mohammed ali and his house-第9部分

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d　healthy　like　Mohammed　Ali。Well！〃　he　cried　to　the　boy　who　had　stood　still　at　some　distance　with　his　birds　in　his　hand〃well；　I　see　you　have　kept　your　word；　and　brought　my　son　the　wild…pigeons。〃

〃I　have；　and　am　glad　that　I　was　able　to　do　so。〃　replied　Mohammed；　as　he　now　came　nearer　in　obedience　to　the　bey's　request；　and　greeted　the　pale　boy　with　a　joyous　smile。

〃Give　me　your　hand；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　young　boy；　who　had　partially　risen　from　his　cushions；　and　was　supporting　himself　on　his　elbow。　Timidly；　Mohammed　took　the　boy's　pale；　thin　hand　in　his　own。

〃Tell　me；　Mohammed；　why　do　you　not　come　to　see　me　oftener？　You　know　how　glad　I　always　am　to　see　you。〃

〃Master；　he　did　not　visit　you；　because　it　does　not　become　the　poor　to　intrude　upon　the　rich　and　noble；〃　replied　Mohammed；　his　eyes　fixed　with　an　anxious　expression　on　Osman's　pale　face。

〃Rich　and　noble！〃　repeated　Osman；　with　a　sigh。　〃You　are　rich；　Mohammed；　for　you　are　healthy。　You　are　noble；　Mohammed；　for　the　inhabitants　of　the　sea　and　of　the　air　must　obey　you。　You　have　power；　and　that　is　nobility。〃

The　tschorbadji　was　displeased　with　these　humble　words　of　his　son；　and　his　brow　became　clouded。

〃I　think　you　should　be　content　with　your　riches　and　nobility；　my　son；〃　said　he。　〃Come；　hand　me　the　pigeons；　Mohammed。〃

He　took　the　beautifully　feathered　birds　from　Mohammed's　hand；　looked　at　them；　and　let　their　feathers　play　in　the　sun　light。　〃Yes；　they　are　still　warm；　so　the　world　goes。　An　hour　since　they　disported　themselves　in　life's　sunshine。　The　child　of　man　comes；　sends　a　few　shot　through　their　bodies；　and　their　glory　is　at　an　end。　But；　I　thank　you；　Mohammed；　for　having　so　quickly　complied　with　our　wish。　Here　is　your　reward。〃　He　took　two　gold…pieces　from　his　purse　and　handed　them　to　the　boy　in　his　outstretched　hand。

Mohammed　did　not　take　them。　He　drew　back　at　the　words　of　the　governor；　a　deep　color　suffusing　itself　over　his　cheeks。

Osman　perceived　this；　and　motioned　to　him　to　come　nearer　to　his　couch。　〃Mohammed；〃　said　he；　〃father　forgot　to　add　for　what　purpose　he　wished　to　give　you　the　money。　Not　for　yourself。　I　know　that　your　procuring　these　pigeons　for　me　was　an　act　of　friendship。　You　have　always　been　friendly　to　me；　and　I　shall　never　forget　what　you　did　for　me　the　other　day。〃

〃What　was　it？〃　asked　the　tschorbadji；　with　surprise。

〃You　know　nothing　of　it；　father。　I　did　not　mention　it　to　you　because　I　feared　it　might　make　you　angry；〃　replied　Osman；　gently。　〃I　had　had　myself　carried　out　on　the　rock。　You　know　I　like　to　rest　there；　in　the　sunlight；　under　the　olive…tree　that　stretches　out　its　limbs　over　the　water。　From　that　point　you　can　look　so　far　out　over　the　sea。　There　you　can　see　where　heaven　and　earth　unite；　and　strange　dreams　and　wishes　overcome　over　me　there。　The　sea　murmurs　at　my　feet　in　such　wondrous；　mysterious　tones；　that　my　heart　warms　and　my　breast　expands。　The　physician；　too；　had　said　that　I　should　breathe　the　fresh　air　of　the　cliffs　very　often；　and　I　had　been　carried　out；　and　lay　there　at　rest　in　sweet；　solitary　silence。　I　did　not　observe　that　the　sky　was　darkening；　and　a　storm　coming　on。　It　also　escaped　the　notice　of　the　two　servants　who　had　carried　me　out　in　the　chair。　Now　that　the　rain　already　began　to　fall　in　large　drops；　they　became　alarmed；　and　both　ran　away　rapidly　to　procure　a　covered　palanquin；　as　the　physician　had　said　I　must　be　carefully　guarded　against　taking　cold。　They　had　hardly　gone　and　left　me　alone　when　it　began　to　rain　harder；　and　I　felt　the　large　drops　slowly　trickling　down　upon　me　through　the　leaves　of　the　olive…tree。　The　rain　was　very　cold。　The　storm　raged　and　tore　the　protecting　foliage　of　the　tree　apart。　Suddenly　I　heard　footsteps。　It　was　Mohammed　Ali。　He　was　rapidly　passing　by；　but　when　he　saw　me　lying　there　under　the　tree；　alone；　he　came　up　to　me；　and　understood　the　situation　at　a　glance。　In　spite　of　my　resistance；　he　spread　his　body　over　me；　and　protected　me　from　the　rain　and　discomfort。

