mohammed ali and his house-第81部分

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In　Cairo　there　is　peace；　for　the　Albanians　and　Armenians　are　under　subjection　to　their　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali。　But；　without；　war　raises　its　bloody　head；　and　threatens　Egypt　with　new　misery。

Is　not　Cousrouf　Pacha；　the　former　viceroy；　still　in　the　country？　Has　he　not　fled　to　Upper　Egypt？　Have　not　his　troops　followed　him　there；　and　has　not　his　reputation　drawn　many　to　his　standard？　And　are　there　not　many　who　refuse　to　submit　to　the　Mameluke　rule；　and　remain　faithful　to　the　flag　of　their　master；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　the　Viceroy　of　Egypt？

No　sooner　had　Cousrouf　heard　of　the　death　of　Taher　Pacha　than　he　started　from　Damietta；　where　he　had　lain　encamped　with　his　army；　to　return　to　Cairo　and　resume　his　authority。

Mohammed；　informed　of　this　advance；　consulted　Bardissi；　and　it　was　agreed　that　their　united　forces　should　march　out　to　meet　the　enemy；　Hassan　Bey　being　first　sent　out　with　a　body　of　Arabian　cavalry　to　feel　the　enemy's　lines。

With　united　forces　they　now　marched　out；　Mohammed　Ali　and　the　beys；　his　former　enemies；　side　by　side；　the　Albanians；　Ottomans；　and　Armenians；　were　in　front；　behind　them　came　the　Mamelukes　and　Bedouins。

In　the　mean　while；　Cousrouf　had　advanced　victoriously。　He　had　driven　Hassan　Bey　before　him；　and　had　stormed　the　village　of　Fareskour；　in　which　the　bey　had　fortified　himself。　The　inhabitants　were　slain；　and　the　houses　sacked　and　destroyed　by　Cousrouf's　soldiers。

After　this　victory；　the　advance　on　Cairo　seemed　easier。　Cousrouf；　however；　preferred　to　retreat　to　Damietta；　having　learned　that　a　larger　force　was　advancing　to　meet　him。　Hassan　Bey　had　returned　by　hurried　marches　to　Cairo；　and　demanded　re…enforcements；　which　were　given　him。　With　these；　he　again　advanced　toward　Damietta；　followed　by　Mohammed　and　Bardissi　with　their　powerful　columns。　With　great　haste；　Cousrouf　set　about　making　Damietta　strong　enough　to　defy　the　enemy。　The　walls　were　crowned　with　cannon；　and　two　guns　were　placed　in　position　on　the　bridge　that　spans　the　Nile　canal；　at　Damietta。　A　plentiful　supply　of　provisions　and　munitions　of　war　was　also　accumulated　in　the　fortress。

〃And　now　let　us　await　the　enemy。　Allah　and　the　right　are　with　us。　The　grand…sultan　at　Stamboul　has　appointed　me　viceroy；　the　rebels　have　driven　me　from　Cairo；　but　my　just　cause　will　lead　me　back　in　triumph！〃

In　such　terms　did　Cousrouf　speak　to　his　soldiers　to　encourage　them　to　make　a　gallant　defence　of　the　fortress。

But　Cousrouf's　words　excited　little　enthusiasm　among　his　followers；　the　scouts　sent　out　returned　with　the　intelligence　that　the　enemy　was　approaching　in　immense　force。

They　were　advancing　along　the　Nile；　Mohammed　with　the　infantry；　Bardissi　with　the　mounted　troops。　Now　they　were　separated　from　the　enemy　by　the　canal　only；　but　Cousrouf's　cannon　made　impassible　the　one　bridge　that　united　the　two　shores。

〃Yet　we　must　effect　our　passage　to　the　other　side；〃　said　Bardissi。

〃Yes；　but　the　question　is；　how　are　we　to　do　so？〃　said　Mohammed。

All　the　bim　bashis　and　boulouk　bashis；　together　with　the　beys　and　their　kachefs；　were　called　together　in　a　council　of　war。　For　a　long　time　their　deliberations　were　fruitless。　How　were　they　to　get　over　without　boats　or　bridges？

〃We　must　ford　it；〃　said　Mohammed　Ali。　〃There　must　be　some　place　where　we　can　venture　to　cross　on　foot。　There　are　shallow　places　in　the　canal；　I　have　been　told；　and；　if　some　one　could　be　found　willing　to　incur　the　danger　of　making　inquiries　on　the　other　side；　in　Damietta；　where　they　are　better　informed　on　the　subject；　we　might　succeed　in　finding　such　a　place。〃

