mohammed ali and his house-第80部分

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〃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　since　done　in　my　own　interests。　O　Taher　Pacha；　you　think　yourself　entitled　to　the　throne　because　you　have　scaled　the　walls　of　the　citadel；　you　are；　however；　grievously　mistaken。〃

After　three　days　the　messenger　reached　the　bardissi's　camp；　and　delivered　Mohammed's　message。

Osman　Bardissi　shouted　with　delight。　〃The　sarechsme　keeps　his　word；　and　is　about　to　unite　with　us。　Come；　ye　Mamelukes；　let　us　march　to　Gheezeh　to　meet　our　ally。〃

On　the　third　day　of　their　march　the　Mamelukes　reach　their　destination；　and　encamp　on　the　banks　of　the　Nile；　near　Gheezeh。

Early　on　the　following　morning　an　officer　in　a　glittering　uniform　rides　into　the　Mameluke　camp；　accompanied　by　a　small　body…guard。　Bardissi　recognizes　the　officer　and　joyously　greets　him；　and　Sheik　Arnhyn；　who　rides　at　his　side。

〃There　comes　the　brave　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　he　keeps　his　word；　and　comes　to　unite　his　forces　with　ours。〃

〃A　hearty　welcome；　Mohammed　Ali；　a　hearty　welcome　from　me；　and　from　all　of　us！〃

〃A　warm　greeting　to　you；　Bardissi！〃　cried　Mohammed；　extending　his　hand。

There　they　stood；　hand…in…hand；　gazing　at　each　other　thoughtfully　and　earnestly。　The　others　had　respectfully　withdrawn。

〃We　are　both　thinking　of　the　past；　Osman　Bey；〃　said　Mohammed；　with　a　soft　smile。　〃You　see　I　have　not　forgotten　the　name　you　impressed　on　my　memory　at　Cavalla。〃

〃Nor　have　I　forgotten　your　name；　Mohammed　Ali；〃　replied　Bardissi。　〃The　boys　who　defied　each　other　at　Cavalla　have　become　men；　and　friends；　too；　have　they　not；　Mohammed？〃

〃Yes；　friends；　too；　I　hope；　Bardissi；　and　I　press　your　hand　in　token　of　my　friendship。〃

〃And　I　yours。　I　am　your　friend；　and　welcome　you　heartily　to　our　camp。　But　where　are　your　forces？　We　have　assembled　here　to　meet　them；　are　they　not　coming？〃

〃They　will　soon　come；〃　replied　Mohammed；　〃my　army　awaits　my　orders。　I　have　hastened　here　in　the　mean　while　to　tell　you　that　I　am　your　faithful　friend　and　ally。　Great　events　have　taken　place　in　Cairo；　and　others　are　now　impending。　Wait　a　short　time；　and　I　shall　probably　be　able　to　bring　you　the　troops　of　the　new　caimacan；　Taher　Pacha；　as　well　as　my　own。　The　caimacan　wishes　your　friendship　and　alliance；　and　sends　me　as　his　messenger。　But；　as　I　have　already　said；　I　advise　you　to　wait。　The　caimacan's　rule　is　an　overbearing　one；　and　strange　events　are　about　to　take　place　in　Cairo。　I　do　not　wish　to　take　part　in　them；　and　have　therefore　come　here　with　a　small　escort。　My　soldiers　are　encamped　near　Cairo；　and　await　my　orders　to　march　here。　I　came　alone　to　prove　that　I　trust　you；　and；　with　your　permission；　will　remain　here　with　you　a　few　days。〃

〃That　was　nobly　thought　and　nobly　done；　Mohammed；　you　honor　us　more　by　coming　alone　than　if　you　had　come　with　all　your　forces；〃　cried　Bardissi；　as　he　embraced　Mohammed。

〃Now　you　are　mine；　Mohammed；　and　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart。　United　with　you；　my　hero；　we　can　defy　all　the　Turks　that　may　be　sent　over　from　Stamboul。〃

Mohammed　was　right；　strange　events　soon　occurred　in　the　palace　of　the　caimacan　at　Cairo。　The　revolt　which　he　had　helped　to　excite　had　not　yet　subsided。　He　had　turned　the　wild　herd　loose；　but　was　now　unable　to　manage　it。　The　soldiers　demanded　their　pay　of　the　caimacan　as　savagely　as　they　had　demanded　it　of　Cousrouf。

