impossible！　We　cannot　depart　to…day；　and　the　decision　cannot　be　made　now。　But　I　have　already　demanded　it；　and　they　have　promised　that　these　matters　shall　be　arranged　in　the　course　of　a　few　days。〃

〃In　the　course　of　a　few　days！〃　repeated　Sitta。　〃You　have　warned　your　enemies　yourself；　Osman！　They　have　observed　that　distrust　has　begun　to　bud　in　your　hitherto　trusting　heart；　and　with　their　swords　and　daggers　they　will　destroy　the　tender　plant　in　its　first　growth。　By　Allah；　I　conjure　you；　and　by　your　love　for　my　husband；　be　on　your　guard；　leave　the　peninsula；　and　return　to　Cairo！〃

〃If　it　were　possible；　Sitta；　I　would　do　it　out　of　reverence　for　you。　But　on　the　morrow；　I　promise　you；　I　will　return　to　the　continent。　To…morrow；　a　festival　takes　place　in　Alexandria；　Lord　Balan；　the　English　general；　is　to　receive　his　troops　there；　and　the　capitan　pacha；　who　is　encamped　here　with　his　warriors；　has　invited　us　to　participate　in　the　festivities　at　Alexandria。〃

〃Beware；　oh　beware；　Osman！〃　cried　Sitta　Nefysseh；　extending　her　arms　toward　heaven。　〃By　Allah　and　the　prophets；　I　conjure　you；　go　not　to　sea　with　the　Turks　to…morrow！　Listen　to　my　words；　Osman！　I　have　devoted　servants　with　those　whom　you　call　your　friends；　but　who　can　only　be　your　enemies。　One　of　them　has　informed　me　of　their　purpose。　Before　the　harbor　of　Alexandria　lies　a　Turkish　fleet；　it　lies　in　wait　for　you；　and　your　boats　will　not　be　allowed　to　land　unless　freighted　with　your　dead　bodies！〃

〃This　is　not　possible；〃　cried　the　bey；　recoiling　a　step　in　dismay。　〃They　cannot　have　planned　so　fearful　a　deception！　They　cannot　be　so　faithless！　Are　they　not　of　our　religion；　were　the　prophet's　words　not　spoken　for　them　as　for　us？　Do　they　not　know　that　it　is　written　in　the　Koran：　'Let　a　man　hold　his　word　sacred！　Curses　and　shame　upon　him　who　bears　a　lie　on　his　lips；　and　yet　seals　it　with　the　name　of　Allah　and　the　prophet！'　No；　Sitta；　I　tell　you　the　capitan　pacha　sealed　his　vow　of　friendship　with　the　name　of　Allah　and　the　prophet；　and　the　settlement　of　the　details　only　was　wanting　to　establish　this　bond　of　friendship　forever。　No；　Sitta；　it　is　impossible　that　they　should　contemplate　such　fearful　treachery；　and　rather　will　I　die　a　victim　of　such　treachery　than　cowardly　flee；　than　consider　men　cowards；　and　warriors　scoundrels！〃

〃Then　you　and　yours　are　going　to　your　death；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi！〃　cried　Nefysseh　in　tones　of　anguish。　〃I　conjure　you　once　more；　be　warned；　and；　if　you　will　not　depart　today；　at　least　do　not　follow　the　capitan　pacha　to　the　festival；　but　employ　the　time　while　he　is　absent　in　preparing　to　defend　yourselves。　And；　when　they　return；　refuse　to　allow　them　to　land　until　they　consent　to　come　to　you　unarmed。〃

Osman　Bey　shook　his　head　proudly；　and　his　countenance；　before　troubled；　was　now　radiant　with　courage　and　joy。　〃Sitta　Nefysseh；　your　noble　heart　is　concerned　for　your　friends；　and　I　thank　you　in　the　name　of　all　of　us。　But　what　your　womanly　sensitiveness　fears；　Osman　Bey　may　not　fear；　and　he　must　not　show　the　Turks　that　he　distrusts　them！　Allah　watches　over　us　all；　and　his　will　must　be　fulfilled！　Why　should　we　fear？〃