〃I　will　undertake　this　duty；〃　said　the　kachef　Youssouf；　stepping　forward。　〃I　will　go　over　to　Damietta　and　obtain　the　desired　information。〃

〃You　are　a　brave　man；　Kachef　Youssouf；〃　said　Bardissi；　〃but　consider　that　you　risk　your　life；　and　perhaps　in　vain。〃

〃I　shall；　however；　die　in　the　performance　of　my　duty！　I　will　go　over　and　make　the　attempt！〃

〃As　you　are？　And　do　you　not　suppose　the　first　sentinel　on　the　walls　of　Damietta　will　shoot　you　down？〃

〃I　shall　not　go　as　I　am；　Osman　Bey。　They　will　not　be　able　to　recognize　in　me　the　kachef　of　Bardissi　and　of　Sitta　Nefysseh。〃

And　he　was　right。　He　was　not　recognized。　Disguised　as　a　fellah；　in　the　long　blouse　that　hung　down　to　his　feet；　entirely　unarmed；　a　plain　brown　cap　on　his　head；　and　carrying；　suspended　to　a　strap　over　his　shoulder；　a　basket　filled　with　watermelons；　Kachef　Youssouf　entered　the　fortress　of　Damietta　on　the　following　morning。

He　called　out　his　fruit；　and　people　hastened　to　him　to　purchase。　The　kachef　chatted　gayly　with　them　in　the　Arabian　tongue；　and　told　them　of　the　enemy　who　was　approaching；　but　who　could　find　no　passage　over　the　canal；　and　Youssouf　laughed　at　and　derided　the　enemy。

They　quickly　observed　that　he　was　a　faithful　servant　of　the　viceroy；　and　therefore　chatted　with　him　unreservedly。　Much　was　told　the　fellah　of　the　want　of　the　soldiers；　and　of　the　longing　of　the　people　to　see　the　war　terminated。

〃If　they　could　only　get　over；〃　said　some　of　the　people；　with　a　sigh。　〃There　are　shallow　places；　here　and　there；　where　a　passage　would　be　easy。〃

Youssouf's　manner　was　careless　and　indifferent；　but　nothing　escaped　him。　No　one　read　in　his　countenance　the　fearful　danger　to　which　he　was　exposed；　and　he　passed　the　entire　day　strolling　around　in　Damietta。　But；　when　night　came；　he　hastened　to　the　canal；　and　tried　the　places　casually　mentioned　during　the　day。　He　finally　attempted　to　cross　over　at　the　place　spoken　of　as　the　most　shallow。

And　he　has　succeeded！　There　he　stands　on　the　other　bank；　dripping　with　water；　his　wet　blouse　clinging　to　his　person。　He　hastened　to　the　camp　to　Bardissi；　to　bring　the　glad　intelligence　that　there　is　a　place　where　they　can　cross　on　foot　to　the　other　shore　in　spite　of　the　cannon　on　the　bridge；　and　of　the　garrison　of　Damietta。

〃Well　done；　brave　kachef！〃　cried　Bardissi。　〃You　have　deserved　your　reward；　and　you　shall　have　it！　I　appoint　you　kachef　of　my　guard；　and　give　you　a　command　of　one　hundred　Mamelukes。〃

Youssouf's　countenance　lighted　up；　and　his　eyes　sparkled　with　delight。　He　thought　of　Sitta　Nefysseh；　and　rejoiced　in　his　successful　feat；　and　'in　his　reward；　because　she　would　be　pleased。

〃O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　when　I　come　into　your　presence；　and　kneel　down　before　you；　will　you　receive　me　graciously；　and　permit　me　to　remain　with　you　henceforth？　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　if　the　time　were　only　come　when　on　bended　knee　I　can　say　to　you：　'Your　servant　has　returned；　but　he　is　no　longer　a　poor　kachef！　He　has　won　laurels　because　you　commanded　him　to　seek　them！　May　he　now　serve　you　again？'　Oh；　that　I　were　with　you　again；　Sitta　Nefysseh！〃

On　the　following　night　they　were　conducted　by　Youssouf　to　the　place　at　which　he　had　forded　the　canal。

The　Mameluke　beys　dismount　and　step　into　the　water。　In　advance　is　Osman　Bey；　and　beside　him　Mohammed　Ali。　The　passage　must　be　effected　noiselessly；　so　as　not　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　enemy。

