mohammed ali and his house-第53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！


o　my　side　when　I　attempt　to　raise　the　sword。　I　beg　that　your　excellency　will　graciously　permit　me　to　return　home　with　the　ship　to　Cavalla；　after　the　soldiers　shall　have　been　disembarked。　I　also　entreat　of　your　excellency　that　my　boulouk　bashi　be　made　captain　in　my　stead。〃

The　capitan　pacha　turned　and　looked　at　young　Mohammed　Ali。　Perhaps　his　tall；　well…knit　frame；　and　his　earnest　countenance；　with　its　sparkling　eyes；　and　his　determined　bearing；　impressed　him　favorably。

〃Bim　bashi；　we　will　see　what　can　be　done。　It　will　depend　chiefly　on　the　events　of　this　day；　and　I　will　observe　your　boulouk　bashi　closely。　If　he　proves　capable　of　doing　well　what　I　shall　require　of　him；　I　give　you　my　word　he　shall　be　made　bim　bashi；　and　you　shall　then　be　permitted　to　return　to　your　home。　I　will；　however；　first　observe　your　boulouk　bashi；　and　see　of　what　stuff　he　is　made。I　have　orders　for　you；　boulouk　bashi。　But　first　tell　me　your　name。〃

〃I　am　called　Mohammed　Ali；　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga；〃　replied　Mohammed；　inclining　his　head　with　an　expression　of　such　profound　reverence　that　the　proud　capitan　pacha　was　well　pleased；　and　smiled　graciously。

〃Mohammed　Ali；　son　of　Ibrahim　Aga；　step　aside　with　me；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃

The　pacha　walked　to　the　end　of　the　deck；　motioning　to　the　two　slaves　who　accompanied　him　to　withdraw；　he　then　turned　to　Mohammed；　who　stood　before　him；　his　head　bowed　down　in　humility；　his　ear　all　attention　to　the　words　spoken　by　the　pacha；　in　low；　impressive　tones。

Important　words；　of　great　and　dangerous　import；　must　they　have　been；　that　fell　slowly　one　after　the　other；　like　drops　of　blood　from　the　pacha's　lips；　for；　from　time　to　time；　a　deathly　pallor　overspread　Mohammed　Ali's　cheeks；　and　a　slight　shudder　coursed　through　his　whole　being。　The　pacha　looked　at　him　keenly；　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃One　can　see　that　you　are　a　novice。〃

〃Yes；　a　novice；〃　replied　Mohammed；　〃but　I　shall　soon　become　accustomed　to　blood；　and　cease　to　recoil　from　dead　bodies。〃

〃Then　you　will　achieve　success　in　Egypt；〃　said　the　pacha。　〃The　air　here　is　freighted　with　the　scent　of　corpses；　and　the　sea　and　the　Nile　have　often　been　reddened　with　blood。　We　will　see；　boulouk　bashi；　if　the　waves　at　our　feet　are　not　once　more　made　red　with　blood；　and　not　with　the　rays　of　the　setting　sun。　And　now；　boulouk　bashi；　it　will　be　shown　whether　you　have　understood　what　I　have　said；　and　whether　you　are　the　man　to　execute　my　orders。〃

〃I　am　your　servant；　excellency；〃　replied　Mohammed；　quietly。　〃The　soldier　has　no　will　of　his　own。　I　am　an　instrument　in　your　hands；　and　I　will　faithfully　carry　out　your　orders。〃

〃Then　you　will　awaken　to…morrow　as　bim　bashi。　And　I　believe　that　will　only　be　the　first　step　toward　the　fame　that　awaits　you。　I　like　you；　boulouk　bashi；　and　I　wish　you　a　brilliant　career。　And　when　you　shall　have　reached　the　summit　of　renown；　then　remember；　boulouk　bashi；　that　it　was　I　who　gave　you　the　key　to　the　gates　of　honor。　Remember　the　day　and　the　hour；　for　I　have　read　a　great　future　in　your　countenance。〃

He　then　inclined　his　head　to　Mohammed　Ali；　and　returned　to　where　Osman　was　standing；　leaning　against　a　mast；　in　utter　exhaustion。

