While Osman Bey Bardissi lives, peace with the
Turks is not to be thought of; while life lasts, he will aspire to
greater eminence and power.
"How can peace be made with this powerful, haughty chieftain?" This
is also murmured by the capitan pacha, who stands on the deck of the
admiral's ship, and he orders that the Turkish ships weigh anchor,
and sail out of the harbor of Alexandria. Yes, Sitta Nefysseh was
right: the enemy lies in wait there. Three large Turkish ships have
been lying at anchor there ever since the Mameluke beys have been
holding fetes with the Turks at Aboukir. But to-day a fourth ship
has arrived from Stamboul--a ship manned with three hundred well-
equipped soldiers; and her captain's name is Osman, and his
lieutenant is called Mohammed Ali.
CHAPTER VI
THE MASSACRE.
The capitan pacha had himself come over in his admiral's ship to
greet the newly arrived soldiers, and to review the fleet of stately
vessels-of-war. He graciously caused Osman, the bim bashi, and
Mohammed Ali, the boulouk bashi, to be presented to him.
"You have employed the time well during your passage," said he,
slightly inclining his proud head. "You have converted rude peasants
into disciplined soldiers."
"It is not my work," replied Osman, who stood attired in his full
uniform before the capitan pacha. "No, excellency, I suffered from
the unaccustomed sea-voyage, and could hardly leave my cabin.
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