Really it
seemed that Sitta Khadra was right: his agathodaemon watched over
him, for, sooner than usual, the tempest calmed down, and the sun
broke forth from behind the clouds. It was now a comparatively easy
matter for Mohammed to get back to the opposite shore where Omar was
awaiting him with several of his comrades. The fisherman's face was
angry and lowering. It annoyed him that he had not waited for the
storm to go down, instead of making the bargain with Mohammed, for
he must now keep his word and pay the boy what he had earned. This
day his rich catch of fish gave Omar no pleasure. His face grew
darker and darker, while the men were opening the nets and counting
the fish. It was well that the shrewd boy had caused Omar to repeat
his promise before a witness, and before so highly esteemed a wit
ness, for the fisherman would have otherwise refused, in all
probability, to share the harvest of his nets with Mohammed.
He was now compelled to yield to the decision of the fishermen, who
declared that the half of the fish caught were worth at least four
ducats. The boy's eyes sparkled with delight as Omar reluctantly and
hesitatingly drew the money from his long leather purse and handed
it to him.
"It will bring you no blessing!" growled the fisherman. "You are a
greedy, headstrong boy; you deprive the father of a family of half
his hard earnings.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65