mohammed ali and his house-第63部分

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fi　Bey；　a　protege　of　the　English；　as　Bardissi　is　of　the　French。　These　three　are　now　at　daggers'…ends　as　to　who　shall　be　the　leader。　We　must；　it　seems　to　me；　draw　advantage　from　this　quarrel。　I　know　Bardissi　and　Ibrahim　have　again　applied　to　France；　and　have　sent　ambassadors　to　the　French　general；　Bonaparte；　to　solicit　their　aid　against　their　own　mastersagainst　us；　the　Turks。　L'Elfi　Bey；　however；　has　sought　the　intervention　of　England；　and　begged　for　assistance　against　us　in　that　quarter。　They　well　know　that　they　are　too　weak　to　resist　us　alone。　And　therefore；　it　seems　to　me；　we　should　avail　ourselves　of　this　favorable　moment　when　they　are　awaiting　foreign　aid。　They　must　be　overwhelmed；　never　to　rise　again。〃

〃How　wise　your　words；　highness！　Overwhelmed　they　must　be　for　all　time；　in　order　that　you　alone　may　rule；　and　that　the　sultan　at　Stamboul　may　look　with　admiration　upon　him　who　has　restored　to　the　old　rulers　of　Egypt　the　power　of　former　days。　This　great　work　is　reserved　for　you；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　and　your　most　obedient　and　devoted　servant；　Mohammed　Ali；　will　consider　himself　highly　honored；　if　permitted　to　aid　you　in　this　great　cause。〃

〃I　count　on　you；〃　replied　the　pacha；　inclining　his　head　graciously。　〃I　know　your　devotion　and　zeal　in　my　service；　and　therefore　do　I　advise　with　you　in　all　my　plans；　and　speak　to　you　as　to　my　other　self。　To　proceed：　The　Mameluke　beys　who　applied　to　England　and　France　also　addressed　a　letter　to　me　at　the　same　time。　In　this　letter　they　request　me　to　conclude　with　them　an　armistice　of　five　months'　duration；　in　order　that　they　may　address　themselves　to　the　sultan　at　Constantinople；　to　settle；　with　the　assistance　of　the　English　and　French　ambassadors　there；　the　terms　of　a　final　treaty　of　peace。　What　do　you　think　our　answer　to　the　demand　of　these　Mameluke　beys　should　be；　Mohammed？　Shall　we　consent　to　this　armistice？　Give　me　your　views　without　reserve。　What　is　your　opinion？〃

〃I　think；　highness；　that　it　would　be　folly　to　grant　this　armistice。　The　Mamelukes　would　avail　themselves　of　this　interval　to　recruit　their　ranks；　and　would　secretly　import　slaves。　They　are　cunning；　and　many　resources　are　open　to　them。　They　would　make　warriors　of　these　slaves　in　five　months；　and　they　would　then　be　the　first　to　recommence　the　war！〃

Cousrouf　remained　silent　for　a　time。　〃You　are　a　good　general　in　the　field；　and　a　good　adviser　in　the　cabinet。　I　rejoice　in　your　possession！〃　said　he；　with　his　most　gracious　manner。　〃Just　as　you　think　and　say；　have　I　determined；　and　I　have　informed　these　insolent　beys　that　I　will　not　grant　them　a　respite　of　five　months；　nor　of　five　weeks；　no；　not　of　five　days。　I；　moreover；　informed　them　that　if　they　so　ardently　desired　to　have　peace；　and　to　enjoy　peace；　they　should　submit；　and　come　to　Cairo；　and　live　here　as　Osman　Bey　Hassan　does；　who　has　hitherto　also　been　a　Mameluke　chieftain。　Further；　I　told　them　that　I　was　ready　to　treat　with　them；　and；　in　order　to　be　rid　of　this　continuous　plundering　and　robbing；　I　offered　to　assign　them　the　province　of　Esneh；　in　Upper　Egypt；　where　they　might　indulge　their　propensities　to　their　hearts'　content。　They；　however；　in　their　insolence；　demanded　that　I　should　give　them　the　whole　province　of　Girgeh　in　addition。　This　I　refused。　And　now；　I　think；　we　have　had　attempts　enough　at　peace…making。　I　will　draw　the　sword　again；　and　my　armies　shall　take　the　field　against　these　insolent　rebels。　Youssouf　Bey；　my　lieutenant；　leads　the　first　column；　and　the　second；　my　Mohammed　Ali；　the　second　you　will　lead！〃

