mohammed ali and his house-第6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！


　hero。〃

They　sat　in　each　other's　embrace　for　a　long　time；　silent；　and　yet　they　were　speaking　to　each　other　with　their　thoughts　and　souls；　and　understood　what　soul　said　to　soul；　and　heart　to　heart。　Often；　after　long　years；　will　the　son　still　think　of　this　hour　when　he　sat　by　his　mother's　side；　in　solitude　and　silence；　his　head　resting　on　her　bosomin　his　glittering　palace　will　he　still　think　of　it？　In　the　fulness　of　his　magnificence；　with　the　soul's　eye；　will　he　look　into　this　poor；　dark　little　chamber　will　he　longingly　think　of　his　mother；　of　his　first　and　holiest　love？

〃Promise　me；　Mohammed；〃　said　she；　after　a　long　silence；　〃promise　me　that　you　will　never　fast　and　torture　yourself　so　long　again。〃

〃I　promise　you；　Sitta　Khadra；〃　he　replied　in　a　low　voice；　〃you　are　right；　the　body　must　be　strengthened　that　the　soul　may　be　strong。　I　need　a　strong　body　that　I　may　be　able　to　climb　the　rocky　pathway　of　life　to　the　summit；　to　the　eagle's　eyry；　far　above　the　lowliness　of　life。　I　promise　you；　mother；　that　from　this　day　I　will　no　longer　torture　my　body；　but　it　shall　be　taught　to　defy　want；　and　to　subordinate　itself　to　the　mind。　Do　not　scold；　Mother　Khadra；　if　I　am　often　away　from　you。　In　solitude　I　learn。　I　converse　with　the　invisible　spirits　that　hover　about　me　in　the　air。　They　teach　me　wondrous　things；　which　I　cannot　relate　to　you　to…day；　but　which　help　me　to　prepare　for　the　future。　Do　not　forget；　mother；　when　I　am　away　from　you；　and　you　need　me；　to　call　me　with　the　eagle's　cry。〃

A　faint　smile　trembled　on　her　lips。　〃If；　however；　son　of　my　heart；　I　should　be　unable　to　utter　this　cry；　if　my　voice　should　be　too　weak　to　reach　you…〃

He　again　regarded　her　with　an　anxious；　inquiring　look。　〃Can　that　be；　Sitta　Khadra？　Do　you　believe　your　voice　can　become　so　weak？〃

〃Be　reassured；　my　son；　I　neither　believe　nor　fear　it；　but　yet　it　might　be。〃

〃Yes；　it　might　be；〃　said　he；　passing　his　trembling　hand　across　his　brow。　〃I　shall　go　to　Uncle　Toussoun　Aga　and　tell　him　how　to　call　me。　Only　promise　me；　mother；　that；　if　you　need　me；　and　are　not　able　to　call　yourself；　you　will　send　for　uncle　and　tell　him　to　do　so。　I　could　otherwise　have　no　peace；　could　not　attend　to　my　work　and　occupation；　unless　I　knew　that　you　would　have　me　called　to　you　when　you　need　me。〃

〃It　shall　be　so；　my　son。　When　I　need　you；　you　shall　be　called；　and　now　do　not　allow　yourself　to　be　disturbed　in　your　occupations。　Fly　out；　young　eagle；　out　into　the　air；　out　among　the　rocks；　and　learn　from　heaven　and　earth　what　to　do　to　prepare　for　your　future。〃

She　kissed　his　brow　and　laid　her　hand　on　his　head　in　a　blessing。　Mohammed　kissed　this　hand；　and　then　sprang　to　his　feet　and　went　to　his　old　uncle　Toussoun　Aga。　With　perfect　gravity　he　begged　permission　to　teach　him　the　eagle's　cry；　that　he　might　be　able　to　call　him　when　his　mother　should　need　him。

The　old　man　looked　up　from　the　fishing…nets；　at　which　he　was　working；　in　utter　bewilderment。　〃What　possesses　you；　Mohammed　Ali？　What　an　idea　to　take　into　your　head；　to　train　the　old　fellow　who　is　good　for　nothing　but　to　make　nets　for　the　fishermen；　in　which　they　catch　the　red　mareles　and　the　blue　flyersto　train　this　old　fellow　to　imitate　the　eagle　and　scream　like　the　king　of　the　air！〃

〃And　yet　you　must　learn　to　cry　like　this　same　eagle；　uncle！〃　With　resistless　force　he　drew　his　uncle　from　his　mat；　and　almost　compelled　him　to　go　up　with　him　to　the　verge　of　the　rock。　High　above　where　the　cliff　projects　far　out　into　the　sea；　there；　with　a　serious　air；　Mohammed　taught　his　uncle　the　eagle's　cry。

