murad the unlucky and other tales-第4部分

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tenderness。　　Christians　though　they　were；　I　must　acknowledge　that　I
had　reason　to　love　them　better　than　any　of　the　followers　of
Mahomet；　my　good　brother　only　excepted。

〃Under　their　care　I　recovered；　but　scarcely　had　I　regained　my
strength　before　I　fell　into　new　disasters。　　It　was　hot　weather；　and
my　thirst　was　excessive。　　I　went　out　with　a　party；　in　hopes　of
finding　a　spring　of　water。　　The　English　soldiers　began　to　dig　for　a
well；　in　a　place　pointed　out　to　them　by　one　of　their　men　of
science。　　I　was　not　inclined　to　such　hard　labour；　but　preferred
sauntering　on　in　search　of　a　spring。　　I　saw　at　a　distance　something
that　looked　like　a　pool　of　water；　and　I　pointed　it　out　to　my
companions。　　Their　man　of　science　warned　me　by　his　interpreter　not
to　trust　to　this　deceitful　appearance；　for　that　such　were　common　in
this　country；　and　that；　when　I　came　close　to　the　spot；　I　should
find　no　water　there。　　He　added；　that　it　was　at　a　greater　distance
than　I　imagined；　and　that　I　should；　in　all　probability；　be　lost　in
the　desert　if　I　attempted　to　follow　this　phantom。

〃I　was　so　unfortunate　as　not　to　attend　to　his　advice：　　I　set　out　in
pursuit　of　this　accursed　delusion；　which　assuredly　was　the　work　of
evil　spirits；　who　clouded　my　reason；　and　allured　me　into　their
dominion。　　I　went　on；　hour　after　hour；　in　expectation　continually
of　reaching　the　object　of　my　wishes；　but　it　fled　faster　than　I
pursued；　and　I　discovered　at　last　that　the　Englishman；　who　had
doubtless　gained　his　information　from　the　people　of　the　country；
was　right；　and　that　the　shining　appearance　which　I　had　taken　for
water　was　a　mere　deception。

〃I　was　now　exhausted　with　fatigue：　　I　looked　back　in　vain　after　the
companions　I　had　left；　I　could　see　neither　men；　animals；　nor　any
trace　of　vegetation　in　the　sandy　desert。　　I　had　no　resource　but；
weary　as　I　was；　to　measure　back　my　footsteps；　which　were　imprinted
in　the　sand。

〃I　slowly　and　sorrowfully　traced　them　as　my　guides　in　this　unknown
land。　　Instead　of　yielding　to　my　indolent　inclinations；　I　ought；
however；　to　have　made　the　best　of　my　way　back；　before　the　evening
breeze　sprang　up。　　I　felt　the　breeze　rising；　and；　unconscious　of　my
danger；　I　rejoiced；　and　opened　my　bosom　to　meet　it；　but　what　was　my
dismay　when　I　saw　that　the　wind　swept　before　it　all　trace　of　my
footsteps　in　the　sand。　　I　knew　not　which　way　to　proceed；　I　was
struck　with　despair；　tore　my　garments；　threw　off　my　turban；　and
cried　aloud；　but　neither　human　voice　nor　echo　answered　me。　　The
silence　was　dreadful。　　I　had　tasted　no　food　for　many　hours；　and　I
now　became　sick　and　faint。　　I　recollected　that　I　had　put　a　supply
of　opium　into　the　folds　of　my　turban；　but；　alas！　when　I　took　my
turban　up；　I　found　that　the　opium　had　fallen　out。　　I　searched　for
it　in　vain　on　the　sand；　where　I　had　thrown　the　turban。

〃I　stretched　myself　out　upon　the　ground；　and　yielded　without
further　struggle　to　my　evil　destiny。　　What　I　suffered　from　thirst；
hunger；　and　heat　cannot　be　described。　　At　last　I　fell　into　a　sort
of　trance；　during　which　images　of　various　kinds　seemed　to　flit
before　my　eyes。　　How　long　I　remained　in　this　state　I　know　not：　　but
I　remember　that　I　was　brought　to　my　senses　by　a　loud　shout；　which
came　from　persons　belonging　to　a　caravan　returning　from　Mecca。
This　was　a　shout　of　joy　for　their　safe　arrival　at　a　certain　spring；
well　known　to　them　in　this　part　of　the　desert。

