Jack Hildreth on the Nile | Page 4

without seeming much affected by these tidings, I replied: "Very likely you are, but why do you not act like a son of the Prophet and the head of such a pious confraternity?"
"What knowest thou of my actions? Has thou not seen just now how all heads bowed before me? Humble thyself also, thou dog! Thou hast struck me, and I will tell thee how to make amends for such an injury."
"I kneel to no man; I am not a Moslem, but a Christian."
He positively swelled before me. "A Christian, a giaour, a thieving dog!" he roared. "And thou hast dared annoy the Sheik Abd el Barak! It were better for thee thy mother had strangled thee at birth, for I will seize thy throat --"
"Oh, don't chatter," I interrupted him. "Every one of your threats is laughable. You are no greater than I, and have not the slightest power over me. I am answerable to my consul, and he doesn't care about your titles. Repeat your insults and I'll knock you down, and appeal to the law to find out whether the acts of a man who buys slave children, beats and starves them, and ties them to posts if they fail to bring him the money he wants are pleasing to God."
He fell back at these words, crying: "Who, who told thee this? It was this boy, this jackal! Woe be to him when he comes home to-night."
"You'll do him no harm; I'll take care of that," I said.
"Thou wilt take care of it? Wouldst thou give me commands, thou a dog of a Christian, whom Allah will burn forever in --"
He got no further, for I had been guilty of wrong to myself and all Christians with whom he would deal later if I allowed his words to pass unpunished. I drew off and gave him such a blow that he fell flat, and lay on the pavement senseless.
"Quick, quick," cried the Negro boy, trembling between joy and fright. "He's dead! Don't go out into the street again, but through the little gate at the back of the court, where you will find a deserted house, and over its wall you can get to another street. But hasten, hasten."
"He is not dead, only unconscious, and I have no fear," I said. "But I will take the road you say. Come with me; Abd el Barak shall never beat you again."
I took the boy's hand in my left one, the girl's in my right, and went out through the little gate. We climbed over the wall, and came out on the back street, the children following me silently, too dazed with the thought that they had been rescued from their oppressor to be sure whether they walked on air or earth. But their black eyes looked at me adoringly, and I saw they would follow me unhesitatingly to the ends of the earth.
Now, the question was: What shall I do with them?
Two stolen Negro slave children were puzzling luggage for a young American traveler. I had made but one acquaintance in Cairo, beyond the business connection of my uncle's friend. This man was called Murad Nassyr, and to him I resolved to go for advice and help.
CHAPTER II.
EVIL SPIRITS, THOUGH NO GHOSTS
CLOSELY followed by my two poor little companions, I went straight to the house of Murad Nassyr, where I had been before. The door was opened to me by his long, thin steward Selim, who appeared surprised at the sight of my companions. His master was not at home, so I dispatched him to the coffee house Murad Nassyr most frequented, and went to the inner court to await his coming.
In less than half an hour Murad Nassyr pushed aside the curtain across the entrance, but stopped short when he saw the children.
"What does this mean?" he cried. "Have these Negroes come here with you? Why do you wish to see me?"
"It is a long story, Murad Nassyr," I replied. "If you will allow me I will tell you it."
The master of the house made up his mind to accept its invasion in so far as listening to my explanation, for, coming over, he seated himself beside me. I related to him as briefly as I could the story of my purloining the little slaves, to whom their master had no more right than I. He heard me with many groans of alarm and horror, and no signs of sympathy for the little victims. When I finished he broke forth into Turkish exclamations, and, becoming articulate, demanded if I did not fear so great a man as Abd el Barak. "You saw how respectfully he was treated," he said. "He has influence which may be very dangerous to us."
"I don't care how others treat him," I said.