mohammed ali and his house-第54部分

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our　boat；　will　you　not？　we　will　wait　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　wait　for　me！　But　it　may；　after　all；　be　necessary　for　me　to　return；　to　attend　to　some　important　affairs　with　my　officials；　instead　of　enjoying　myself　with　you。　Therefore　you　had　best　go　on；　my　friends；　and；　if　Allah　permits　me　to　join　you　in　your　festivities　to…day；　I　will　hoist　a　signal；　and　you　can　stop　for　me　and　take　me　in　again。〃　The　capitan　then　steps　into　the　strange　boat。　The　two　proud　bays　see　him　take　the　paper　from　the　hands　of　the　stranger　boulouk　bashi；　break　the　seals；　and　read　it。

With　his　eagle　glance；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　observes　that　the　capitan　pacha's　countenance　becomes　gradually　clouded　as　he　reads。

〃He　will　not　have　time　to　return　to　us；〃　says　Tamboudji　Bey；　who　stands　at　his　side。　〃It　seems　that　grave　intelligence　has　reached　him。　Yes；　it　is　so；〃　the　boat　being　rapidly　rowed　toward　the　admiral's　ship。　〃But　look；　Osman　Bey！　he　cries；　in　alarm；　as　he　raises　his　arm　and　points　to　the　departing　boat；　〃look；　there　are　swords　in　the　boat！〃

〃Yes；　I　see！　Swords；　Turkish　swords！　What　are　they　in　there　for？〃

〃That　is　what　I　should　like　to　know；〃　replies　the　other；　nervously　grasping　the　pistol　in　his　girdle。　〃See；　a　ship　is　rapidly　approaching；　and　the　capitan　is　steering　toward　it！　But　that　is　not　his　ship！　Where　does　it　come　from？　What　is　it　doing　here？〃

The　countenance　of　the　Mameluke　chieftains　is　now　threatening。　They　observe　the　ship；　rapidly　approaching；　with　an　eagle's　glance。　They　see　the　capitan　ascend　its　side；　they　see　the　portholes　filled　with　glittering　muskets。

〃Treachery！　This　is　treachery！〃　cries　Bardissi。

And　he　turns　toward　the　other　boats；　and　cries　out　to　them：　〃Grasp　your　swords　and　prepare　to　defend　yourselves。　We　are　betrayed。　The　capitan　pacha　has　deceived　us；　and　〃a　ball　whistling　close　by　his　ear　at　this　moment〃　to　your　swords　and　pistols；　my　friends；　the　enemy　and　treachery　are　upon　us！〃

The　Turks　are　rowing　rapidly　down　upon　them　in　their　boats；　while　volleys　of　musketry　are　being　discharged　at　them　from　the　ship　that　is　approaching　nearer　and　nearer；　following　the　Turkish　troops　that　man　the　boats。

〃Onward；〃　cries　Bardissi　to　his　followers。　〃Onward！　We　may　escape。　We　may；　if　we　make　every　effort；　succeed　in　reaching　Alexandria。〃

With　the　speed　of　the　wind　the　boats　sweep　onward；　and　now　turn　into　the　bay　of　Aboukir。

The　Mamelukes　all　cry；　〃Treachery！　treachery！〃　and　every　one　sees　the　three　Turkish　ships　bearing　down　upon　them　from　the　front；　while　the　boats　and　the　strange　vessel　are　coming　upon　them　from　the　rear。　From　that　direction　comes　the　order；　〃Fire！　fire！〃

Death…shrieks　resound　everywhere　among　the　boats。　But　the　proud　Mamelukes　are　at　least　resolved　to　sell　their　lives　dearly。　They　reply　from　their　boats　to　the　shots。　Now　the　enemy's　boats　are　among　them；　and　a　murderous　but　unequal　conflict　rages。　The　three　men…of…　war　send　whole　volleys　into　the　boats　of　the　Mamelukes。

Of　what　use　to　fire　their　pistols；　how　can　they　reload　them？　Of　what　avail　to　draw　their　swords　against　the　overwhelming　foe？

They　can　only　die；　and　die　they　must。　The　flower　of　the　hero…beys　was　gathered　together　in　these　boats；　and　is　now　being　stamped　under　footis　perishing；　the　victim　of　infamous　treachery。

Sitta　Nefysseh　looks　on　in　horror　from　where　she　lies　on　the　shore　of　Aboukir。　With　outstretched　arms　she　implores　Allah　for　mercy；　for　revenge；　and　now；　as　the　volleys　of　artillery　resound　over　the　waters；　she　cries　in　earnest；　piercing　tones：

