Cavalla was also to furnish its quota, and the pacha's instructions
were, that the governor should with all speed uniform three hundred
young men, and send them to him.
Cousrouf Pacha had, however, also written, "That the governor may
see in what glad remembrance I hold the past, and that I am
grateful, I request that his son Osman be placed at their head as
captain, and come with them. And," continued the pacha, "as his
lieutenant, young Mohammed Ali, if still living, may be serviceable.
However, I suppose that his own violence and passion have consumed
this young man, as he persistently labored at his own destruction.
If this, how ever, is not the case, and his extraordinary strength
of constitution has preserved him, the youth must have become a
strong man, and we need such men for our army."
The governor informed Mohammed and his son of what the pacha had
written. He requested Mohammed to assist him in recruiting and
equipping the men, and Mohammed willingly gave his assistance. He
repaired to Praousta and the neighboring places and assisted in the
work. He soothed the displeasure of the men called on to take the
field, spoke of the heroic deeds they could perform, and of the
beautiful land to which they were to go, so distant from the quiet,
desolate Praousta.
And in a few days the three hundred men were ready to embark. But
how was it with regard to the captain and his lieutenant? Osman had
reserved his decision for the last day, and Mohammed seemed to have
entirely forgotten that he was selected as the captain's lieutenant.
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