mohammed ali and his house-第79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！


n　the　Turkish　soldiers　who　are　endeavoring　to　drive　them　from　the　citadel；　fighting　them　man　to　man。　And　now　the　three　hours　have　elapsed；　and　new　masses　of　soldiers　are　storming　up　the　height！　These　are　Mohammed　Ali's　troops；　now　let　loose！　Like　the　others；　they　clamor　for　pay；　and；　like　the　others；　they　rush　upon　the　Turkish　soldiers。　The　revolt　is　now　general。

Taker　Pacha；　as　well　as　Mohammed　Ali；　hears　it；　but　the　latter　remains　quietly　in　his　room。　Taker　Pacha；　less　discreet；　hastens　forth　to　suppress；　or；　if　the　prospect　seems　favorable；　to　encourage　the　revolt。　He　repairs　to　the　citadel　and　sends　the　viceroy　word　that　he　desires　an　audience。

〃Tell　his　highness　I　wish　to　restore　the　city　to　tranquillity；　and；　if　possible；　appease　the　soldiers。〃

The　messenger　soon　returns　with　a　dejected　look。　〃It　is　in　vain；　general；　in　vain！　His　highness　desires　no　peaceful　settlement。　He　says　he　will　make　no　compromise　with　rebels！　You　are　to　return　to　your　house；　he　says　he　can　dispose　of　these　rebels　without　any　assistance！〃

〃Is　that　his　opinion？〃　asked　Taher；　bowing　profoundly。　〃The　wisdom　of　the　viceroy　is　inscrutable。　I　retire；　as　he　commands。〃

He　hastily　quitted　the　apartment；　went　down　to　his　soldiers　and　called　his　bim　bashis　to　his　side。

〃I　was　with　his　highness；　and　endeavored　to　settle　this　difficulty　without　further　bloodshed。　But　he　declined；　and　said　there　could　be　no　settlement　between　you　and　him　except　at　the　cannon's　mouth；　and　that　be　would　pay　you　with　your　own　blood！〃

The　soldiers　answered　their　general's　words　with　a　fierce　roar；　when　this　at　last　subsided；　he　continued：　〃The　viceroy　says　the　defterdar　is　to　pay　youthat　you　must　look　to　him。　Let　us　do　so；　soldiers！　Let　us　compel　him　to　pay！〃

〃Yes；　be　shall　pay　us！〃　cried　they；　and　the　wild　masses　again　rushed　to　the　house　of　the　defterdar。

The　closed　gates　are　torn　asunder；　and　Taher　Pacha's　Armenians　and　Mohammed　Ali's　Albanians　run　with　savage　cries　into　the　house。

〃I　have　no　money！〃　cries　the　defterdar；　with　pale；　trembling　lips。

〃Where　are　your　books；　your　accounts？　We　will　take　you；　together　with　your　books；　to　our　general。〃

〃Do　so；　do　so！〃　groaned　the　defterdar；　pointing　to　his　books。　〃Take　me；　with　my　books；　to　Taher　Pacha。〃

Onward　the　wild　mass　surged　with　their　prisoner　and　his　accounts。

They　passed　the　house　of　Mohammed　Ali；　who　stood　at　the　window；　and　looked　down　at　them　with　a　smile　of　satisfaction。

〃The　revolt　is　firmly　established；　Taher　Pacha　is　at　its　head；　and　we　shall　see　how　he　conducts　the　matter。〃




CHAPTER　VIII

THE　INSURRECTION。


From　the　citadel　the　thunder　of　the　artillery　and　the　fierce　shouts　of　the　people　still　resounded。　Mohammed　heard　the　uproar　throughout　the　entire　night。　The　soldiers　continually　pressed　forward　to　replace　their　comrades　shot　down　by　the　murderous　volleys　from　the　fortress。

Mohammed　remained　quietly　in　his　house。　True；　his　soldiers　have　joined　the　rebels；　but　who　can　hold　him　responsible；　and　why　should　he　expose　himself　to　the　danger　of　being　refused　obedience　should　he　demand　it　of　them？

Taher　Pacha　thinks　differently。　During　the　night　he　had　examined　the　books　of　the　defterdar；　held　a　prisoner　in　his　house；　and　had　been　compelled　to　admit　that　he　was　innocent；　and　had　no　money　with　which　to　pay　off　the　soldiers。

