Jack Hildreth on the Nile | Page 9

your going."
"Good," I said, though I felt doubtful still. "When does the 'dahabijeh'
start?"
"At three; you know that is the hour of departure for all faithful
Moslems."
"And where does she lie? Is there a coffee house near by from which
she can be seen?"

"Yes, there is a coffee house near her landing, from which the deck can
be easily overlooked. I will show it to you."
"No, that was not what I was thinking of. I hope you have told me the
truth, and remember, it is hard for a liar to get confidence a second
time."
"Right, most right," he said, bowing so low that the brim of his turban
swept the floor as he left the room.
Murad Nassyr conducted me to the "dahabijeh" with much ceremony.
He thought there would be no more trouble with Abdel Barak, because
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