mohammed ali and his house-第90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！



〃Well；　did　you　find　the　tent？〃

〃Yes；　master；　the　dromedary　ran　to　it　of　its　own　accord。〃

〃And　whom　did　you　meet　at　the　tent？〃

〃The　father；　masterthe　chief　Arnhyn。〃

Mohammed　quickly　averts　his　facethe　servant　must　not　see　that　his　lips　quiver；　that　he　grows　pale。

〃You　met　the　chief；　and　he　was　alone？〃

〃Yes；　master；　alone　in　his　tent；　and　I　conversed　with　him。〃

〃What　was　said？　Did　he　speak　of　his　daughter？　Has　she　followed　another　man　to　his　tent？〃　asked　Mohammed；　in　such　quick；　passionate　tones；　that　Achmed　started　and　failed　to　understand　his　meaning。

〃No；　master；　he　spoke　to　me　of　his　daughter；　because　I；　as　you　instructed　me；　asked　about；　her；　yet　so　casually；　that　he　could　not　suspect　that　I　particularly　desired　to　speak　of　her。　He　told　me　his　daughter　was　much　changed；　she　had　become　sad　and　delicate；　and　he　had　therefore　sent　her　to　visit　some　friends　at　Petresin；　in　order　that　she　might　be　thrown　together　with　other　young　girls　for　a　time；　and　learn　to　laugh　and　jest　again。　She　had；　however；　sent　her　father　word　yesterday　that　she　could　endure　it　no　longer；　and　would　return　home　to…day。　He　stood　at　the　door　awaiting　her；　unwilling　to　leave　his　tent　to　go　out　to　meet　her；　for　fear　of　the　thieving　Bedouins　that　roam　the　desert；　and　who　knew　that　his　tent　contained　costly　treasures。〃

〃Then　you　suppose　Butheita　will　return　to　her　father's　to…day？〃

〃I　remained　there　until　I　saw　her　coming　in　the　distance。　The　sheik's　eagle…eyes　recognized　her　in　the　dim　distance。　'There　comes　my　daughter；　Butheita；　with　her　friends！'　he　cried；　joyously；　'in　an　hour　she　will　be　here。'　I　remained　some　time　longer；　the　sheik　gradually　becoming　more　and　more　delighted　as　he　recognized　his　daughter　more　distinctly。　'Yes；　it　is　Butheita！'　he　cried；　'she　is　returning　home。'　Then　I　took　my　departure；　master；　to　bring　you　the　intelligence。〃

〃And　how　long；〃　asked　Mohammed；　hastily；　his　countenance　averted　〃how　long　do　you　suppose　it　will　take　to　reach　the　sheik's　tent？〃

〃I　took；　as　you　instructed　me；　master；　the　dromedary　you　recently　purchased　from　Sheik　Arnhyn。　It　knew　the　road；　and　flew　on　its　way　like　the　wind；　without　any　guidance。　I　think　it　call　be　reached　in　two　hours。〃

〃In　two　hours！〃　repeated　Mohammed。　〃An　hour　after　sunset；　this　evening；　have　the　dromedary　in　readiness；　and；　for　yourself；　the　swiftest　horse。　At　that　hour　we　will　depart。〃




CHAPTER　XVI

RETRIBUTION。


Night　has　come。　The　Bedouin　chief；　Arnhyn；　has　retired　to　rest。　He　is　to　start　early　in　the　morning　with　others　of　his　tribe　for　Tantah；　to　take　to　market　the　wool　of　their　black　sheep；　the　cloth　they　have　woven　out　of　it；　the　goat…skins；　and　cheese。

Butheita；　also；　must　rise　early　in　the　morning；　for　she　is　to　accompany　her　father；　and　has　many　little　preparations　to　make。　On　the　evening　before；　she　had　already　done　up　her　hair　in　a　hundred　small　plaits；　securing　them　with　gold…headed　pins；　on　some　of　which　precious　stones　sparkled。　The　pink　silk　dress；　the　white　veil；　and　the　shoes；　all　lie　ready　for　use：　She　has　colored　her　finger…nails　and　the　palms　of　her　hands　with　henna；　but　Butheita　scorns　to　color　her　face；　moreover；　no　one　is　to　see　her　face。　Hitherto　she　had　cordially　detested　her　veil；　but　now　she　hides　her　countenance　closely　in　the　presence　of　all　men。

Surprised　at　this；　the　sheik　has　often　asked　her　how　it　happened　that　such　a　change　had　come　over　her；　and　that　she　showed　herself　to　no　one　unveiled　since　the　strangler　had　sojourned　in　their　tent；　as　though　his　eyes　had　hurt　her；　and　made　her　afraid　of　the　gaze　of　men。

