mohammed ali and his house-第7部分

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

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

〃Directly！　But　every　thing　in　its　order。　You　must　first　acknowledge　the　bargain　before　witnesses。〃

〃Before　witnesses？〃　cried　the　enraged　fisherman。　〃Is　not　Allah　the　witness　of　an　honest　man's　promise？　〃

〃He　is。　But　who　knows　but　the　roaring　of　the　storm　has　prevented　your　words　from　ascending　to　his　ear？〃　replied　Mohammed；　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃I　will　bring　Mr。　Lion；　you　can　repeat　your　words　before　him。〃

Before　Omar　could　prevent　him；　the　boy　bounded　away　to　the　merchant；　and　begged　him　to　come　and　witness　Omar's　promise。　The　merchant　willingly　followed　his　favorite　in　spite　of　the　storm　and　the　spray　which　the　waves　tossed　up　to　the　spot　where　the　men　were　standing。　When　he　learned　what　was　in　contemplation；　and　when　Omar　had　repeated　his　promise；　the　merchant　shook　his　head　resolutely。　〃This　cannot　and　shall　not　be。　You　shall　not　drive　the　boy　out　in　such　weather；　the　sea　is　an　open　grave；　as　it　were！〃

〃Mr。　Lion！〃　cried　Mohammed；　advancing　toward　him；　his　arms　folded　on　his　breast。　〃Look　at　me！　Why　do　you　call　me　a　boy？　Am　I　not　taller　than　many　of　the　men　on　our　island；　am　I　not　stronger　than　many　boys　of　eighteen？〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Mr。　Lion。　〃Though　only　fourteen；　you　are　no　longer　a　boy。　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mohammed　Ali；　for　considering　your　years　and　not　your　strength。　But　all　the　same；　whether　youth　or　boy；　no　one　goes　to　sea　in　such　weather。〃

〃I　will　show　you　that　one　does　go　to　sea　in　such　weather；　when　good　wages　are　to　be　made！〃　exclaimed　Mohammed；　as　he；　before　the　merchant　could　prevent　him；　quickly　ran　down　to　the　little　inlet；　loosened　Omar's　boat　from　its　fastening；　and　sprang　into　it。

He　was　soon　out　among　the　waves。　They　roar　and　surge　around　him；　but　what　cares　he？　He　throws　himself　down　in　the　boat　and　holds　fast　with　both　hands。　The　waves　alternately　lift　him　aloft；　and　bury　him　out　of　sight。　It　is　splendid　sport。　It　is　long　since　Mohammed　has　felt　so　well　as　now；　when　tossed　in　his　frail　skiff　on　the　foaming　deep。　He　shouts　in　exultation

〃Thus　will　I　battle　my　life　long！　Thus　will　I　ever　vanquish　difficulties　through　life！　And　see；　the　wind　is　favorable；　and　I　shall　get　over！〃

What　he　had　exultingly　shouted　to　the　waves；　took　place；　he　got　safely　over；　found　the　nets　in　good　condition；　drew　them　ashore；　and　waited　on　the　rock　until　the　storm　had　somewhat　subsided。　Really　it　seemed　that　Sitta　Khadra　was　right：　his　agathodaemon　watched　over　him；　for；　sooner　than　usual；　the　tempest　calmed　down；　and　the　sun　broke　forth　from　behind　the　clouds。　It　was　now　a　comparatively　easy　matter　for　Mohammed　to　get　back　to　the　opposite　shore　where　Omar　was　awaiting　him　with　several　of　his　comrades。　The　fisherman's　face　was　angry　and　lowering。　It　annoyed　him　that　he　had　not　waited　for　the　storm　to　go　down；　instead　of　making　the　bargain　with　Mohammed；　for　he　must　now　keep　his　word　and　pay　the　boy　what　he　had　earned。　This　day　his　rich　catch　of　fish　gave　Omar　no　pleasure。　His　face　grew　darker　and　darker；　while　the　men　were　opening　the　nets　and　counting　the　fish。　It　was　well　that　the　shrewd　boy　had　caused　Omar　to　repeat　his　promise　before　a　witness；　and　before　so　highly　esteemed　a　wit　ness；　for　the　fisherman　would　have　otherwise　refused；　in　all　probability；　to　share　the　harvest　of　his　nets　with　Mohammed。

He　was　now　compelled　to　yield　to　the　decision　of　the　fishermen；　who　declared　that　the　half　of　the　fish　caught　were　worth　at　least　four　ducats。　The　boy's　eyes　sparkled　with　delight　as　Omar　reluctantly　and　hesitatingly　drew　the　money　from　his　long　leather　purse　and　handed　it　to　him。