But　where　was　the　necessary　money　to　be　obtained？　Money　was　the　pretext　on　which　he　began　the　revolt；　and　now　he　finds　himself　enthroned　in　the　palace　as　caimacan　with　empty　coffers；　Cousrouf　having　taken　with　him　whatever　treasure　he　possessed。　He　had　invoked　curses　upon　himself　by　endeavoring　to　procure　money　by　force　and　extortion。　What　had　become　of　the　promises　solemnly　made　to　the　people　by　the　caimacan　on　the　first　day　of　his　rule？

〃Peace　and　quiet　shall　prevail　in　the　land；　and　happiness　be　the　portion　of　the　much…tormented　inhabitants　of　Cairo。〃

Instead　of　peace；　he　has　brought　upon　them　new　discord　and　revolt；　instead　of　happiness；　new　misery。

In　order　to　appease　the　wrath　of　his　soldiers；　he　caused　a　number　of　the　leading　citizens　to　be　arrested；　and；　upon　their　refusal　to　pay　the　money　demanded　of　them；　several　of　them　were　stretched　on　the　rack；　and　others　beheaded。

Finally；　nothing　remained　to　the　new　caimacan　but　to　do　as　Cousrouf　had　done；　and　meet　the　demands　of　his　soldiers　with　the　statement　that　he　had　no　money；　and　could　not　pay　them。

The　savage　cry　of　the　soldiery　for　pay　was　renewed　in　front　of　the　citadel　day　after　day　with　increased　fierceness；　and　at　last　the　two　bim　bashis；　Moussa　and　Ismail　Aga；　were　sent　up　to　the　citadel　to　the　caimacan　to　make　a　final　appeal　for　pay　on　the　part　of　the　soldiers。

He　received　them　with　a　proud；　gloomy　look；　asked　why　they　came；　and　how　these　rebellious　soldiers　dare　approach　him　in　such　a　manner。　They　bowed　their　heads；　and；　as　they　approached　the　caimacan；　entreated　him　in　humble　tones　to　satisfy　the　just　demands　of　the　soldiers。　They　conjured　him　to　do　so　for　the　sake　of　peace；　and　for　his　own　sake。　The　soldiers　were　in　a　highly　excited　state；　and　disposed　to　adopt　extreme　measures。

〃To　adopt　extreme　measures！〃　cried　Taher　〃How　dare　you　address　such　words　to　me？〃

〃We　have　been　sent　to　you　by　the　troops；　highness；　and　must　act　according　to　our　instructions。　Once　more；　we　implore　you　to　pay　the　soldiers！〃

〃And　once　more　I　repeat　to　you　that　I　neither　can　nor　will　pay　them！〃　cried　Taker；　furiously。　〃If　the　traitors　dare　to　threaten　me；　I　will　lay　their　heads　at　their　feet！〃

〃Then　we　had　best　begin　with　you！〃　cried　the　bim　bashis；　rushing　upon　him；　and　running　him　through　with　their　ataghans。　They　then　severed　the　head　from　the　body；　opened　a　window；　and　hurled　it　down　to　the　soldiers；　who　received　it　with　shouts　of　delight；　and　then　rushed　into　the　palace。

The　caimacan's　faithful　Armenians　threw　themselves　in　their　way；　and　a　murderous　conflict　arose　on　the　stairway；　and　in　all　the　halls　and　apartments　of　the　palace。　The　conflict　extended　to　all　the　streets　of　the　city；　and　the　work　of　slaughter　was　carried　on　all　over　Cairo。

Taker　Pacha　is　dead；　murdered！　The　magnificence　of　the　new　caimacan　is　at　an　end　after　a　rule　of　scarcely　twenty　days。　The　intelligence　reaches　Gheezeh；　where　the　Mamelukes　are　encamped；　and　where　the　sarechsme　Mohammed　Ali　is　sojourning。　He　smiles　as　he　hears　it。

〃I　told　you　to　wait。　But　now　I　say；　let　us　hasten　to　Cairo！　Let　messengers　be　sent　to　my　troops；　instructing　them　to　march　out　to　meet　us；　and　the　Armenians　will；　I　think；　also　join　us。　The　time　has　come。　Let　us　hasten　to　Cairo；　ye　Mameluke　beys！〃

The　camp　resounds　with　shouts　of　delight；　and　the　Mameluke　beys　mount　their　steeds；　and　place　themselves　at　the　head　of　their　followers　to　begin　the　march。

Mohammed　Ali　also　mounts　his　horse；　but；　before　he　turns；　glances　around；　and　sees　the　Bedouin　sheik　Arnhyn；　who　is　about　to　mount　his　dromedary；　and　calls　him　to　his　side。