At　first　his　uncle　refused　to　imitate　him　and　utter　the　cry　as　directed；　but　Mohammed　regarded　him　with　so　wild　and　angry　a　look；　and　then　entreated　him　in　such　soft　and　tender　tones　to　do　it　for　his　dear　mother's　sake；　whose　call　would；　perhaps；　be　too　weak　to　reach　him；　that　the　old　man　could　at　last　no　longer　refuse。

When　he　had　imitated　him　in　a　loud；　shrill　voice；　Mohammed　smiled　and　nodded　approvingly。

〃That　will　do。　And　if　I　should　be　ever　so　distant　and　hear　this　cry；　I　will　come　home　to　mother。　But　tell　me；　Uncle　Toussoun　Aga；　tell　me；　by　all　that　is　holy；　by　the　prophet　and　by　the　name　of　Allah；　tell　me　the　truth：　is　my　mother　ill？〃

Toussoun　Aga's　countenance　assumed　a　very　grave　expression；　and　he　looked　down　confused。

〃Answer　me！〃　cried　Mohammed；　vehemently。　〃Is　my　mother　ill？　In　the　name　of　the　prophet；　I　command　you　to　tell　me　the　truth！〃

〃Do　not　demand　it；　son　of　my　beloved　brother；　Ibrahim　Aga；〃　said　the　old　man；　sorrowfully。　〃It　does　not　become　man　to　pry　into　the　mysteries　of　Allah。　We　are　all　in　Allah's　hand；　and　what　be　determines　must　be；　and　we　should　not　attempt　to　look　into　the　future。〃

〃Yet　tell　meand　may　Allah　forgive　me　for　wishing　to　look　into　the　futureis　my　mother　ill？〃

〃She　looks　pale；〃　murmured　the　old　man。　〃When　she　walks　her　breath　is　short；　and；　when　she　gives　me　her　hands　in　greeting；　I　feel　them　burn　as　though　fire　flowed　in　her　veins。　But　it　may　pass　away；　nephew。　She　may　recover；　she　is　still　weak　from　her　former　illness；　you　recollect　the　severe　fever　she　had？　But　she　will　recover；　and　for　this　purpose　Mr。　Lion　sent　her　the　strengthening　wine；　it　will　do　her　good；　and　she　will　get　better。〃

〃Yes；　she　will　get　better；〃　said　the　boy。　〃It　is　impossible　she　should　die；　for　I　should　then　be　entirely　alone　in　the　world。〃

〃Entirely　alone？〃　asked　the　old　man；　regarding　him　reproachfully。　〃As　long　as　Toussoun　Aga　lives；　his　nephew；　Mohammed　Ali；　is　not　entirely　alone。〃

Mohammed　held　out　his　hand。　〃Thanks；　uncle。〃　He　nodded　to　the　old　man；　turned　away；　and　sprang　off　over　the　rocks　with　such　rapid　bounds　that　old　Toussoun　looked　after　him　in　amazement。

〃He　leaps　like　a　gazelle。　Light　is　his　step；　and　splendid　his　figure。　How　long　will　he　still　bless　his　mother's　sight？　how　long　shall　my　old　eyes　be　gladdened　by　this　young　gazelle；　this　young　eagle？〃

The　old　man　bowed　his　head　upon　his　breast；　and　two　tears　trickled　slowly　down　his　cheeks。




CHAPTER　IV

PREMONITION　OF　DEATH。


Since　the　day　when　Mohammed　had　first　conceived　a　dark　foreboding　of　his　mother's　insidious　disease；　he　had　become　more　earnest　and　gloomy　in　his　disposition。　The　other　boys　avoided　meeting　and　coming　into　collision　with　him；　they　paid　the　well…earned　tribute　of　fruits　from　their　parents'　gardens；　and　assumed　an　almost　humble　demeanor　in　his　presence。　He　sometimes　challenged　them　to　race　or　wrestle　with　him；　but　only　the　strongest　and　most　active　would　enter　into　such　trials　with　him；　and　he　always　remained　the　victor。　They　were　in　the　habit　of　turning　down　a　side　street　when　they　saw　him　advancing　toward　them；　and；　when　they　observed　him　among　the　rocks　with　his　little　gun　on　his　shoulder；　they　would　hide　themselves　behind　some　rocky　projection　and　remain　concealed　until　he　had　passed。　But　Mohammed　saw　them。　His　eye　would　glitter　when　he　passed　their　hiding…places；　and　a　contemptuous　smile　play　about　his　lips。　〃The　hawks　fear　the　eagle；〃　he　would　murmur　to　himself；　〃but　the　eagle　will　some　day　pluck　out　their　feathers　and　show　them　that　he　is　master。〃

