Jack Hildreth on the Nile | Page 9

I held his written confession; but remembering the derision in his voice as he left us, I felt sure there would be some attempt on his part at revenge. We parted with mutual expressions of goodwill, while Selim actually kissed my hand, which, considering that I was an unbeliever and he an Arab Moslem, showed I must have made a profound impression on him.
As I stepped on deck a voice at my elbow said: "Effendi, allow me to bring on board your things lying there where the porter dropped them."
I turned and saw a man standing with a deferential air close at my elbow. His little eyes gleamed sharp under his bushy brows, his thin lips were drawn in at the corners as if to control contemptuous laughter, and his nose -- ah, that nose! It was green, yellow, red, and blue, and swollen dreadfully. What could he have done to get such a nose? Involuntarily, I thought of Ghost Number Three, with whose nose my fist had come in such violent contact in the garden. At the same time I heard the sailors singing "Ah ia sidi Abd el Kader," the favorite air of the Moslems belonging to the Kadis, and I wondered if the captain were a member of this brotherhood. Suppose Selim had told Abd el Barak I was to sail that day, and he had sent Ghost Number Three on board?
"What is your name?" I asked the man, suddenly.
He hesitated, then replied, as if using the first words that occurred to him: "I am called Ben Schorak."
"What is your tribe? How long have you been on this ship?"
"I am an Arab, of the tribe of Maazeh, and have been on board over a year."
"Good! Fetch my things, and if I am pleased with you, you shall have generous backsheesh."
Then I walked over to the captain and asked him if he had a man whom he could spare for my personal service. The captain pointed to where my swollen-nosed friend was busy with my luggage, and replied unsuspiciously: "I have already appointed a man to your use. He is working for you now."
"What is his name?"
"Barik."
"A Bedouin?"
"No, he comes from Minieh."
"Is he trustworthy? How long have you had him?"
"Four months."
This was enough; I was sure it was Ghost Number Three, and he had not had the foresight to have concocted his answers with the captain, so their stories would agree. I wondered whether he had been sent on board to murder me, or steal Abd el Barak's acknowledgment of guilt. Most probably the latter, since as I was known to have sailed on the "Semek," my murder might be attended by unpleasant consequences; I would keep a sharp lookout and try hard to defend myself against whatever was to follow.
We got under way immediately, and made good speed up the river in the strong north wind, until the sunset, and the "moghieb," or evening prayer, was said. Then the captain lowered part of the sails, and we crawled onward but slowly, and I saw that the "dahabijeh" was headed toward the left bank. I went to the captain to ask an explanation of this movement, and was told we were to anchor for the night at Gizeh.
"What is that for, when we have just begun our voyage?"
"You ought to know that no ship continues up the river after dark," the captain replied.
"After dark, yes; but it is not nearly dark yet, and it is going to be such bright moonlight that we could easily go on."
"I am captain of this 'dahabijeh,' and will give such orders as I see fit," said the captain curtly, abandoning all the deference of manner he had shown previously, and turning abruptly away.
There evidently was some special reason for this determination on the part of the captain, and I felt sure it would prove part of a design against me.
We anchored at Gizeh, and the sailors were given permission to go ashore, and went gladly, leaving only three persons on board with me: the captain, the pilot, and my devoted servant with the many-tinted nose. This fine specimen came to me in my cabin to ask me if I wished for anything. I asked for water and a lamp, and when he brought them drew out my wallet, opened it, and ran over the papers in it to let the man see that it was full. This I did to hasten matters, and secure the thieves' attack on a point at which I was prepared, if, as I suspected, they meant to try to get Abd el Barak's confession away from me.
That I had guessed aright I felt convinced, for the man said, in a most cordial tone: "You are very wise, Effendi, to stay in the cabin. The night air on