〃I　thank　you；　highness；　and　I　promise　to　lead　my　soldiers　to　battle　and　victory；　or　to　be　brought　back　with　the　dead！〃

〃You　will　lead　them　to　victory；　and　return　a　victor。　My　general；　Taher　Pacha；　will　unite　his　forces　with　yours　and　Youssouf　Bey's。　Taher　Pacha　is　already　on　the　march　from　Upper　Egypt。　And　now；　tell　me；　do　you　think　our　forces　are　strong　enough　to　chastise　and　overthrow　the　Mameluke　beys？〃

〃In　order　to　reply；　I　must　first　know　the　strength　of　all　your　forces　combined。〃　He　spoke　with　downcast　eyes；　apparently　all　devotion；　and　only　intent　on　his　master's　advantage。　Cousrouf　Pacha　was　far　from　suspecting　with　what　feverish　suspense　the　sarechsme　awaited　his　reply。

〃I　will　tell　you；　and　you　alone；　Mohammed　Ali；〃　replied　he；　in　subdued　tones。　〃We　have　only　sixteen　or　seventeen　thousand　soldiers；　and　it　will　be　difficult　to　concentrate　them　at　one　point；　as　they　are　scattered　throughout　Middle　and　Upper　Egypt。　The　nucleus　of　this　army　that　is　to　be　formed　consists　of　the　four　thousand　Albanians　sent　me　by　the　capitan　pacha；　and　these　Albanians　count　double。　They　are　strong　and　brave。　To　be　sure　they　are　also　a　little　too　wild　and　headstrong；　and；　in　addition；　they　are　not　Turks。〃

〃O　highness；〃　said　Mohammed；　with　a　sigh；　〃if　that　is　a　fault；　I　must　express　my　profound　regret；　as　I　unfortunately　am　not　a　Turk　myself。〃

〃And　yet　I　confide　in　you；〃　said　Cousrouf；　〃as　I　know　you　are　repairing　the　misfortune　of　your　birth　by　your　deeds。　But　I　would　never　place　the　same　reliance　in　the　old　troops　of　Albania；　and；　therefore；　I　have　formed　a　corps　of　Nubians；　and　selected　a　body…　guard　from　the　number　of　these　black　slaves；　and　upon　them　I　can　and　do　rely。　They　have　become　good　soldiers；　I　have　taken　a　number　of　French　soldiers　into　my　service；　and　they　have　drilled　my　body…guard　well。　Yes；　upon　them　I　can　rely。　If　traitors　should　come　near　me；　they　would　slay　them。〃

〃How　could　traitors　come　near　your　highness？〃　said　Mohammed；　with　an　air　of　dismay。　〃　Who　could　dare　to　threaten　Cousrouf　Pacha；　the　kind　and　noble　ruler；　with　treason！　No。　You　can　sleep　in　peace。　Treason　must　stand　aloof　from　your　great　and　sacred　person。〃

The　pacha　shook　his　head。　〃The　viceroy　will　not　sleep　in　peace；　Mohammed；　until　you　can　announce　to　him　that　the　last　Mameluke　bey　lies　dead　at　your　feet。〃

〃I　trust；　highness；　that　I　shall　soon　be　able　to　make　this　announcement；〃　said　Mohammed；　in　kindly　tones。　〃My　most　ardent　desire　is　to　march　out　to　battle；　and　prove　to　my　kind　master　that　I　am　not　only　a　good　soldier；　but　also　a　true　and　devoted　servant。〃

〃Then　march　out　to　battle；　Mohammed；　and　be　mindful　of　what　I　before　said。　Cousrouf　will；　perhaps；　be　able　to　reward　the　victorious　Mohammed　with　a　beautiful　young　wife；　with　a　rich　dowry。　Go！　Be　mindful　of　this；　and　hold　your　troops　in　readiness　to　march。　Taher　Pacha　will　already　have　received　my　orders　to　join　you；　and　Youssouf　Bey；　my　lieutenant；　is　also　ready　to　take　the　field。　You　will　follow　him　rapidly；　and；　united；　you　will　give　battle　to　the　Mamelukes。〃　He　then　dismissed　Mohammed　with　a　gracious　salutation。

As　the　latter　passes　out　through　the　antechamber；　his　head　humbly　bowed　down；　he　whispers　to　himself：　〃The　black　body…guard　would　slay　those　who　should　threaten　your　life！　Cousrouf　Pacha；　I　am　glad　you　rely　on　your　black　body…guard！〃