Striving　to　earn　money　to　procure　little　luxuries　for　his　mother；　he　would　more　rarely　absent　himself　from　home　for　longer　periods　than　formerly。　When　the　storm　raged；　and；　the　boldest　fishermen　feared　to　venture　over　to　Imbro　where　their　nets　were　laid；　Mohammed　would　offer　to　go　for　them；　provided　they　gave　him　double　wages；　and　the　fishermen；　fearing　that　the　wild　waves　might　bear　away　their　nets　filled　with　the　rare　fish　that　only　came　up　from　the　deep　during　the　storm；　would　willingly　accede　to　his　demands。　One　day　when　the　sea　was　roaring　and　foaming　wildly；　one　of　the　fishermen　stood　upon　the　shore　imploring　Allah　to　save　the　nets　he　had　taken　to　Imbro　the　day　before；　and　which；　assuredly　filled　with　the　rarest　fish；　bad　perhaps　already　become　a　prey　to　the　waves。

〃Why　not　go　after　them？〃　said　a　mocking　voice　behind　him。　〃Go　over　and　get　your　nets。〃

The　fisherman　regarded　the　intrepid　boy　Mohammed；　who　now　stood　at　his　side；　with　severity。　〃No　one　would　venture　out　in　such　a　storm。　Moreover；　this　is　Thursday；　the　evil　day　on　which　the　ghins；　who　draw　men　into　the　deep；　are　abroad。　I　must　therefore　lose　my　rich　catch　and　the　nets　besides。　Your　old　uncle；　Toussoun　Aga；　will　be　well　pleased；　however；　for　it　will　take　all　I　have　to　purchase　new　nets　from　him。〃

〃My　uncle　can　make　no　nets　at　present；〃　said　Mohammed。　〃He　has　been　ill　for　weeks；　I　therefore　advise　you　to　save　those　you　have；　as　you　will　find　it　impossible　to　procure　as　good　ones　from　anybody　else。〃

〃A　good　piece　of　advice！〃　cried　the　fisherman；　angrily。　〃But　what　am　I　to　do　if　the　storm　tears　my　nets　away？〃

〃Try　to　save　your　nets；〃　replied　Mohammed；　laughing。　〃What　will　you　give　me　if　I　go　over　and　get　them　and　the　catch　of　fish　besides？〃

〃You　wouldn't　attempt　it！　Look　how　the　waves　roar　and　open　their　wide　jaws　as　if　to　devour　you　even　here　on　the　shore！　You　will　not　venture　out。〃

〃I　know　the　waves；〃　replied　the　boy；　〃and　I　know　your　boat。　It　glides　over　the　water　like　a　nutshell；　and　the　monsters　of　the　deep　love　me　and　will　safely　bear　me　over　to　the　island　on　their　backs。　I　will　go　if　you　will　give　me　what　I　ask。〃

〃What　do　you；　ask？〃

〃You　shall　give　me　half　your　fish。　If　I　bring　them　over　safely；　call　four　of　your　friends；　let　them　fairly　estimate　the　price；　and　then　pay　me　my　share。　Will　you　agree　to　this；　Omar？〃

〃No；　I　will　not！　This　is　unheard　of！〃　cried　the　fisherman；　angrily。

〃Just　as　you　please；〃　said　Mohammed；　quietly。　〃You　would　rather　lose　the　whole；　than　save　half；　and　the　nets　besides。　Consider　well　that　Toussoun　Aga　has　perhaps　made　his　last　nets；　and　that　yours　were　quite　new；　and　the　finest　quality　he　ever　made。〃

〃Be　satisfied　with　a　fourth　part　of　the　fish；　and　the　bargain　made；〃　said　Omar；　as　he　looked　longingly　toward　the　island；　now；　as　the　waves　had　subsided　somewhat；　visible　as　a　dark　spot　on　the　horizon。　The　boy　regarded　him　angrily。

〃I　am　no　tradesman；　and　will　not　be　cheapened。　Half　of　the　fish；　or　I　remain　here。〃

〃Well；　if　it　must　be；　take　half；　you　usurer！〃　cried　the　enraged　fisherman。

〃Where　is　your　boat？〃　asked　Mohammed；　quietly。

〃Down　there　in　the　inlet。　And　now　be　quick　about　it；　boy！〃

〃Directly！　But　ev