mohammed ali and his house-第65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！



But　what　can　he　do？

He　considers　this；　and　his　present　relations　with　the　viceroy。　Has　the　time　come　when　he　can　lay　hands　to　his　task　with　ruder　touch；　will　it　do　to　substitute　stern　words　for　soft　flattery？　He　will　not　be　able　to　decide　until　after　this　battlethat　is；　if　he　is　to　take　part　in　it　at　all。

While　he　lies　there　absorbed　in　thought；　all　has　become　still　without。　The　men　are　asleep；　no　one　moves；　no　eye　is　open。　No　one　sees　a　dark　shadow　flitting　across　the　desert　toward　the　tents。　Now　it　halts　near　that　of　the　sarechsme。　A　smaller　shadow　separates　from　the　larger　one；　it　stoops　low；　and　glides　along　slowly　and　cautiously。

All　are　wrapped　in　slumber。　The　shadow　stops　before　the　tent；　and　now　something　glitters；　like　two　sparkling　stars　fallen　from　heaven。

Perhaps　they　are　the　eyes　of　some　savage　beast　prowling　near　the　camp　in　search　of　prey。

No　one　sees　these　eyes。　They　are　not　the　eyes　of　an　animal；　but　of　a　human　being　who　now　stands　upright　in　front　of　Mohammed's　tent。

Sleep　has　waved　its　black　pinions　over　Mohammed；　as　he　lies　there　lost　in　thought；　his　senses　have　become　gradually　confused；　and　he；　too；　now　sleeps；　dreaming　of　the　viceroy；　of　the　morrow；　and　of　the　Mameluke　bey　Bardissi；　whom　he　would　so　gladly　call　his　friend。

For　a　moment　he　opens　his　eyes；　it　seems　to　him　that　he　hears　a　noise；　a　slight　rustling　against　the　canvas　of　the　tent。　Yet　he　sees　nothing；　and　all　is　still。　It　is　only　a　dream。　He　closes　his　eyes；　the　angel　of　sleep　fans　his　brow；　and　his　head　sinks　back　upon　the　mat　again。

It　would　have　been　well　had　the　sentinels　stood　guard。　They　would　not　have　allowed　this　black　figure　to　spring　into　the　tent　with　the　bound　of　a　tiger；　and　then　glide　like　the　noiseless　serpent　to　the　mat　where　Mohammed　slept。　They　could　have　prevented　this　spectre　from　so　quickly　and　noiselessly　binding　his　feet　and　hands　with　thin　ropes　that　he　did　not　awake；　and　then　suddenly　and　rapidly　enveloping　his　head　with　a　thick　cloth；　and　adroitly　tying　it　in　a　knot。

The　sarechsme；　now　aroused；　raises　his　head　to　hear　the　words：　〃Fear　not；　your　life　will　be　spared！〃　murmured　in　his　ear。

And；　while　these　words　are　being　whispered；　he　feels　the　cloth　about　his　head；　and　that　he　can　utter　no　cry　or　word；　he　also　becomes　aware　that　his　hands　and　feet　are　securely　bound。

〃And　to　this　I　have　come！〃　thinks　he。　〃Thus　am　I　to　die；　an　object　of　ridicule　to　the　world　and　to　myself！〃

And；　strange　to　say；　his　thoughts　suddenly　revert　to　the　past。　Thus　bound　and　gagged；　had　he　once　lain　in　another　place。　And　he　who　perpetrated　the　horrible　outrage；　lives　in　splendor；　and　Mohammed　has　lived　in　vain；　and　must　die　unavenged！　It　is　again　Cousrouf　Pacha　who　causes　him　to　be　bound　and　borne　out。　〃Whither？　whither？　I　ask！　Do　I　not　already　know？　Out　to　the　Nile　that　glittered　in　the　sunlight　before　me　a　few　hours　since。　Oh；　had　I　but　known　that　it　was　to　be　my　grave；　and　that　Cousrouf　had　read　and　understood　my　thoughts！　He　felt　that　it　was　he　or　I；　that　one　must　go　down；　and　now　he　stands　secure　on　the　heights；　and　I　must　sink　down；　down！〃

Such　are　the　thoughts　that　harrow　his　soul　as　he　is　lifted　up　by　two　strong　arms　and　borne　out　into　the　night。　He　feels　the　quick　breathing　of　him　in　whose　arms　he　is　borne；　he　is　no　light　burden　even　for　Sheik　Arnhyn's　strong　arms。

〃How　heavy　you　are；　sarechsme！〃　murmurs　he；　smiling。　〃How　light　the　viceroy's　army　will　be；　when　the　heavy　and　distinguished　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　is　wanting！〃