CHAPTER　XII

THE　ABDUCTION。


OSMAN　BEY　BARDISSI　was　encamped　on　the　plain　of　Darmanhour　with　his　Mamelukes；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　L'Elfi　Bey　and　his　forces。　Spies　and　scouts　had　announced　that　the　Turkish　army　was　advancing　from　Cairo　in　two　columns；　and　that　Taher　Pacha　was　approaching　from　another　directionfrom　Upper　Egypt…at　the　head　of　seven　thousand　men。

Bardissi's　countenance　lighted　up　with　joy　when　the　Bedouin　sheik　Arnhyn　brought　this　intelligence。

〃The　decisive　moment；　the　day　of　battle　is　at　hand。　If　we　are　victors；　how　Sitta　Nefysseh　will　smile　on　us；　how　happy　she　will　be！〃

Yes；　the　decisive　moment　is　at　hand。　Perhaps　Nefysseh's　cold　heart　will　be　touched；　perhaps　she　will　bestow　upon　the　victor　a　glorious　rewardherself。

But　why　does　not　L'Elfi　come？　Without　him　Bardissi　cannot；　he　well　knows；　venture　to　give　battle；　for　he；　with　his　men　and　the　Mamelukes　of　Elmar　Bey；　is　too　weak　to　engage　an　enemy　of　such　superior　strength。

〃To　be　sure；　the　Turks　are　cowards；〃　said　Osman　to　himself；　〃and　against　the　Turks　every　Mameluke　counts　for　two。　Yet；　as　the　scouts　announce；　their　forces　are　too　strong　for　us。　Youssouf　Bey　comes　first　at　the　head　of　three　thousand　Turks；　and　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　follows　him　with　five　thousand　men。　In　addition　to　these；　Taher　Pacha　is　also　advancing　with　his　forces；　if　they　all　unite；　it　is　impossible　that　we　should　be　victorious；　and　yet　we　must　be　victorious。〃

At　last；　intelligence　is　brought　that　L'Elfi　Bey　is　advancing。　He；　however；　brings　but　few　of　his　warriors　with　him；　and　his　countenance　is　sad　and　gloomy。

The　beys；　Osman　at　their　head；　gather　around　him；　and　impart　to　him　the　intelligence　brought　by　the　scouts　with　regard　to　the　strength　of　the　enemy。

〃We　should　therefore　advance　against　him　as　soon　as　possible；　and　vanquish　one　of　his　corps　after　the　other　before　they　have　time　to　unite。〃

L'Elfi　Bey　shook　his　head。　〃We　must　wait；　friends　and　companions　in　arms；〃　said　he。　〃I　think　it　would　be　rash　and　unwise　to　meet　the　enemy；　when　his　army　is　twice　as　strong　as　ours；　and　I　came　here　to　tell　you　this。〃

〃Then；　by　Allah；　it　would　have　been　better　had　you　not　come！〃　cried　Bardissi；　angrily。　〃Shall　the　Turks　say　of　us　that　we；　the　brave　and　haughty　Mamelukes；　have　fled　at　their　approach？〃

〃Let　them　say　what　they　please；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；〃　responded　L'Elfi　Bey；　throwing　his　head　back　proudly。　〃What　care　we？　We　do　not　flee；　we　only　retreat。　And　our　friends　advise　us　to　do　this。〃

〃Who　are　these　friends？〃　asked　Bardissi；　angrily。

〃The　English；　none　of　whom；　as　you　know；　have　ever　deceived　us。　They　have　informed　me　that　the　Turks　are　advancing　in　three　columns；　and　have　advised　me　not　to　attack　them。　They　say　it　would　be　a　great　risk；　and　such　a　risk　would　not　be　advisable　without　a　better　prospect　of　success。　But　we　could　not　hope　for　success；　for；　as　you　know　yourselves；　we　are　in　want　of　arms　and　ammunition。　If　vanquished；　we　should　also　be　massacred；　and　they　would　finish　here　at　Damanhour　the　work　they　began　at　Aboukir。　Can　you　desire　that；　ye　beys？〃

〃We　desire　to　conquer；　and　not　to　flee　like　cowards！〃　replied　Bardissi；　haughtily。

〃The　unwise　general　attacks　incautiously；　and　when　defeated　is　laughed　at　for　his　pains；〃　replied　L'Elfi。　〃The　wise　general　yields　to　necessity；　and　awaits　his　opportunity。〃

〃Then　you　can　wait；　L'Elfi！〃　cried　Bardissi。

〃I　will　wait；　a