〃O　Mourad；　my　husband！　thou　who　art　at　Allah's　side；　thou　who　seest　this　treachery；　implore　vengeance　upon　the　enemy！〃

Yes；　she　prays　to　Allah　and　the　prophet　for　vengeance。　But　while　she　prays；　the　blood　of　the　Mamelukes　is　flowing　in　streams；　saturating　the　costly　carpets　in　the　boats；　and　beginning　to　color　the　surrounding　water。

A　cry　of　rage　resounds　from　Bardissi's　lips。　His　friend　Osman　Tamboudji　has　just　been　stretched　out　at　his　feet　by　a　ball。　He　has　thrown　away　his　pistol；　and　now　grasps　the　hilt　of　his　dagger；　when　he　is　suddenly　stricken　down　by　a　blow　upon　the　head；　dealt　from　behind。　The　vessels　have　completely　surrounded　the　Mamelukes；　the　Turks　on　the　ships　jump　down　into　the　boats　to　assist　the　others；　and　the　work　of　slaughter　is　soon　ended。　All　is　now　still。　Those　who　are　not　dead　lie　severely　wounded　in　the　boats。　The　Turks　return　to　their　vessels；　and　the　boulouk　bashi　orders　the　wounded　to　be　brought　on　board。

The　order　is　executed；　the　dead　are　left　in　the　boats；　and　the　wounded　are　carried　on　board。

They　now　lift　up　the　wounded　man　who　lies　beside　the　dead　bey；　in　the　large　boat　in　which　they　had　first　seen　the　capitan　standing　with　the　two　beys。

〃Bring　him　up　the　ladder；〃　cries　the　boulouk　bashi。

He　is　unconscious；　and　is　bleeding　from　three　wounds。　But　even　in　this　condition　he　still　grasps　his　dagger　so　firmly　that　it　cannot　be　torn　from　his　band；　and　as　the　soldiers　attempt　it　he　awakens　and　opens　his　eyes。

〃You　are　treacherous　scoundrels；　all　of　you！　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　declares　you　to　be　such。〃

The　boulouk　bashi　starts　as　he　hears　this　name；　steps　forward　and　gazes　long　and　earnestly　at　the　bey；　whom　he　had　once　seen　as　a　boy。

Must　he　meet　him　now　in　this　condition？　His　gaze　is　fixed　on　him；　and　he　tries　to　recognize　in　his　features　the　boy　of　former　days。

〃You　are　scoundrels！〃　cries；　for　the　second　time；　the　proud　chieftain。　〃Ye　slaves　of　bloody　tyrannyye　murderous；　treacherous　villainsshame　and　disgrace　upon　you　all！　Before　Allah's　throne　will　I　accuse　you；　ye　treacherous；　slavish　Turks。〃

With　cries　of　rage　they　throw　themselves　upon　him　to　strangle　him。

But　an　arm　burls　them　back　with　a　giant's　strength。

〃Do　you　wish　to　murder　those　who　can　no　longer　defend　themselves？　Back！　The　life　of　the　wounded；　of　the　vanquished　enemy；　is　sacred。〃

Bardissi；　who　has　again　fallen　back　exhausted；　looks　up　in　astonishment　at　the　stranger　who　protected　him；　and　was　even　angry　with　his　own　soldiers　on　his　account。　How　comes　it　that　this　traitor's　heart　is　touched？

Mohammed　kneels　down　beside　him。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　asks　he；　in　low　tones。

〃Osman　Bey　Bardissi；〃　replied　the　wounded　man；　and　now；　exhausted　as　he　was　from　loss　of　blood；　a　proud　smile　flittered　over　his　handsome　countenance。　〃Not　knowing　me；　you　must　be　a　stranger　in　Egypt；〃　added　he。

〃Yes；　I　am　a　stranger　in　Egypt；　and　this　accounts　for　my　not　knowing　you。　Yet；　it　seems　to　me　that　we　once　met；　were　you　not　once　on　the　shores　of　the　bay　of　Sta。　Marmora？〃

〃Yes；　I　was　once　there！〃

〃Do　you　recollect　meeting　a　boy　there？　You　spoke　to　him　of　your　proud　future。〃

〃I　remember；〃　murmured　the　bey。

〃And　you　spoke　proud；　contemptuous　words　to　this　boy。　Do　you　still　remember　his　name？〃