The　pacha　also　spoke　a　few　kindly　words　to　him；　and　afterward　entered　his　boat　to　return　to　the　shore　of　Aboukir。　Mohammed　then　walked　up　to　his　friend；　took　him　in　his　arms　like　a　child；　and　carried　him　down　into　his　cabin。　He　laid　him　on　the　divan；　knelt　down　beside　him；　and　whispered　in　his　ear：　〃Osman；　no　matter　what　you　may　see　or　hear；　do　not　leave　your　cabin　to…day。　Stay　here；　my　friend；　and　do　not　be　anxious；　if　you　hear　a　tumultuous　noise；　and　outcries；　do　not　be　alarmed；　even　if　death…groans　should　resound　from　the　deck。　The　world　is　a　hard　thing；　and　he　whose　hands　are　not　of　iron　should　hold　himself　aloof　from　its　rude　contact。　You；　my　Osman；　are　too　good　to　play　an　active　role　in　this　miserable　earthly　existence；　and　I　am；　therefore；　almost　glad　that　you　are　to　return　to　Cavalla；　I　repeat　it；　you　are　too　good　for　this　world。〃

〃If　it　depended　on　goodness；　Mohammed；〃　said　Osman；　smiling；　〃you　should　not　serve　the　world　either；　for　you　have　a　better　heart　than　any　of　us。〃

Mohammed　shook　his　head。　〃You　are　mistaken；　you　look　at　me　with　your　kindly　eyes；　and　give　me　credit　for　your　noble　thoughts。　I　am　not　good；　no；　do　not　believe　that　of　me！　Now　that　we　are　about　to　separate；　I　do　not　wish　you　to　be　deceived　in　your　Mohammed　Ali；　I　am　only　good　when　with　you；　and　under　the　influence　of　your　gentle　nature；　I　fear　I　have　the　stuff　in　me　of　which　hard　and　cruel　men　are　made。　But　let　us　drop　this　subject。　Duty　calls　me　away。　And　let　me　repeat　this；　Osman；　whatever　outcries　you　may　hear；　whatever　fearful　noises　may　resound　through　your　cabin；　remain　quietly　here；　remain　here　in　peace；　my　Osman。　The　pack　will　soon　be　let　loose；　and　your　Mohammed；　whom　you　call　good；　has　been　chosen　by　Fate　to　howl　with　it；　and　make　common　cause　with　the　bloodhounds。　Do　not　speak；　Osman。　Through　blood　must　I　march　onward　to　my　goal！　There　is　no　other　road。　Farewell；　and　remain　here。〃

He　ascended　hastily　to　the　deck；　called　the　soldiers　together；　spoke　to　them　for　a　long　time　in　low；　impressive　tones；　and　issued　his　orders。　They　listened　attentively　to　his　words；　and　then　hastily　began　to　carry　out　his　orders。　They　load　their　guns；　try　the　locks；　and　then　repair　to　the　port…holes　on　the　lower　deck；　and　hold　themselves　in　readiness　to　fire　at　the　word　of　command。

There　is　to　be　a　merry　chase　to…day。　But　after　what　game？　Who　has　seen　it？　No　one　knows　as　yet。

The　boulouk　bashi　will　give　the　signal；　and　when　he　says　〃Fire！〃　they　will　fire；　no　matter　at　what　or　at　whom。　The　command　will　be　given；　and　they　will　obey。　It　will　be　their　first　deed　of　arms；　their　baptism　of　fire。

The　hour　has　not　yet　come。　Mohammed　is　standing　on　the　deck　above；　leaning　against　the　mast；　his　arms　crossed　on　his　breast；　looking　over　toward　the　shores　of　Aboukir。

There　all　is　gayety；　the　decorated　boats　dance　merrily　and　rapidly　over　the　waves；　the　Mameluke　beys　are　going　by　sea　to　Alexandria；　to　take　part　in　the　festival　of　the　newly…arrived　admiral。　There　will　be　warlike　games　and　races；　a　grand　banquet　is　prepared　for　the　guests；　there　will　be　music；　dancing；　and　singing；　altogether　it　will　be　a　most　brilliant　festival。　The　Mameluke　beys　esteem　themselves　happy　in　having　been　invited　by　the　capitan　pacha　to　take　part　in　this　glorious　festival。　To…morrow　peace　will　be　concluded　between　them　and　the　grand…sultan。　To…morrow　their　lands　will　be　given　them　and　the　boundaries　determined；　but　let　to…day　be　a　fete　day；　a　day　of　rejoicing。

Mourad's　widow；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　is　standing　at　the　entrance　of　her　tent；　her　countenance　closely　veiled；　looking　at　the　Mamelukes　who　are　going　down　to　the　shore　to　their　boats。　She　sees　that　the　Turks　stand　aside；　and　that　only　the　Mamelukes　enter　the　boats。