〃Yet　Allah　often　warns　us　in　our　dreams；　and　woe　to　us　if　we　do　not　interpret　them　aright！〃　said　Sitta　Nefysseh；　in　tones　of　entreaty。　〃You　insist；　then；　on　going　to　Alexandria　to…morrow？〃

〃It　is　so　determined；　Sitta；　and　a　man　keeps　his　word！〃　His　arms　folded　on　his　breast；　he　bowed　down　profoundly　before　her；　and　kissed　the　hem　of　her　flowing　gold…embroidered　dress。

〃Then　may　Allah　accompany　you！　〃　said　she；　with　a　profound　sigh。　〃But　let　me　say　one　thing　more。　When　you　behold　my　husband　Mourad；　up　there；　among　the　blessed；　standing　under　the　green　flag　of　the　prophet；　say　to　him：　‘Your　wife　has　done　her　duty；　she　gave　Osman　the　warning！　She　is　innocent　of　our　death！'　and　say　to　him　also　that　his　wife　remains　faithful　to　him　in　all　things；　and　that　she　will　love　him　alone　throughout　life。　And　now；　farewell；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　and　think　of　me　in　your　death…hour！〃

She　raised　her　hands　as　if　in　a　blessing；　and　then　turned　slowly　away；　drew　aside　the　curtain；　and　stepped　out　of　the　tent　to　where　her　slaves　and　eunuchs　awaited　her。

Slowly　she　walked　down　the　pathway　between　the　tents；　towing　to　the　right　and　to　the　left　to　the　Mamelukes；　who　threw　themselves　down　before　her　in　profound　reverence。　But　when　she　passed　by　the　tents　of　the　Turks　she　veiled　her　countenance　more　closely；　and　her　eyes　glanced　angrily　through　the　delicate　fabric。

〃Traitors　are　they　all！〃　murmured　she；　as　she　entered　the　tent　where　she　dwelt　with　the　women　of　Cousrouf；　the　second　Mameluke　chieftain。　〃Yes；　traitors；　and　our　Mamelukes　will　be　their　victims！　Yet　I　will　endeavor　to　save　as　many　of　them　as　possible！〃

While　Sitta　Nefysseh　sat　sorrowing　on　her　cushion；　paying　but　little　attention　to　the　songs　which　the　slaves　sang；　and　to　the　dances　with　which　they　sought　to　entertain　their　mistress；　the　joyous　festivities　of　the　Mamelukes　and　Turks　were　still　going　on。　Osman　Bey　had　promised　to　show　his　horsemanship　to…day；　and　it　was　a　beautiful　spectacle　to　see　him　coursing　along　on　his　splendidly…　caparisoned　black　charger；　his　sword　uplifted　in　his　hand。　His　eyes　sparkled　even　more　lustrously　than　the　gems　in　the　agraffe　of　the　crescent　on　the　sultan's　turban。　In　the　sash　that　encircled　his　waist　glittered　a　pair　of　pistols　and　the　jewelled　hilt　of　a　dagger；　and　whoever　beheld　Osman　Bey　said　to　himself：〃　This　is　a　man！　a　hero　who　recoils　from　nothing！〃　Lightly　bounding；　his　nostrils　expanded；　his　eyes　glowing；　he　now　rode　his　steed　around　the　wide　circle　of　Mamelukes　and　Turks。　With　uplifted　sword　he　then　approached　the　horse　that　stood　tied　to　a　stake　in　the　middle　of　the　circle。　Trembling；　and　neighing　anxiously；　it　saw　the　hero　bearing　down　upon　it　at　a　full　gallop；　then　Osman's　sword　glittered　in　the　air；　and　the　horse's　head　fell　to　the　ground；　severed　from　the　body　by　a　single　blow。　Loud　and　exulting　shouts　rewarded　the　bold　rider　for　this　proof　of　his　wonderful　skill　and　strength；　and　Osman　bowed　smilingly　to　the　right　and　to　the　left；　and　then　again　drew　in　his　reins；　and　made　his　steed　bound　as　lightly　and　coquettishly　as　though　it　had　learned　its　arts　from　the　bayaderes。