〃I　do；　he　was　called　Mohammed　Ali；　and　I　told　him　my　name；　Osman　Bey。　Were　you　the　boy？〃

〃I　was；　and　there　we　first　met；　and　now　we　meet　again。　I　regret；　Osman　Bey；　that　we　meet　as　enemies。〃

Osman　Bey　Bardissi　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃We　were　enemies；　Mohammed　Ali；　yet；　if　Allah　permits　me　to　live；　you　shall　soon　learn　that　you　have　found　a　friend。　I　well　know　that　I　owe　you　my　life；　and　I　shall　be　grateful　while　life　lasts。〃

He　ceased　speaking；　and　again　lost　consciousness。

Mohammed　beckoned　to　one　of　the　soldiers　to　approach。　〃Carry　this　man　to　my　cabin；　and　let　no　one　dare　to　touch　him　with　a　rude　hand。　He　is　my　prisoner。〃




CHAPTER　VII

RESTITUTION。


〃Our　Mamelukes　have　been　treacherously　slaughtered；　murdered！　They　have　been　lured　out　upon　the　water　near　Aboukir　in　their　boats；　and　then　fired　upon　by　murderous　huntsmen　as　though　they　were　a　flock　of　pigeons。　If　you　are　an　honest　and　brave　man；　general；　proved　by　mercifully　espousing　the　cause　of　those　who　were　lured　to　destruction　in　your　nameyes；　in　your　name；　General　Hutchinson　yes；　it　devolves　upon　you；　and　your　honor　requires　that　you　compel　them；　to　yield　up　the　wounded　and　the　dead。〃

Thus　lamented　Sitta　Nefysseh　as　she　knelt　before　General　Hutchinson；　her　arms　extended　in　wild　entreaty。　She　had　come　over　to　Alexandria　from　Aboukir；　and　she　it　was　who　first　brought　the　intelligence　of　the　fearful　event　that　had　occurred；　who　first　announced　to　the　English　general　that　the　beys　had　fallen　victims　to　infamous　treachery。

The　general；　incensed　at　this　shameful　abuse　of　confidence；　immediately　dispatched　two　of　his　adjutants　to　the　capitan　pacha；　to　demand　an　explanation　and　call　him　to　account　for　the　outrage。

The　pacha　was；　however；　not　to　be　found。　〃They　did　not　know　where　he　had　gone；〃　was　the　reply；　〃but　Lord　Hutchinson's　message　should　be　conveyed　to　him　as　soon　as　possible；　and　he　would　certainly　send　some　one　to　the　general　who　would　give　satisfactory　explanations　of　the　affair。〃

Soon　afterward　a　boat　came　to　shore；　and　the　boulouk　bashi；　Mohammed　Ali；　demanded；　in　the　name　of　the　capitan　pacha；　to　be　conducted　to　the　presence　of　the　English　general。　With　an　air　of　profound　deference　and　humility；　he　delivered　the　message　of　the　capitan　pacha；　and　expressed　his　own　regret　of　the　fearful　event　that　had　occurred。

〃It　was　a　misunderstanding。　I　myself　was　to　blame　for　it；　and　bow　in　humility　before　your　just　anger！　The　capitan　pacha　had　commanded　me　to　arrest　the　rebellious　Mameluke　beys；　and　bring　them　on　board　the　admiral's　ship；　in　order　that　they　might　be　conveyed　to　Stamboul。　His　orders　were；　that　no　resistance　should　be　tolerated；　and　that　severe　measures　should　be　adopted　at　the　first　manifestation　of　violence　on　their　part。　Sir；　such　manifestations　were　not　wanting；　and　I　had　no　sooner　come　near　the　boats　which　contained　the　rebellious　Mameluke　beys；　when　they　grasped　their　arms；　and　threatened　us　with　wild　gestures。　We　fought　for　life；　general；　not　knowing　that　our　lives　were；　in　your　estimation；　as　nothing　to　those　mighty；　renowned　Mameluke　beys。　We　fought　for　our　lives；　as　they　did　theirs；　and；　if　the　Mamelukes　were　vanquished　in　this　conflict；　it　was；　it　seems　to　me；　Allah's　will。　Yet；　I　beg　pardon　for　what　has　happened；　and　repeat；　in　the　name　of　the　capitan　pacha；　it　was　a　misunderstandingoh；　sir；　a　deplorable　misunderstanding！〃

The　general　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　glanced　angrily　at　the　quiet；　defiant　countenance　of　the　young　officer。

〃A　ve