Butheita　had　only　smiled　mysteriously　in　response　to　his　questions；　she　well　knows；　however；　why　she　does　so：　she　knows　it　is　to　keep　sacred　from　the　gaze　of　other　men　the　countenance　consecrated　by　his　glance。

Night　has　come。　The　sheik　is　sleeping　soundly　on　his　mat　in　the　first　apartment　of　the　tent；　and　Butheita　on　her　cushions　in　the　inner　apartment。　Deep　silence　prevails；　interrupted　only　from　time　to　time　by　the　desert…wind　as　it　sweeps　across　the　plain　and　shakes　the　stakes　of　the　tent；　and　makes　the　white　canvas　swe11　out。

Surely　it　was　only　the　wind　that　now　raised　the　curtain　and　made　the　canvas　rustle。　But　it　does　not　awaken　the　sheik；　he　is　accustomed　to　such　sounds；　and　sleeps　so　quietly　that　he　does　not　see　the　shadow　that　glides　cautiously　into　the　tent；　and　creeps　to　where　he　lies　sleeping。　Without；　stands　another　man；　holding　up　the　curtain　to　enable　the　first　to　see　his　way。

The　moon　throws　a　ray　of　light　into　the　tent；　and　with　a　quick　bound　the　man　is　beside　the　sheik；　and　binds　his　hands　and　feet。　The　sheik　is　now　aroused；　he　opens　his　lips　to　utter　a　cry；　but　a　wooden　gag；　is　thrust　into　his　mouth。　He　can　neither　cry　out　nor　move；　he　lies　there　perfectly　helpless；　looking　up　wrathfully　at　the　enemy　who　is　treating　him　so　shamefully。

The　robber's　face　is　masked；　and　he　can　not　recognize　him。　But　a　robber　he　assuredly　is；　yes；　a　robber　who　is　searching　for　treasure；　and　who　well　knows　that　the　sheik　possesses　several　little　chests　filled　with　gold…pieces；　jewelry；　and　precious　stones；　and　who　also　knows　that　they　are　kept　within　in　Butheita's　apartment。　Yes；　the　robber　knows　this；　for　he　is　cautiously　creeping　into　the　second　apartment。　But　this　is　not　the　one　who　bound　him；　it　is　another。　There　are　therefore　more　of　them。　The　first；　the　tall　man　who　bound　him；　is　now　waiting　at　the　door　of　the　tent；　the　other；　the　smaller　one；　is　entering　the　inner　apartment。　The　sheik；　powerless　to　prevent；　sees　all　this　as　he　lies　bound　on　his　mat。

Butheita　still　sleeps　soundly。　He　who　glides　to　her　side　regards　her　for　a　moment　with　an　ardent；　passionate　glance；　and　then　bends　down　and　quickly　binds　her　feet；　and　her　hands；　that　lie　crossed　on　her　breast；　with　silken　cloths。　As　she　awakens　and　attempts　to　cry　out；　he　quickly　throws　a　gold…embroidered　cuffei　over　her　head；　ties　it　securely　around　her　neck；　and　then　lifts　Butheita　in　his　arms。　But；　as　he　does　so；　he　whispers　in　her　ear；　〃Fear　nothing；　Butheita；　no　harm　will　be　done　you！〃

A　sudden　tremor　seizes　her；　she　thinks　she　recognizes　this　voice。　But　no；　it　is　impossible。　He　would　not　come　to　her　as　a　robber。　No；　she　is　mistaken。　Yet　she　offers　no　resistance。　And　what　resistance　can　she　offer？　Her　hands　and　feet　are　bound；　and　now　she　is　borne　out；　and　lifted　high；　and　then　laid　down。

She　does　not　see　that　she　is　on　her　own　dromedary。　She　lies　on　the　same　cushion　in　the　same　palanquin　in　which　she　had　once　held　the　sarechsme　Mohammed　Ali　a　prisoner；　and　he　it　is　who　seats　himself　beside　her。　〃And　now　onward；　onward；　my　Alpha！〃

The　Nubian　mounts　his　horse；　and　the　swift　dromedary　speeds　his　way　through　the　desert。

The　night　is　clear；　and　the　moon　is　shedding　a　golden　lustre　over　the　sand；　through　which　the　ship　of　the　desert　is　flying　with　its　rich　prize；　and　behind　it　the　Nubian；　his　hand　on　his　pistol；　ready　to　shoot　down　any　one　who　may　dare　to　attack　his　master。

