Mohammed Ali deserves all the credit; he drilled the soldiers on the
deck incessantly, day and night."
"Well done, well done!" said the pacha. "His services will be
recognized and rewarded."
"I beg your excellency to see that they are," said Osman, quickly.
"Truly my boulouk bashi deserves to be rewarded. I should like to
take the liberty of suggesting how he can be rewarded."
With a haughty and astonished expression, the capitan pacha regarded
the young man that stood blushing before him, his eyes sparkling
with unaccustomed lustre. He considered it somewhat presumptuous to
advise him, the capitan pacha. Yet this is not a time to be
ungracious. The newly-arrived soldiers are to be used this very day,
and should be kindly and cordially treated.
"Then tell me, bim bashi, how can I reward your lieutenant? I will
gladly do so, if it is in my power."
"You have the power, if you have the will. I beg you to give the
boulouk bashi my position."
"Give him your position! And what is to become of you?"
"Of me?" said Osman, smiling sadly. "Only what I have always been--a
poor, weak invalid. Cousrouf Pacha, our distinguished guest, wished
to show me a kindness, and, with this intention, appointed me him
bashi. Yet I at once feared that my poor body would not be able to
bear the fatigues of the service. I am weary and exhausted, and my
weak arm falls to my side when I attempt to raise the sword.
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