On　the　following　morning　he　announced　to　his　soldiers　that　the　defterdar　was　innocent；　and　the　viceroy　alone　guilty。　He　had　accumulated　and　possessed　money　and　treasure；　and　could　pay　the　soldiers　if　he　would。　He　had；　however；　determined　to　keep　for　himself　all　the　money　sent　from　Stamboul　for　the　troops。

The　intelligence　rapidly　spreads　among　the　soldiers　that　Cousrouf　has　money；　and　can　pay　if　he　will。

〃And　pay　he　shall！〃　cries　Taher　Pacha。　〃I　will　march　with　you　into　his　stronghold。　Woe　to　him；　he　has　begun　this　work　of　slaughter；　and　must　take　the　consequences！〃

The　gates　are　closed　and　barred。　What　care　the　soldiers；　encouraged　by　their　general's　approach；　for　that？〃　The　walls　can　be　scaled！〃　No　sooner　said　than　done。　Like　cats；　the　first　climb　over　the　high　wall；　and　the　rest　follow。　The　guards　within　are　overpowered；　and　the　gates　are　thrown　open。　And　now　all　rush　in　intent　on　victory；　and；　above　all；　on　obtaining　money。

The　viceroy's　khaznadar　advances　to　meet　them　with　a　body　of　soldiers。　Taher　Pacha　calls　on　him　to　surrender。　The　coward　obeys；　and　lays　down　his　arms。　Cousrouf　sits　quietly　in　his　apartment；　little　dreaming　of　what　has　taken　place。

〃Let　them　fight　on；　in　a　short　time　these　rebels　and　traitors　will　yield；　and　sue　for　mercy。　I　will　have　their　heads　severed　from　their　bodies；　and　sent　to　Stamboul　as　trophies　of　victory！〃

But　what　does　this　strange　noise　mean？

A　volley　resounds　from　beneath　Cousrouf's　windows。

A　Nubian　rushes　into　his　apartment；　and　announces；　in　tones　of　dismay：　〃You　are　betrayed；　the　khaznadar　has　surrendered；　and　the　rebels　are　storming　the　palace。〃

Cousrouf　bounds　from　his　seat；　hurls　from　him　his　chibouque；　and　quickly　girds　on　his　sword。

〃We　will　hurl　them　back。　Let　Mohammed　Ali　come　with　his　troops。　He　will　vanquish　them　and　overthrow　the　traitor；　Taher　Pacha。　Right　royally　shall　Mohammed　Ali　be　rewarded　if　he　comes　to　my　assistance；　and　come　he　will。　He　is　at　least　no　traitor；　and　will　never　make　common　cause　with　rebels。　You；　my　Nubians；　my　body…guard；　my　brave　followers；　ascend　to　the　battlement　and　turn　the　guns　upon　the　rebels　who　surround　us。〃

They　obey　his　command；　and　their　guns　are　soon　thundering　down　into　the　ranks　of　the　rebels。

Mohammed　does　not　come　to　the　viceroy's　assistance；　he　is　ill；　and　has　been　confined　to　his　room　ever　since　Taher　Pacha　has　been　besieging　the　citadel　with　his　soldiers。　Nor　will　his　illness　permit　him　to　leave　the　house　now；　and　his　servant　announces　to　all　comers　and　to　the　soldiers　that　the　sarechsme　is　very；　very　ill。

After　two　days　have　elapsed；　he　asks　the　physician；　who　is　feeling　his　pulse；　in　a　weak　voice　and　with　an　air　of　indifference；　how　matters　are　progressing　at　the　citadel；　whether　the　traitor；　Taher　Pacha；　still　presumes　to　besiege　the　viceroy　in　his　palace；　and　laments　his　inability　to　fly　to　his　master's；　assistance　with　his　troops。　When　the　physician　tells　him　that　the　rebels　had　stormed　the　citadel；　and　that　Cousrouf　had　fled；　Mohammed　shudders　and　sinks　back　upon　his　couch。　Truly；　he　is　very　ill！　How　could　this　intelligence　otherwise　have　so　fearful　an　effect？

〃Yes；　Cousrouf　has　fled；　he　hoped　for　your　assistance　in　vain；　and　was　compelled　to　yield　when　it　did　not　come。　Yes；　sarechsme；　he　fled　secretly　through　the　back　gate　of　the　citadel　into　the　desert　with　his　faithful　body…guard　and　his　women。〃

〃And　Taber　Pacha？〃　asks　Mohammed；　eagerly。

〃Taber　Pacha　has　proclaimed　himself　caimacan。　On　my　way　here　I　met　the　cadi　of　the　sheiks　going　to　the　citadel　to　present　the　robe　of　fur　to　the　caimacan；　in　token　of　their　recognition。〃

