Tell me, truly,
shall we not be cast into the sea, or assassinated before we reach
the land?"
"No, Osman Bey Bardissi, no! You will land safely, and if it be
Allah's will, a day will come when Mohammed Ali will extend his hand
to you and call you his friend. Who knows? Allah's sun shines
everywhere. Men call themselves friends to-day, who but yesterday
were enemies; and the friends of to-day may to-morrow be enemies.
Allah's will alone decides our destiny!"
"To-day you call yourself my enemy," said Bardissi, "but I already
call you my friend! You have preserved my life, and, by Allah,
Bardissi swears that you are henceforth his friend! If you should
ever need a friend, call Bardissi, the Mameluke bey, and he will
hear your call wherever he may be, if not above with Allah. And now,
farewell!"
"Farewell, and may Allah restore you to health!" said Mohammed, in a
low voice. "I am thinking of the hour when we two foolish boys first
met, and tried to outdo each other in vain and frivolous words. Men
speak little, but think much, and prepare for the future. Allah's
blessing attend you!"
Mohammed returned to the deck of the ship, and looked down at the
boats that were now steering with their bleeding, groaning burden
toward the shore. Lord Hutchinson, who had ordered everything to be
held in readiness for immediate conflict should his demand not be
complied with, stood on the shore with his staff, awaiting the
arrival of the boats.
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