"It is impossible she
should die, for I should then be entirely alone in the world."
"Entirely alone?" asked the old man, regarding him reproachfully.
"As long as Toussoun Aga lives, his nephew, Mohammed Ali, is not
entirely alone."
Mohammed held out his hand. "Thanks, uncle." He nodded to the old
man, turned away, and sprang off over the rocks with such rapid
bounds that old Toussoun looked after him in amazement.
"He leaps like a gazelle. Light is his step, and splendid his
figure. How long will he still bless his mother's sight? how long
shall my old eyes be gladdened by this young gazelle, this young
eagle?"
The old man bowed his head upon his breast, and two tears trickled
slowly down his cheeks.
CHAPTER IV
PREMONITION OF DEATH.
Since the day when Mohammed had first conceived a dark foreboding of
his mother's insidious disease, he had become more earnest and
gloomy in his disposition. The other boys avoided meeting and coming
into collision with him; they paid the well-earned tribute of fruits
from their parents' gardens, and assumed an almost humble demeanor
in his presence. He sometimes challenged them to race or wrestle
with him, but only the strongest and most active would enter into
such trials with him, and he always remained the victor. They were
in the habit of turning down a side street when they saw him
advancing toward them, and, when they observed him among the rocks
with his little gun on his shoulder, they would hide themselves
behind some rocky projection and remain concealed until he had
passed.
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