Yes；　Osman　Bey　is　a　great　hero；　and　they　all　regard　him　with　astonishment；　the　Mamelukes　with　joyous　smiles；　the　Turks　with　serious　countenances。　While　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　lives；　peace　with　the　Turks　is　not　to　be　thought　of；　while　life　lasts；　he　will　aspire　to　greater　eminence　and　power。

〃How　can　peace　be　made　with　this　powerful；　haughty　chieftain？〃　This　is　also　murmured　by　the　capitan　pacha；　who　stands　on　the　deck　of　the　admiral's　ship；　and　he　orders　that　the　Turkish　ships　weigh　anchor；　and　sail　out　of　the　harbor　of　Alexandria。　Yes；　Sitta　Nefysseh　was　right：　the　enemy　lies　in　wait　there。　Three　large　Turkish　ships　have　been　lying　at　anchor　there　ever　since　the　Mameluke　beys　have　been　holding　fetes　with　the　Turks　at　Aboukir。　But　to…day　a　fourth　ship　has　arrived　from　Stamboula　ship　manned　with　three　hundred　well…　equipped　soldiers；　and　her　captain's　name　is　Osman；　and　his　lieutenant　is　called　Mohammed　Ali。




CHAPTER　VI

THE　MASSACRE。


The　capitan　pacha　had　himself　come　over　in　his　admiral's　ship　to　greet　the　newly　arrived　soldiers；　and　to　review　the　fleet　of　stately　vessels…of…war。　He　graciously　caused　Osman；　the　bim　bashi；　and　Mohammed　Ali；　the　boulouk　bashi；　to　be　presented　to　him。

〃You　have　employed　the　time　well　during　your　passage；〃　said　he；　slightly　inclining　his　proud　head。　〃You　have　converted　rude　peasants　into　disciplined　soldiers。〃

〃It　is　not　my　work；〃　replied　Osman；　who　stood　attired　in　his　full　uniform　before　the　capitan　pacha。　〃No；　excellency；　I　suffered　from　the　unaccustomed　sea…voyage；　and　could　hardly　leave　my　cabin。　Mohammed　Ali　deserves　all　the　credit；　he　drilled　the　soldiers　on　the　deck　incessantly；　day　and　night。〃

〃Well　done；　well　done！〃　said　the　pacha。　〃His　services　will　be　recognized　and　rewarded。〃

〃I　beg　your　excellency　to　see　that　they　are；〃　said　Osman；　quickly。　〃Truly　my　boulouk　bashi　deserves　to　be　rewarded。　I　should　like　to　take　the　liberty　of　suggesting　how　he　can　be　rewarded。〃

With　a　haughty　and　astonished　expression；　the　capitan　pacha　regarded　the　young　man　that　stood　blushing　before　him；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　unaccustomed　lustre。　He　considered　it　somewhat　presumptuous　to　advise　him；　the　capitan　pacha。　Yet　this　is　not　a　time　to　be　ungracious。　The　newly…arrived　soldiers　are　to　be　used　this　very　day；　and　should　be　kindly　and　cordially　treated。

〃Then　tell　me；　bim　bashi；　how　can　I　reward　your　lieutenant？　I　will　gladly　do　so；　if　it　is　in　my　power。〃

〃You　have　the　power；　if　you　have　the　will。　I　beg　you　to　give　the　boulouk　bashi　my　position。〃

〃Give　him　your　position！　And　what　is　to　become　of　you？〃

〃Of　me？〃　said　Osman；　smiling　sadly。　〃Only　what　I　have　always　beena　poor；　weak　invalid。　Cousrouf　Pacha；　our　distinguished　guest；　wished　to　show　me　a　kindness；　and；　with　this　intention；　appointed　me　him　bashi。　Yet　I　at　once　feared　that　my　poor　body　would　not　be　able　to　bear　the　fatigues　of　the　service。　I　am　weary　and　exhausted；　and　my　weak　arm　falls　to　my　side　when　I　attempt　to　raise　the　sword。　I　beg　that　your　excellency　will　graciously　permit　me　to