〃You　are　not　going　with　us？〃　ask　the　astonished　beys　of　their　Turkish　friends。　They　shake　their　heads；　and　only　step　farther　back　from　the　shore。

〃No；　ye　proud　beys；　this　honor　is　for　you　alone；　you　alone　go　with　the　capitan；　you　alone　are　invited　to　attend　the　grand　festival　of　the　English　admiral；　Lord　Hutchinson。　We　remain　here　to　await　longingly　your　return；　in　order　that　you　may　tell　us　of　the　brilliant　festival。　We　remain　here！〃

〃They　remain；〃　repeated　Sitta　Nefysseh　；　〃they　remain　because　death　goes　with　the　others　in　their　boats。　O　Osman　Bardissi！　why　would　you　not　hearken　to　my　words？　I　shall　remain　also；　to　await　our　dead。〃

In　the　large；　richly…decorated　boat；　stood　the　capitan　pacha；　and　beside　him　the　chief　Mameluke　beys；　among　them　are　Osman　Bardissi；　the　hero；　the　favorite　of　all　the　women；　and　Osman　Tamboubji；　now　one　of　the　most　distinguished　of　all　the　beys。　These　two；　especially；　have　been　invited　by　the　capitan　to　sail　with　him　in　his　boat；　and　while　with　him　what　have　they　to　fear？

Sitta　Nefysseh　murmurs　to　herself：

〃He　takes　them　into　his　boat　in　order　to　deceive　them。　This　is　surely　to　conceal　some　trickery；　and　when　the　boat　lands　at　Alexandria；　the　capitan　pacha　will　not　be　with　the　Mameluke　beys。〃

The　Mamelukes　have　entered　the　boats　joyously；　and　joyously　they　sail　out　over　the　waves；　toward　the　shores　of　Alexandria。

The　day　is　beautiful；　and　the　sunshine　glitters　upon　the　water；　laughter　and　jesting　resound　from　every　boat；　but　now；　when　Osman　Bardissi　begins　to　sing　a　warlike　song；　all　are　silent　and　listen　attentively。　He　sings　words　with　which　he　has　often　led　his　hosts　out　to　battle。　And　the　rest；　at　the　end　of　each　verse　of　the　glorious　old　song；　shout　exultingly　from　boat　to　boat；　and　unite　in　the　joyous　chorus：

〃The　bey　lifts　high　his　sword；　and　down　it　sweeps　upon　his　proud　foe's　head！　Down　swoops　the　bey；　and　raises　high　in　air　the　severed　head；　and；　when　he　homeward　rides；　the　head　hangs　dangling　at　his　saddle's　side！〃

〃A　beautiful；　a　glorious　song！〃　exclaims　the　capitan；　as　it　is　ended；　and　its　last　accords　resound　over　the　waters。

But　what　is　this？　A　strong　boat　is　approaching；　the　admiral's　boat　of　some　strange　vessel　that　has　probably　only　just　arrived　in　the　harbor。　Signals　are　given　in　the　boat；　and　a　flag　is　waved。　The　flag　proclaims　what　the　capitan　expected。　The　young　boulouk　bashi；　who　stands　in　the　admiral's　boat；　holds　up　a　folded　paper。　It　is　an　official　letter；　the　large　red　seals　that　hang　from　it　by　silken　strings　show　it　to　be　such。　The　capitan　pacha　calls　the　attention　of　the　Mameluke　beys　to　the　boat　now　rapidly　approaching。

〃Alas；　the　service　leaves　one　no　time；　not　even　a　short　hour；　for　recreation　and　merrymaking。　See；　here　comes　another　messenger！　What　can　he　want？　The　capitan　pacha　is；　after　all；　a　mere　servant。　See！　The　messenger　holds　the　paper　higher　and　beckons　to　me。　No；　he　shall　not　break　in　upon　the　joy　of　our　festival　with　his　presence！　This　beautiful　boat　shall　not　be　desecrated　with　business　matters！　Come　closer；　and　I　will　get　into　your　boat　and　read　the　letter。〃

〃But　after　you　have　read　it；　capitan　Pacha；〃　says　Osman　Bardissi；　in　a　frank；　kindly　voice；　〃after　you　have　read　it　and　have　disposed　of　this　annoying　business　matter；　you　will　come　back　to　our　boat；　will　you　not？　we　will　wait　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　wait　for　me！　But　it　may；　after　all；　be　neces