〃Well；　Arnhyn；　your　dromedary　is　here；　but　I　miss　your　daughter　in　the　palanquin！〃

〃She　is　at　home　in　the　tent　awaiting　my　return；　sarechsme！〃

〃In　her　father's　tent；　still？〃　said　Mohammed；　smiling。　〃She　has　not　yet　followed　to　his　tent　him　who　has　kissed　her；　and　made　her　his　wife？〃

〃No；　sarechsme；　she　is　still　in　her　father's　tent；　and　there；　she　says；　she　will　remain。　Many　fine　young　men　have　wooed　her；　for　she　has　been　made　rich　by　the　spoils　her　father　gathered　on　the　plain　of　Damanhour。　Yes；　Arnhyn　will　give　his　daughter　a　rich　dowry；　and　there　are　wooers　enough。　But　Butheita　is　a　strange　child！　When　a　handsome　suitor　comes；　and　I　beg　her　to　follow　him　to　his　tent；　she　shakes　her　head；　rejects　his　gifts；　and　laughs　at　his　sweet　words。　'You　are　ugly！'　says　she；　laughing。　'I　will　love　only　the　handsomest　of　men；　and　him　only　will　I　follow　to　his　tent。'　That　is　what　Butheita　says；　sarechsme！〃

〃And　that　is　what　she　should　say；〃　replied　Mohammed；　smiling。　〃Bear　a　greeting　to　Butheita　from　me；　when　you　return　home；　sheik；　and　tell　her　she　is　right　in　waiting　until　he　comes　whom　she　will　gladly　follow　to　his　tent；　and　who　may　kiss　her。　Tell　her　to　wait　patiently；　for　Allah　will　surely　send　her　the　man　she　can　love。　Greet　Butheita　for　me。〃

He　mounts　his　horse；　and　gallops　off　to　where　the　Mameluke　beys　are　awaiting　him　in　order　to　begin　their　march　to　Cairo。

The　Mameluke　beys　and　Mohammed　Ali　enter　Cairo　in　triumph。　Taher　Pacha's　Armenians　have　joined　him；　and；　together　with　his　Albanians；　they　form　a　magnificent　corps。　The　delighted　people　of　Cairo　cry　out　to　Mohammed：　〃Oh；　give　us　peace；　brave　sarechsme！　Let　the　day　of　peace　at　last　dawn　over　unhappy　Cairo！〃

Mohammed　had　conferred　with　the　leaders　of　the　Armenians；　and；　with　their　consent；　the　citadel　was　tendered　the　Mameluke　beys　as　a　residence。　They　joyfully　accepted　it；　and　proudly　took　up　their　abode　in　the　fortress。

Mohammed　Ali；　however；　returned　to　his　own　house；　and　when　he　had　reached　the　retirement　of　his　apartment；　and　no　one　could　see；　he　raised　his　arm　threateningly　in　the　direction　of　the　citadel。

〃You　are　in　my　residence；　ye　Mamelukes；〃　muttered　he。　〃You　are　now　the　toasters　of　Cairo；　but　I　swear　that　I　will　drive　you　out　of　my　palace；　as　I　drove　out　the　viceroy；　Cousrouf　Pacha。　I　am　awaiting　my　time。　It　has　not　yet　come；　but　I　now　know　that　it　will　come！〃




CHAPTER　IX

VENGEANCE　AT　LAST。


THE　Mamelukes；　so　often　driven　from　Cairo；　are　once　more　enthroned　in　the　citadel。　Cairo　reposes；　and　hopes　for　a　long　period　of　peace。

And　it　really　seemed　that　peace　had　entered　the　city　with　the　Mamelukes　and　Osman　Bey。　The　citizens　could　once　more　pursue　their　daily　avocations　in　tranquillity；　and　bands　of　disorderly　soldiers　no　longer　roamed　about　in　the　neighborhood；　destroying　and　plundering。

Perhaps　the　wounds　inflicted　on　the　people　by　so　many　cruel　wars　would　have　time　to　heal。　But　no；　their　hopes　are　vain。　In　Cairo　there　is　peace；　for　Ismail　Bey；　the　oldest　and　wisest　of　the　Mamelukes；　sits　enthroned　in　the　citadel；　and　with　him　Bardissi；　whom　Mohammed　Ali　calls　his　friend。

In　Cairo　there　is　peace；　for　the　Albanians　and　Armenians　are　under　subjection　to　their　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali。　But；