〃The　spring　was　not　a　hundred　yards　from　the　spot　where　I　lay；　yet；
such　had　been　the　fate　of　Murad　the　Unlucky；　that　he　missed　the
reality；　whilst　he　had　been　hours　in　pursuit　of　the　phantom。
Feeble　and　spiritless　as　I　was；　I　sent　forth　as　loud　a　cry　as　I
could；　in　hopes　of　obtaining　assistance；　and　I　endeavoured　to　crawl
to　the　place　from　which　the　voices　appeared　to　come。　　The　caravan
rested　for　a　considerable　time　whilst　the　slaves　filled　the　skins
with　water；　and　whilst　the　camels　took　in　their　supply。　　I　worked
myself　on　towards　them；　yet；　notwithstanding　my　efforts；　I　was
persuaded　that；　according　to　my　usual　ill…fortune；　I　should　never
be　able　to　make　them　hear　my　voice。　　I　saw　them　mount　their　camels！
I　took　off　my　turban；　unrolled　it；　and　waved　it　in　the　air。　　My
signal　was　seen！　　The　caravan　came　towards　me！

〃I　had　scarcely　strength　to　speak；　a　slave　gave　me　some　water；　and；
after　I　had　drunk；　I　explained　to　them　who　I　was；　and　how　I　came
into　this　situation。

〃Whilst　I　was　speaking；　one　of　the　travellers　observed　the　purse
which　hung　to　my　girdle：　　it　was　the　same　the　merchant　for　whom　I
recovered　the　ring　had　given　to　me；　I　had　carefully　preserved　it；
because　the　initials　of　my　benefactor's　name　and　a　passage　from　the
Koran　were　worked　upon　it。　　When　he　give　it　to　me；　he　said　that
perhaps　we　should　meet　again　in　some　other　part　of　the　world；　and
he　should　recognise　me　by　this　token。　　The　person　who　now　took
notice　of　the　purse　was　his　brother；　and　when　I　related　to　him　how
I　had　obtained　it；　he　had　the　goodness　to　take　me　under　his
protection。　　He　was　a　merchant；　who　was　now　going　with　the　caravan
to　Grand　Cairo：　　he　offered　to　take　me　with　him；　and　I　willingly
accepted　the　proposal；　promising　to　serve　him　as　faithfully　as　any
of　his　slaves。　　The　caravan　proceeded；　and　I　was　carried　with　it。



CHAPTER　II



The　merchant；　who　was　become　my　master；　treated　me　with　great
kindness；　but　on　hearing　me　relate　the　whole　series　of　my
unfortunate　adventures；　he　exacted　a　promise　from　me　that　I　would
do　nothing　without　first　consulting　him。　　'Since　you　are　so
unlucky；　Murad；'　said　he；　'that　you　always　choose　for　the　worst
when　you　choose　for　yourself；　you　should　trust　entirely　to　the
judgment　of　a　wiser　or　a　more　fortunate　friend。'

〃I　fared　well　in　the　service　of　this　merchant；　who　was　a　man　of　a
mild　disposition；　and　who　was　so　rich　that　he　could　afford　to　be
generous　to　all　his　dependants。　　It　was　my　business　to　see　his
camels　loaded　and　unloaded　at　proper　places；　to　count　his　bales　of
merchandise；　and　to　take　care　that　they　were　not　mixed　with　those
of　his　companions。　　This　I　carefully　did　till　the　day　we　arrived　at
Alexandria；　when；　unluckily；　I　neglected　to　count　the　bales；　taking
it　for　granted　that　they　were　all　right；　as　I　had　found　them　so　the
preceding　day。　　However；　when　we　were　to　go　on　board　the　vessel
that　was　to　take　us　to　Cairo；　I　perceived　that　three　bales　of
cotton　were　missing。

〃I　ran　to　inform　my　master；　who；　though　a　good　deal　provoked　at　my
negligence；　did　not　reproach　me　as　I　deserved。　　The　public　crier
was　immediately　sent　round　the　city；　to　offer　a　reward　for　the
recovery　of　the　merchandise；　and　it　was　restored　by　one　of　the
merchants'　slaves　with　whom　we　had　travelled。　　The　vessel　was　now
under　sail；　my　master　and　I　and　the　bales　of　cotton　were　obliged　to
follow　in　a　boat；　and　when　we　were　taken　on　board；　the　captain
declared　he　was　so　loaded；　that　he　could　not　tell　where　to　stow　the
bales　of　cotton。　　After　much　difficulty；　he　consented　to　let　them
remain　upon　deck；　and　I　promised　my　master　to　watch　them　night　and
day。