〃It　will　bring　you　no　blessing！〃　growled　the　fisherman。　〃You　are　a　greedy；　headstrong　boy；　you　deprive　the　father　of　a　family　of　half　his　hard　earnings。　The　ghins　will　pay　you　back　for　what　you　have　swindled　me　out　of。〃

〃I　have　swindled　you　out　of　nothing。　I　risked　my　life　for　four　ducats；　have　earned　them　honestly；　and　it　does　not　become　you　to　abuse　me　for　it　before　these　people。Speak　yourselves；　you　men；　am　I　right？〃

〃Certainly　you　are　right；〃　they　cried　with　one　voice。

〃No；　no　one　can　abuse　you　for　receiving　your　well…earned　wages；〃　said　Mr。　Lion；　beckoning　to　the　boy　to　follow　him。

〃You　must　be　exhaustedcome　with　me　to　my　home。　You　shall　dine　with　me　and　drink　a　glass　of　wine。　Your　clothes　are　thoroughly　drenched；　you　shall　dry　them　at　the　fire。〃

Mohammed　laughed。　〃Wet　I　am；　to　be　sure；　but　the　fire　that　burns　in　my　veins　will　soon　dry　the　stuff。　I　will；　however；　gladly　eat　a　little　and　drink　a　glass　of　wine　with　you。　It　was　a　hard　fight　with　the　sea…monsters；　they　seemed　to　roar　in　my　ears；　'We　will　have　you；　we　will　pull　you　down！'　And　yet　it　sounded　sweetly！　There　is　no　finer　music　than　when；　the　sea…monsters　come　up　from　the　deep　and　sing　their　wild　songs。〃

〃You　are　a　strange　being；〃　said　Mr。　Lion；　regarding　him　lovingly。　〃I　rejoice　in　you；　and；　if　it　were　not　that　people　would　say　of　me　that　I　wished　to　convert　a　Mussulman　to　my　religion；　I　would　gladly　adopt　you　as　my　son。　Tell　me；　if　I　should　leave　this　place；　would　you　go　with　me　to　the　land　of　the　Franks；　accept　my　religion；　and　become　the　heir　of　my　fortune？〃

〃And　you　ask　this？　Say　that　it　was　a　jest！　For　you　surely　could　not　desire　that　the　son　of　his　father　should　become　a　renegade！　No；　Mr。　Lion；　a　Mussulman　who　could　allow　himself　to　be　converted　into　a　Christian　dogpardon　me　for　having　uttered　this　word；　it　was　not　intended　for　you；　but〃

〃But　only　for　the　Christian　dog！〃　said　Mr。　Lion；　smiling。　〃Let　us　leave　it　as　it　is。　You　have　offended　me；　and　I　you。　Let　us　be　friends　again；　and　empty　a　glass　with　each　other。〃

Mohammed　accompanied　him　to　his　house　and　ate　with　him　and　drank　of　the　fiery　Cyprian　wine。　After　having　refreshed　and　strengthened　himself；　he　turned　to　Mr。　Lion　with　a　merry　countenance：

〃Now　to　a　little　business　matter　that　I　have　to　transact　with　you；　for；　if　I　had　not　met　you　below；　I　should　have　come　up　here　after　you。　Look　at　my　four　magnificent　ducats；　I　should　like　to　invest　them　with　you。〃

〃You　are　a　shrewd　lad；　and　are　disposed　to　improve　your　good　fortune。　That　is　right；　and　without　so　doing；　one　makes　no　progress　in　the　world。〃

〃You　shall　invest　them　with　me；　and　they　shall　bear　you　good　interest。〃

〃Not　in　that　way；〃　cried　Mohammed。　〃I　have　no　desire　to　lay　a　grain　of　sand　on　a　mountain；　with　the　expectation　that　it　will　bear　fruit；　whereas　it　is　only　lost　among　the　others。　No；　I　wish　to　buy　goods。　You　have　always　been　kind　and　friendly　to　me；　and　from　me　you　will　certainly　not　demand　as　much　as　from　the　rich　people　of　the　town；　or　the　governor。〃

〃You　are　right；　Mohammed。　You　shall　have　the　goods　at　the　price　they　cost　me。　What　will　you　have？〃

〃A　magnificent　silk　dress；　and　a　long　white　veil；　such　as　the　ladies　of　rank　wear。〃