The　water　rushes　past　them；　almost　carrying　their　feet　from　under　them。　It　already　reaches　their　shoulders；　and　they　can　hardly　retain　their　foothold。　Kachef　Youssouf　must　have　been　deceived。　A　wave；　driven　by　the　night…wind；　rolls　by　and　sweeps　Mohammed　with　it。

Osman　Bey　sees　his　friend　torn　from　his　side；　rushes　after　him；　grasps　him　with　his　strong　arm；　and　holds　him　securely。

〃I　thank　you；　Osman　Bey；　you　have　saved　my　life。〃

〃And　I　thank　Allah　that　I　was　at　your　side　and　could　save　it。〃

Finally　they　succeed　in　getting　over；　and　now　they　stand　on　the　other　shore。　Bardissi　embraces　Mohammed；　and　congratulates　him　on　their　safe　passage。　He　then　grasps　Youssouf's　hand；　and　thanks　him　once　more。

〃Now；　good　Cousrouf；　the　days　of　your　rule　are　numbered。〃

〃Yes；〃　murmured　Mohammed　to　himself；　〃I；　too；　rejoice　in　your　coming　overthrow。　O　Allah；　give　us　all　victory；　and　give　me　vengeance！〃

The　passage　of　the　troops　is　effected。　The　Albanians　first　rush　to　the　bridge　where　the　cannon　are　in　position；　cut　down　the　gunners　before　they　can　give　an　alarm；　and　with　the　captured　guns　fire　their　first　shots　into　Damietta。

The　thunder　of　these　shots　arouses　the　enemy；　who　lie　encamped　in　front　of　the　fortress；　and　a　bloody；　fiercely…contested　battle　begins。　But　at　its　conclusion　the　allies；　Bardissi　and　Mohammed　Ali；　enter　Damietta　in　triumph。　No　quarter　is　given。　They　massacre　all　who　fall　into　their　hands；　every　house　is　sacked　and　then　burned。　On　the　square　in　front　of　Fort　Lesbe；　a　column　of　soldiers；　Cousrouf　Pacha　at　its　head；　sitting　proudly　erect　on　his　steed；　still　opposes　them。　He　has　been　bravely　fighting　all　along；　fighting　for　life；　for　victory；　for　glory；　but　he　has　fought　in　vain；　he　prefers；　however；　to　die　at　the　head　of　his　followers；　than　to　flee；　or　fall　into　the　hands　of　Mohammed　Ali。

The　enemy　approaches。　A　ball　strikes　Cousrouf's　horse；　and　it　sinks　to　the　ground。　With　difficulty　he　succeeds　in　extricating　himself　from　his　fallen　steed。

〃Upon　them；　my　brave　soldiers！〃　he　cries；　drawing　his　ataghan。　〃Let　us　fight　our　way　through　to　the　fort。　There　we　shall　be　secure。〃

〃You　shall　never　reach　it！〃　exclaims　Bardissi；　his　uplifted　sword　descending　upon　Cousrouf's　head。

Suddenly　his　arm　is　grasped；　and　held　as　in　a　vise。

〃Give　him　to　me；　Bardissi！〃　cries　Mohammed。

〃And　you　wish　to　save　Cousrouf's　life；　Mohammed？〃

〃Only　give　him　to　me；　Bardissi；　I　pray　you！〃

Bardissi　recognized　in　the　tone　in　which　these　few　words　were　uttered；　that　Mohammed's　motive　in　making　his　request　was　not　love　for　Cousrouf。

〃You　are　my　prisoner；〃　cried　Mohammed；　tearing　the　sword　from　Cousrouf's　hand；　and　hurling　it　far　from　him。　He　then　grasped　him　by　the　shoulders　and　looked　him　firmly　in　the　eye。　〃Cousrouf　Pacha；　I；　Mohammed　Ali；　make　you　my　prisoner。〃

Cousrouf　makes　no　reply；　but　only　gazes　defiantly　upon　his　enemy；　gradually　his　head　sinks　down　upon　his　breast。　Yes；　he　is　vanquished　and　a　prisoner；　a　prisoner　of　his　worst　enemy。　He　could　be　in　no　worse　hands　than　in　those　that　now　hold　him。　To　become　Mohammed　Ali's　prisoner　was　the　worst　that　could　befall　him。

And　vanquished　and　captured　he　is；　by　this　his　most　relentless　enemy！　With　him　are　vanquished　all　his　followers；　and　nothing　is　left　of　the　fortress　of　Damietta　but　ashes　and　ruins。

The　victors　have