Loud　and　derisive　laughter　resounds　from　Mohammed　Ali's　lips。

〃Really　the　sarechsme　is　very　ill；　and　in　a　fearful　state　of　excitement！　His　head　may　be　affected　by　it。　It　may　become　dangerous。〃

The　physician　prescribes　cooling　applications　for　his　head；　and　goes　in　person　to　superintend　their　preparation。

The　door　has　hardly　closed　behind　the　physician；　when　Mohammed　bounds　from　his　bed。

〃Now　I　am　no　longer　il！　The　time　for　action　has　come！〃

He　calls　one　of　his　Nubian　slaves。

〃Hasten；　my　Sanebhasten　to　the　camp　of　the　Mameluke　beys。　You　will　find　them　near　Petresin；　on　the　banks　of　the　Nile。　Seek　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　and　say　to　him：　'The　time　has　come；　await；　beside　the　great　Pyramid　at　Gheezeh；　him　with　whom　you　conversed　there　two　weeks　since；　await　him　there　with　all　his　forces。'　Have　you　understood　me？　Repeat　my　words。〃

The　Nubian　repeated　what　he　had　said；　word　for　word。

〃And　now　hasten　away；　time　is　precious；　and　my　message　is　important。〃

Hardly　had　the　Nubian　departed；　when　messengers　came　to　summon　Mohammed　to　the　citadel；　to　Taher　Pacha；　the　new　caimacan。　With　a　profound　bow；　Mohammed　replies　that　he　will　immediately　do　himself　the　honor　of　waiting　on　the　caimacan。

He　calls　his　servants　to　his　assistance；　and　puts　on　his　gala　uniform；　mounts　his　splendidly…caparisoned　steed；　and；　followed　by　a　small　body…guard　of　eight　men；　gallops　through　the　streets　to　the　citadel。

Taher　Pacha；　reclining　on　Cousrouf　s　cushions　and　smoking　his　chibouque；　receives　Mohammed　with　lively　manifestations　of　delight。

〃See　what　a　man　can　make　of　himself；　Mohammed？　Here　I　lie；　smoking　Cousrouf's　chibouque　on　Cousrouf's　cushions！〃

〃I　congratulate　you　on　your　magnificence；　and　hope　you　may　long　repose　there。〃

〃It　is　to　be　hoped　that　I　shall；〃　replied　Taher　Pacha。　〃Fortune　smiles　on　the　daring。　Had　you　been　bold　enough；　you　might　now　be　in　my　place；　Mohammed　Ali；　but　you　probably　shrank　from　incurring　the　risk。　I　acted　boldly；　you　perceive；　and　mine　is　now　the　viceroy's　crown。　Why　did　you　not　grasp　it？　you　needed　but　to　stretch　forth　your　hand。〃

〃And　you　did　grasp　it。　Allah　was　gracious　to　you。　I　dared　not；　it　seemed　too　far　from　me。　And　then；　I　admit；　my　head　is　too　small　for　so　heavy　an　ornament！〃

〃I　feel　strong　enough　to　bear　this　burden；〃　said　Taher；　laughing；　〃and　now　that　I　have　it；　I　shall　also　know　how　to　secure　myself　in　its　possession。　All　Cairo　already　recognizes　me　in　my　new　dignity；　and　your　recognition　is　now　alone　wanting；　Mohammed　Ali。〃

〃I　bow　in　all　humility　before　the　caimacan；　and　shall　also　recognize　him　as　viceroy　as　soon　as　an　answer　is　received　from　Stamboul。〃

Taher　smiled　graciously。　〃And　now　receive　my　first　instructions；　sarechsme。　Send　messengers　to　the　Mameluke　beys；　I　desire　to　make　peace　with　them；　I　wish　them　to　be　my　friends。　We　have　had　bloodshed　enough。　United　with　the　Mamelukes；　we　shall　be　able　to　defy　our　Turkish　enemies。〃

〃I　am　of　the　same　opinion；〃　replied　Mohammed；　bowing　profoundly。

〃Then　carry　out　my　instructions　at　once。〃

〃Your　command　shall　be　obeyed　without　delay；〃　replied　Mohammed；　as　he　turned　and　left　the　apartment。

〃He　does　not　know　what　he　is　doing。　It　would　have　been　dangerous　for　me　to　send　a　messenger　to　the　Mamelukes。　Now；　in　his　assumed　authority；　he　empowers　me　to　do　what　I　have　long