You are
tall and strong, and will be gladly accepted."
His countenance beaming with joy, Mohammed turned and saw at his
side a boy of slender figure, in simple Turkish garments, but his
hair was closely cut, and not covered with the fez and kuffei.
Mohammed glanced fiercely at the boy.
"You are a slave!" said he.
The boy nodded and laughed.
"I am a slave. But I don't expect to remain one long; I have already
heard that the capitano intends to sell me over there, and there one
can make his fortune, that I know!"
"Over there?" said Mohammed, eagerly. "What do you call over there?"
"Well, the place we are going to!" exclaimed the boy, laughing. "To
Egypt we go, carrying rich goods, and I myself, so to speak, am a
piece of goods for the capitano."
"You go to Egypt?" asked Mohammed; "to the land of wonders, where
slaves become heroes, and heroes princes?"
"Ah! you have heard it spoken of, too!" said the boy, laughing.
"Yes, the sha-ers everywhere have something to relate about Egypt.
In Stamboul I have often heard them tell of the Mamelukes, too!"
"Of the Mamelukes? Of them, too, you have heard?"
"I have not only heard of them, but I intend to make a Mameluke of
myself. As you know, these Mamelukes are the slaves of the beys in
Egypt. I hope to have the good fortune to be purchased by a bey. I
know all that is necessary to become the servant of a Mameluke.
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