〃When　the　servants　arrived　with　the　palanquin　I　had　remained　perfectly　dry；　while　Mohammed　was　wet　to　the　skin。　I　begged　him　to　come　with　me。　I　begged　him　to　accept　a　gift。　He　refused　both；　and　cried；　laughing；　as　he　ran　away　to　escape　my　further　thanks：　'For　me　it　was　only　a　welcome　bath！　You　it　would　have　hurt；　Osman。'〃

〃Good；　by　Allah！　That　was　well　done；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　with　his　aristocratic　smile。　〃You　served　my　son　as　an　umbrella。　I　thank　you　for　it；　Mohammed；　and　will　reward　you。　A　new　mantle　shall　be　brought　you；　for　I　perceive　that　your　own　is　torn　and　old。〃

〃I　thank　you；　master。　It　is　good　enough　for　me。　This　mantle　is　an　inheritance　from　my　father。　Mother　preserved　it　for　ten　years；　and　now　I　wear　it；　and　wear　it　with　pride；　as　a　souvenir　of　my　father。　Thanks　for　your　kind　offer。〃

〃Then　take　the　money；〃　said　the　tschorbadji。　〃You　see　I　still　hold　it　in　my　hand。〃

〃Thanks；　master。　I　have　no　need　of　the　money。〃

〃You　must　take　it；　Mohammed；〃　said　Osman；　gently。　〃As　I　told　you　before；　father　has　forgotten　to　add　for　what　purpose　he　gives　it。　You　are　to　go　and　hear　the　new　scha…er；　the　story…teller。　Do　you　know　him　already？〃

〃No；　Osman；　I　do　not。　What　of　this　scha…er？〃

〃I　have　heard　him　much　spoken　of；〃　replied　Osman；　gently。　〃He　is　a　rival　of　the　old　scha…er；　Mehsed。　You　know　the　old　one　always　sits　in　the　middle　of　the　market…place；　on　a　stone；　and　tells　the　people　stories　of　the　olden　time；　and　of　the　magnificence　of　the　Turkish　Empire。　Now　a　new　storyteller　has　come；　from　Constantinople　it　is　said；　and　people　say　his　stories　are　very　beautiful。　But　he　does　not　seat　himself　on　a　stone　in　the　middle　of　the　market；　but　in　the　wide　hall　of　a　store。　There　he　has　hired　a　corner；　and　there　he　sits。　Around　himself；　as　far　as　his　voice　reaches；　he　has　fastened　a　rope　to　stakes；　and　whoever　wishes　to　enter　the　circle　thus　formed　must　pay　to　hear　his　stories。　I　should　like　to　do　so；　too；　and　have　often　entreated　my　father　to　allow　me；　but　they　say　it　would　excite　me　too　much；　and　that　the　air　of　the　hall　would　be　too　close　for　me。　Therefore；　Mohammed；　I　beg　you　to　go　there　for　me；　listen　to　the　stories；　and　then　come　and　repeat　them　to　me。　You　see　it　was　for　this　purpose　father　gave　you　the　money。Is　it　not　so；　father？〃

〃Yes；　my　boy；　it　shall　be　so　if　you　desire　it。　I　give　him　the　money　that　he　may　hear　the　new　scha…er；　and　if　it　entertains　and　pleases　you。　Mohammed　shall　come　to　you　and　relate　what　he　has　heard。〃

〃Will　you　afford　me　this　pleasure；　Mohammed？　I　am　not　strong　and　healthy　like　you；　I　cannot　climb　the　rocks；　like　you；　cannot　sit　on　the　cliffs　and　listen　to　the　voice　of　the　sea　and　the　storm；　cannot；　like　you；　enjoy　the　delight　of　taking　exercise　in　the　open　air！　Here　I　lie　on　my　bed；　and　all　that　is　good　and　beautiful　must　come　to　me；　if　I　am　to　enjoy　it。　Then　come　to　me；　Mohammed　Ali！〃