All　is　still　about　them。　Mohammed　vainly　endeavors　to　cry　out；　to　release　his　hands；　he　is　securely　bound；　and　his　lips　can　utter　no　word。

They　stop　at　last；　and　Arnhyn　speaks；　but　in　such　low　tones　that　Mohammed　can　understand　nothing。　He　only　hears　another　voice　replying。　Then　he　is　lifted　high　and　deposited　on　a　soft　cushion。

〃Now；　Butheita；〃　murmured　the　voice　of　him　who　had　borne　him　from　the　tent；　〃ride　on　to　the　tent　with　him；　and　keep　him　securely　until　our　master；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　comes　to　speak　with　him！　Guard　him　well；　for　you　must　know；　my　daughter；　that；　dearly　as　your　father　loves　you；　Butheita　must　die　if　he　escapes。　This；　I　swear；　by　Allah；　so　be　on　your　guard；　my　daughter！〃

〃You　can　rely　on　me；　Father　Arnhyn；〃　replied　the　soft　voice　of　a　woman。　〃I　shall　guard　him　as　though　he　were　my　dearest　treasure　on　earth；　he　shall　not　escape　Butheita。〃

〃Then　farewell；　my　child！　I　must　now　hasten　back；　for　to…morrow　will　be　a　day　of　battle。　But　I　hope　to　bring　you　rich　spoils　in　two　days；　and　Osman　Bey　has　promised　to　reward　me　well　for　my　work。　Hold　him　fast；　Butheita；　he　is　bound　and　gagged；　and　you　have　nothing　to　fear　from　him。　Allah　be　with　you；　my　child！〃

And　now　they　ride　swiftly　through　the　night。　Whither？　He　knows　not。　He　lies　bound　on　a　cushion；　and　only　feels；　by　the　movement　of　the　animal；　and　by　the　shaking　and　jolting　his　body　undergoes；　that　he　is　on　the　back　of　a　dromedary。　Sometimes；　when；　as　it　seems　to　him；　he　is　on　the　point　of　being　hurled　from　his　high　seat；　he　feels　himself　grasped　and　placed　in　an　easier　position　on　his　cushion　by　two　arms；　and　then　on　they　move　again　at　a　swift　trot。　He　feels　that　they　are　riding　through　the　desert。　The　camel's　feet　sink　deep　into　the　sand；　and　then；　when　the　ground　beneath　becomes　firm；　their　speed　is　increased；　and　lessened　when　it　again　sinks　into　the　sand。　To　Mohammed　the　ride　seems　to　have　lasted　an　eternity　already。　However；　a　few　hours　only　have　passed；　when　the　dromedary　halts；　and　a　sweet　voice　whispers：

〃I　am　sorry　for　you；　it　is　horrible　to　be　borne　on　through　the　night　this　way；　bound　and　gagged；　your　face　covered。　I　should　like　to　relieve　you　by　removing　the　cloth。　But　if　you　are　cruel；　you　might　tear　my　arm　with　your　teeth。〃

Mohammed　shakes　his　head　slightly；　and　she　feels　the　movement　in　her　arm　that　encircles　his　head。

〃You　shake　your　head　and　promise　not　to　do　so；　stranger；　and　I　will　trust　you。　I　will　free　your　head　and　lips；　but　I　must　first　bind　you　to　the　saddle；　to　make　sure　of　you。〃　She　unwinds　the　shawl　from　her　delicate　waist；　slips　it　around　his　body；　and　binds　him　securely　to　the　palanquin；　she　then　unties　the　knot　binding　the　cloth　that　envelops　his　head　and　passes　over　his　mouth。　The　cloth　falls　down　and　Mohammed　breathes　freer　and　looks　up。　It　is　a　clear；　starry　night；　and　Butheita's　eyes　are　accustomed　to　darkness；　and　see　as　well　at　night　as　in　the　daytime。　She　gazes　down　upon　his　countenance；　and　a　sunny　smile　illumines　her　features。　He　sees　her　not；　his　eyes　are　still　blinded；　neither　can　he　speak　yet；　he　can　only　breathe　more　freely；　and　he　eagerly　inhales　the　fresh　night　air。

〃Handsome　is　the　stranger；〃　said　she；　in　a　voice　of　wondrous　sweetness。　〃Already　a　sarechsme；　and　still　so　young！　I　supposed　my　father　had　brought　me　an　old　gray…beard；　and　it　had　distressed　me　to　torment　you　so；　and　now　I　see　a　strong　young　hero；　and　I　feel　doubly　distressed　at　your　being　the　prisoner　of　a　poor　girl。〃