Now　the　rider　draws　rein　and　stops　the　dromedary；　the　sublime　image　of　the　desert…queen；　silvered　over　with　the　moonlight；　towers　before　them　in　majestic　proportions。

〃This　is　the　desert…queen；　the　goddess　of　all　the　Bedouins！〃　cries　Mohammed。　〃Do　you　wish　to　see　her；　Butheita？　I　am　sorry　for　you；　and　would　gladly　remove　the　cloth　from　your　head　and　eyes　in　order　that　you　may　see。　But　if　you　are　cruel；　you　might　tear　my　arms　with　your　teeth。　Will　you　do　that；　Butheita？〃

She　starts　and　shakes　her　head；　inwardly　rejoicing；　for　she　recognizes　these　words；　and　remembers　that　she　spoke　them　when　he　lay　a　prisoner　on　the　cushion　before　her。　And　he　now　continues　to　speak　just　as　she　spoke　then

〃You　shake　your　head；　and　I　will　trust　you　and　loosen　your　bonds。〃

He　quickly　unties　the　cuffei　and　removes　it　from　her　head。　She　looks　up　at　him　who　is　bowed　down　over　her；　and　the　kind　moon　sheds　her　soft　light　upon　them；　and　enables　them　to　see　each　other。

Oh；　happy　moment！　Forgotten　is　all；　forgotten　the　long　separation　forgotten；　also；　that　her　father　will　be　angry　and　will　grieve　for　her！　She　looks　only　at　him；　sees　only　him；　and　yet；　as　he　now　bends　down　closer；　she　turns　her　face　aside。

Mohammed　smiles　and　points　to　the　sphinx。　〃Only　look　at　the　shadow　the　moon　throws　from　the　dromedary　to　the　mouth　of　the　sphinx！　Look　at　the　two　heads　there；　they　are　our　shadows；　and　they　are　kissing　each　other；　Butheita！〃

She　utters　a　cry　of　delight。　These　were　her　very　words；　and；　as　then；　he　says；　bending　over　her：

〃Why　should　our　shadows　only　kiss　each　other？　Why　not　our　lips；　too？〃

But　she　shakes　her　head　and　says；　as　she　then　said：

〃I　have　promised　my　father　to　kiss　only　that　man　whom　I　shall　follow　to　his　tent　for　love。　At　the　door　of　the　tent　he　may　give　me　the　first　kiss。〃

〃And　you　are　still　resolved　to　keep　this　promise？〃　said　he；　smiling。

〃I　am；〃　says　she；　also　smiling。　〃And　you；　Mohammed；　shall　never　kiss　me！〃　she　continues；　the　smile　vanishing　from　her　lips；　and　her　countenance　assuming　an　angry　expression。　〃No；　you　shall　never　kiss　me；　for　you　shall　never　lead　me　to　your　tent　as　your　wife！　Oh；　I　see　it　all　plainly。　You　have　stolen　me　from　my　father　to　make　me　a　slave！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mohammed；　〃I　intend　you　to　be　a　slave；　the　slave　of　your　love！　For　I　know　you　love　me；　Butheita！〃

〃No！〃　she　exclaims：　〃No；　I　do　not　love　you！　And　you　have　no　right　to　make　me　a　slave。　I　am　the　Bedouin　queen；　my　whole　tribe　call　me　so；　and　the　daughters　of　the　Bedouins　have　never　been　sold　into　slavery。　No；　I　will　not　be　a　slave！〃

〃And　yet　you　shall　be　the　slave　of　your　love！〃

〃I　do　not　love　you；　I　hate　you！〃　replies　she；　crying　with　anger。　〃Yes；　Mohammed　Ali；　I　hate　you；　and　you　shall　never　kiss　me；　for　I　hate　the　robber　who　takes　me　from　my　father's　house　in　order　to　make　me　a　slave！〃

〃Butheita；〃　says　he；　gently；　〃I　removed　the　cloth　from　your　lips；　but　you　are　not　keeping　your　word；　you　tear　my　heart　with　your　lips；　and　I　must　cover　them　again　if　you　continue　to　wound　me　so　cruelly。〃

〃Do　so；　close　my　lips！　They　shall　say　nothing　else　to　you！〃　cries　she；　angrily。　〃Do　so；　close　my　lips　and　eyes　again！〃

〃Well；　then；　I　shall　do　so；〃　he　says；　taking　the　gold…embroidered　cloth　and　throwing　it　over　her　face。　〃I　do　so；　Butheita；　because　I