With　a　kindly　look；　he　again　held　out　his　pale；　attenuated　hand；　and　Mohammed　felt　that　warm　tears　were　trickling　down　his　cheeks；　and　that　somehow　he　could　not　speak　while　the　pale　handsome　boy　was　looking　at　him　so　entreatingly。　He　took　Osman's　hand　and　pressed　heartily　in　his　own。

〃I　accept　the　money　from　Tschorbadji　Hassan；〃　said　he；　in　low；　soft　tones。　〃I　shall　go　and　listen　to　the　new　scha…er；　and；　if　you　wish；　Osman；　I　shall　come　to…morrow；　and　every　day；　to　relate　to　you　what　I　have　heard；　and　it　will　please　me　if　it　gives　you　pleasure。〃

〃I　thank　you；　Mohammed；　and　beg　you　to　come　to…morrow　ready　to　relate　to　me。Give　me　the　money；　father；〃　said　he；　addressing　his　father；　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃I　will　give　it　to　Mohammed　for　the　scha…er。〃

He　took　the　money；　and　Mohammed　willingly　accepted　it　from　him；　and　thanked　him。

〃I　will　go　to　the　scha…er　at　once；　for　this　is　his　hour；　I　believe。〃

He　bowed　hastily　and　slightly　before　the　tschorbadji；　but　profoundly　and　reverentially　before　the　poor　pale　boy；　and　rapidly　walked　back　toward　the　gate；　thinking　not　of　the　beautiful　flowers　that　surrounded　him；　rejoicing　only　at　being　able　to　do　something　for　Osman　Bey；　and　rejoicing；　too；　at　the　prospect　of　listening　to　the　scha…er。

It　was　just　the　hour　at　which　the　new　scha…er；　the　rival　of　old　Mehsed；　began　to　relate　his　stories　in　the　hall。　With　an　earnest；　respectful　air；　the　men　and　boys　sat　around　in　the　wide　circle　on　their　mats；　and　listened；　slowly　moving　their　bodies　to　and　fro；　to　what　the　scha…er　was　relating。

Mohammed　noiselessly　entered　the　circle；　and　seating　himself　as　close　as　he　could　in　front　of　the　scha…er；　listened　in　breathless　attention　to　the　loud；　resonant　voice　that　told　of　the　glories　of　the　past

〃I　have　not　come　to　tell　you　of　the　fatherland　to…day；　not　of　Turkish　might　and　grandeur。　Your　humble　servant　has　been　proclaiming　to　you　their　wonders　for　the　last　few　days；〃　said　he。　〃To…day　I　have　turned　my　gaze　toward　distant　worlds　and　kingdoms。　I　am　about　to　tell　you　of　the　provinces　converted　into　parts　of　our　realm　by　the　power　of　the　sultan。　Have　you　heard　of　the　land　that　lies　over　there　beyond　the　seathe　land　of　the　Egyptians？　Great　is　the　history　of　this　people；　and　from　it　we　can　learn　that　Allah　alone　is　great；　and　that；　next　to　him；　and　next　to　the　prophet；　nothing　is　so　great　as　our　emperor　and　master；　our　Sultan　Selim；　at　Stamboul；　on　his　imperishable　throne。　I　told　you　yesterday　of　the　origin　of　the　kingdom　of　Egypt；　and　of　the　struggles　carried　on　by　barbarian　hordes　against　each　other。　I　then　went　on　to　tell　you　of　the　caliphs　of　Bagdad；　how　they　had　ruled　in　Egypt；　and　how　they；　too；　were　overthrown　in　their　magnificence。　Now　listen。　Egypt　was　lost　to　the　caliphs　of　Bagdad；　after　long　struggles　their　rule　was　at　an　end　forever。　A　fortunate　soldier；　named　Tokid；　possessed　himself　of　the　rich　and　fertile　kingdom　that　lies　beyond　the　ocean。　He　held　the　reins　of　government　with　a　strong　hand；　and　an　army　of　four　hundred　thousand　men　spread　themselves　over　the　whole　land；　like　a　swarm　of　hornets　and　grasshoppers；　and　held　the　trembling　people　in　subjection。　But　he　died；　and　a　black　slave　named　Kafour；　took　the　sceptre　from　the　hands　of　the　dying　man；　and　said；　'He　gave　it　to　me　as　to　his　successor。'　And　the　four　hundred　thousand　hornets　and　grasshoppers　repeated　these　words；　and　the　nation　bowed　its　head　and　submitted　to　the　rule　of　this　black　man。

〃But　one　man