〃See；　see！〃　exclaimed　the　merchant；　regarding　the　boy；　whose　eyes　fairly　sparkled　in　amazement。　〃You　were　right；　Mohammed；　you　are　no　longer　a　boy。　You　are　in　love；　and　it　is　assuredly　a　bride　to　whom　Mohammed　wishes　to　present　this　love…offering？〃

〃No；　Mr。　Lion；　no　bride；　but　a　love…offering　the　articles　certainly　are。〃

〃Only　an　amorous　intrigue；　then？〃　asked　the　merchant；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃You　are　beginning　early　with　such　things；　Mohammed。　Yet　I　am　glad　you　are　not　about　to　affiance　yourself；　as　is　customary　here　at　your　age；　with　a　girl　ten　years　old；　whose　eyes　please　you；　or　who　has　a　good　dower；　ten　years　later；　after　she　has　been　long…　veiled；　and　you　no　longer　know　how　she　looks；　you　marry　her　and　take　a　wife　to　your　home；　whom　to　be　sure　you　have　often　seen　and　often　spoken　to；　but　of　whose　present　looks　you　know　nothing。〃

〃If　we　do　not　like　her；　we　send　her　back　to　her　mother。　There　is　nothing　that　binds　us　to　keep　the　woman　we　do　not　like；　and　our　prophet　has　arranged　this　very　wiselywhile　you　Christians　must　keep　the　woman；　though　you　sometimes　find　yourselves　very　badly　deceived。　Praise　to　Allah；　and　thanks　to　the　prophet！〃

〃Then　it　is　an　amorous　intrigue？　Well；　I　will　not　demand　the　reason；　for　the　young　gentleman　certainly　knows　the　first　law　of　love　discretion；〃　observed　the　merchant；　with　a　smile。

〃I　have　no　use　for　that　law；〃　said　Mohammed；　proudly。　〃You　shall　know。　This　love…offering　is　for　my　mother。　She　is　the　only　woman　I　love；　and　she　will　also　be　the　only　one　I　shall　ever　love。　Give　me　a　beautiful　dress；　richly　embroidered；　and　a　veil　adorned　with　golden　fringe。　She　shall　go　no　more　to　the　mosque　so　poorly　dressed。　She　shall　be　magnificently　arrayed；　that　she　may　be　envied　by　all　other　women。　Give　me　something　very　handsome。〃

〃You　shall　have　it；　my　boy。　Excuse　me　for　calling　you　so　again；　but　this　time　it　is　done　to　show　you　my　love　for　your　childlike　heart。　Come　with　me　to　the　hall。　You　shall　select　the　handsomest　dress；　regardless　of　the　cost。〃

He　led　him　to　the　hall　in　which　he　kept　the　magnificent　goods　from　which　the　ladies　in　the　harems　of　the　Turks　of　rank　were　accustomed　to　select　their　festal　dresses；　and　spread　the　beautiful　goods　out　before　Mohammed。　The　boy's　eyes　sparkled　with　pleasure　as　he　beheld　this　costly　array。　He　selected　a　magnificent　piece　of　purple　satin　embroidered　with　silver；　and　an　Indian　veil　of　the　finest　make；　adorned　with　fringe　of　real　gold。　It　was　a　suit　that　would　have　delighted　the　daughters　of　the　sultan　at　Stamboul；　and　it　did　not　occur　to　Mohammed　that　it　was　worth　at　least　ten　times　as　much　as　he　had　to　give　for　it。　Mr。　Lion　took　the　four　ducats　with　a　smile；　and　handed　him　the　beautiful　goods　wrapped　in　gilt…edged　paper。　Mohammed；　proud　of　his　bargain；　took　the　package；　and　ran　in　breathless　haste　to　his　mother。

〃Here；　mother；　I　bring　you　something　you　will　like！〃　he　cried。

〃Yourself？〃　asked　Khadra；　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃I　need　nothing　else。〃

〃Yes；　Mother　Khadra；　you　do　need　something　else。　You　need　a　dress　and　a　veil；　such　as　the　other　ladies　of　rank　wear。　Do　not　be　alarmed；　mother；　it　is　honestly　acquired。　There；　take　it；　and　rejoice！〃　He　spread　the　costly　goods　out　before　her；　expecting　her　to　cry　out　with　delight。　But　she　only　became　sad；　on　her　pale　cheeks　glowed　the　roses　which　Death　bestows　on　those　whom　he　is　about　to　call　to　himself。

〃My　son！〃　said