〃We　had　a　prosperous　voyage；　and　were　actually　in　sight　of　shore；
which　the　captain　said　we　could　not　fail　to　reach　early　the　next
morning。　　I　stayed；　as　usual；　this　night　upon　deck；　and　solaced
myself　by　smoking　my　pipe。　　Ever　since　I　had　indulged　in　this
practice　at　the　camp　at　El　Arish；　I　could　not　exist　without　opium
and　tobacco。　　I　suppose　that　my　reason　was　this　night　a　little
clouded　with　the　dose　I　took；　but　towards　midnight　I　was　sobered　by
terror。　　I　started　up　from　the　deck　on　which　I　had　stretched
myself；　my　turban　was　in　flamesthe　bale　of　cotton　on　which　I　had
rested　was　all　on　fire。　　I　awakened　two　sailors；　who　were　fast
asleep　on　deck。　　The　consternation　became　general；　and　the
confusion　increased　the　danger。　　The　captain　and　my　master　were　the
most　active；　and　suffered　the　most；　in　extinguishing　the　flamesmy
master　was　terribly　scorched。

〃For　my　part；　I　was　not　suffered　to　do　anything；　the　captain
ordered　that　I　should　be　bound　to　the　mast；　and　when　at　last　the
flames　were　extinguished；　the　passengers；　with　one　accord；　besought
him　to　keep　me　bound　hand　and　foot；　lest　I　should　be　the　cause　of
some　new　disaster。　　All　that　had　happened　was；　indeed；　occasioned
by　my　ill…luck。　　I　had　laid　my　pipe　down；　when　I　was　falling
asleep；　upon　the　bale　of　cotton　that　was　beside　me。　　The　fire　from
my　pipe　fell　out　and　set　the　cotton　in　flames。　　Such　was　the
mixture　of　rage　and　terror　with　which　I　had　inspired　the　whole
crew；　that　I　am　sure　they　would　have　set　me　ashore　on　a　desert
island　rather　than　have　had　me　on　board　for　a　week　longer。　　Even　my
humane　master；　I　could　perceive；　was　secretly　impatient　to　get　rid
of　Murad　the　Unlucky　and　his　evil　fortune。

〃You　may　believe　that　I　was　heartily　glad　when　we　landed；　and　when
I　was　unbound。　　My　master　put　a　purse　containing　fifty　sequins　into
my　hand；　and　bade　me　farewell。　　'Use　this　money　prudently；　Murad；
if　you　can；'　said　he；　'and　perhaps　your　fortune　may　change。'　　Of
this　I　had　little　hopes；　but　determined　to　lay　out　my　money　as
prudently　as　possible。

〃As　I　was　walking　through　the　streets　of　Grand　Cairo；　considering
how　I　should　lay　out　my　fifty　sequins　to　the　greatest　advantage；　I
was　stopped　by　one　who　called　me　by　my　name；　and　asked　me　if　I
could　pretend　to　have　forgotten　his　face。　　I　looked　steadily　at
him；　and　recollected　to　my　sorrow　that　he　was　the　Jew　Rachub；　from
whom　I　had　borrowed　certain　sums　of　money　at　the　camp　at　El　Arish。
What　brought　him　to　Grand　Cairo；　except　it　was　my　evil　destiny；　I
cannot　tell。　　He　would　not　quit　me；　he　would　take　no　excuses；　he
said　he　knew　that　I　had　deserted　twice；　once　from　the　Turkish　and
once　from　the　English　army；　that　I　was　not　entitled　to　any　pay；　and
that　he　could　not　imagine　it　possible　that　my　brother　Saladin　would
own　me　or　pay　my　debts。

〃I　replied；　for　I　was　vexed　by　the　insolence　of　this　Jewish　dog；
that　I　was　not；　as　he　imagined；　a　beggar：　　that　I　had　the　means　of
paying　him　my　just　debt；　but　that　I　hoped　he　would　not　extort　from
me　all　that　exorbitant　interest　which　none　but　a　Jew　could　exact。
He　smiled；　and　answered　that　if　a　Turk　loved　opium　better　than
money　this　was　no　fault　of　his；　that　he　had　sup