I will first do great
deeds before I tell of them. Not until I have grown old shall the
men and women assemble around me; then they shall hear of my deeds.
But to tell of the deeds of others only, would give me no pleasure.
I see nothing is left me but to become a soldier. Yes, a soldier."
"I, too, believe that would be the best thing for you," said Mr.
Lion, with a kindly nod of the head. "But then you must wait until
you are larger and stronger, for they do not make soldiers of boys,
and you are still a boy. At ten years of age one is not yet a man,
my little hero. But at fifteen you will be a youth, and then you
will be accepted as a soldier. And I prophesy for you a great and
brilliant career as such. Until then, however, I promise to help
your mother to take care of you, and, if I can serve you in any way,
come to me, for you know I love you, and will gladly do what I can
for you."
"Until then I will be the general of the boys of Cavalla, and they
shall all bow down to me, and pay me tribute."
CHAPTER III
BOYISH DREAMS.
Since that day a great change had taken place in Mohammed Ali. He
was graver and more silent, and participated less in the games of
the boys. He no longer laughed and jested as he had formerly done,
but he was all the more busily occupied with his gun, inherited from
his father, exercising himself in shooting, and almost always
hitting his mark.
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