He　looks　up；　and　now　he　sees　the　fair　face　with　its　starlike　eyes　sparkling　down　upon　him。　The　night　is　clear；　and　the　yellow　sand　whirled　aloft　by　the　camel's　feet　imparts　a　golden　lustre　to　the　atmosphere；　the　appearance　of　the　horizon　also　announces　that　the　rosy　dawn　is　about　to　contend　with　the　starry　night。　Mohammed　sees　the　lovely　countenance　with　its　brown　tint；　and　its　large　black　eyes　and　crimson　lips；　disclosing；　as　they　now　smile；　her　pearly　teeth。

〃Pity　me　not；　Butheita；〃　murmured　he。　〃To　be　the　prisoner　of　a　man　would　put　the　sarechsme　to　shame；　but　to　be　the　prisoner　of　a　houri　of　paradise；　who　holds　him　in　sweet　captivity；　is；　it　seems　to　me；　an　enviable　lot。〃

〃You　speak　prettily；　O　stranger；〃　said　she；　her　countenance　beaming　with　delight。　〃Your　words　come　like　music　from　your　lips；　such　sweet　words　I　never　heard　before。　You　speak　as　the　scha…er　sings；　whom　I　once　heard　when　with　my　father　in　Tantah。　Oh；　speak　on；　sing　on；　for　songs　round　from　your　lips！〃

〃If　my　words　are　songs；　yours　are　tones　of　the　harp；〃　murmured　he。　〃Oh；　tell　me；　Butheita；　where　are　we　going？　Who　has　commanded　you　to　bear　me　away　thus？〃

〃Did　you　not　hear？　I　obey　the　commands　of　my　father；　who　is　in　Osman　Bey's　service。　I　do　not　know　what　they　want　of　you；　yet　I　believe　they　fear　you；　and　wish　to　keep　you　from　taking　part　in　the　great　battle　to…morrow。　Yes；　I　know　they　fear　you；　for　you　are　a　hero。　Now；　I　know　how　a　hero　must　look；　for　you　are　a　hero；　and　your　eyes　are　as　mighty　as　a　host　of　armed　warriors。　Oh；　now　I　understand　why　Osman　Bey　fears　you；　and　why　he　offered　my　father　so　rich　a　reward　to　keep　you　from　taking　part　in　to…morrow's　battle。〃

〃That　is　it；　that　is　then　the　reason　I　am　led　away　captive；〃　cried　Mohammed；　not　in　threatening　or　lamenting　tones；　but　joyously；　for　he　feels　that　Cousrouf　has　answered　the　question　with　which　he　had　vainly　tormented　himself；　he　had　hesitated；　now　he　feels　that　he　has　advanced　a　step　farther　toward　his　aim。　Now　he　knows　what　he　has　to　do；　Fate　has　pointed　out　the　road　to　his　goal　through　Butheita；　and　he　feels　that　she　will　lead　him　on　until　he　reaches　the　throne　seen　by　his　mother　in　her　dreams；　and　becomes　the　avenger　of　her　he　loved；　of　his　Masa。

She　still　gazed　upon　the　upturned　countenance　of　her　prisoner；　now　lighted　up　by　the　rosy　light　of　the　morning　sun；　she　is　struck　with　the　tone　of　his　voice；　and　is　surprised　to　learn　that　the　sarechsme　is　not　dejected　at　his　captivity。

〃You　rejoice；〃　said　she；　smiling；　and　again　displaying　her　beautiful　teeth。　〃You　rejoice　over　your　captivity。〃

〃I　should　like　to　be　such　a　captive　forever；　Butheita；　it　is　heavenly　to　be　encircled　in　these　fair　arms。〃

〃You　are　singing　your　sweet　songs　again；　and　oh；　they　sound　so　sweet！〃　said　she。　And　yet；　as　he　attempts　to　lay　his　head　closer　to　her　shoulder；　she　timidly　recoils　with　an　anxious　look　in　her　eyes。

〃Not　so；　stranger。　Honor　the　hospitality　of　my　house；　for　my　dromedary　is　my　house；　and　I　wish　you　to　be　my　guest。　And；　that　you　may　see　that　Butheita　is　sensible　of　the　duties　of　a　hostess；　accept　this　banana　and　refresh　yourself；　you　will　need　it。〃

She　takes　two　bananas　from　the　bag　that　hangs　at　the　side　of　the　saddle；　and　with　delight　Mohammed　sees　her　peel　the　rich　fruit；　which　she　hands　him　with　a　delicious　smi