We remain here!"
"They remain," repeated Sitta Nefysseh ; "they remain because death
goes with the others in their boats. O Osman Bardissi! why would you
not hearken to my words? I shall remain also, to await our dead."
In the large, richly-decorated boat, stood the capitan pacha, and
beside him the chief Mameluke beys; among them are Osman Bardissi,
the hero, the favorite of all the women, and Osman Tamboubji, now
one of the most distinguished of all the beys. These two,
especially, have been invited by the capitan to sail with him in his
boat, and while with him what have they to fear?
Sitta Nefysseh murmurs to herself:
"He takes them into his boat in order to deceive them. This is
surely to conceal some trickery, and when the boat lands at
Alexandria, the capitan pacha will not be with the Mameluke beys."
The Mamelukes have entered the boats joyously, and joyously they
sail out over the waves, toward the shores of Alexandria.
The day is beautiful, and the sunshine glitters upon the water;
laughter and jesting resound from every boat; but now, when Osman
Bardissi begins to sing a warlike song, all are silent and listen
attentively. He sings words with which he has often led his hosts
out to battle. And the rest, at the end of each verse of the
glorious old song, shout exultingly from boat to boat, and unite in
the joyous chorus:
"The bey lifts high his sword, and down it sweeps upon his proud
foe's head! Down swoops the bey, and raises high in air the severed
head, and, when he homeward rides, the head hangs dangling at his
saddle's side!"
"A beautiful, a glorious song!" exclaims the capitan, as it is
ended, and its last accords resound over the waters.
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