Books: A Modern Telemachus
C >>
Charlotte M. Yonge >> A Modern Telemachus
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 | 13
He led Estelle forward, when she made a courtesy fit for her
grandmother's salon, and in very fluent Cabeleyze dialect gave thanks
for the kindness of coming to release her, and begged him to excuse her
uncle, who was sick, and, as you say here, 'stricken of Allah.'
The little French demoiselle's grace and politeness were by no means
lost on the Marabout, who replied to her graciously; and at the sight
of her reading M. Dessault's letter, which the interpreter presented to
her, one of the suite could not help exclaiming, 'Ah! if women such as
this will be went abroad in our streets, there would be nothing to hope
for in Paradise.'
Estelle did not seem to have suffered in health; indeed, in Arthur's
eyes, she seemed in these six weeks to have grown, and to have more
colour, while her expression had become less childish, deeper, and
higher. Her hair did not look neglected, though her dress--the same
dark blue which she had worn on the voyage--had become very ragged and
soiled, and her shoes were broken, and tied on with strips of rag.
She gave a little scream of joy when the parcel of clothes sent by the
French Consul was given to her, only longing to send some to Victorine
before she retired to enjoy the comfort of clean and respectable
clothes; and in the meantime something was attempted for the comfort of
her companions, though it would not have been safe to put them into
Frankish garments, and none had been brought. Poor Hebert was the very
ghost of the stout and important maitre d'hotel, and, indeed, the
faithful man had borne the brunt of all the privations and sufferings,
doing his utmost to shield and protect his little mistress and her
helpless uncle.
When Estelle reappeared, dressed once more like a little French lady
(at least in the eyes of those who were not particular about fit), she
found a little feast being prepared for her out of the provisions sent
by the consuls; but she could not sit down to it till Arthur, escorted
by several of the Marabout's suite, had carried a share both of the
food and the garments to Lanty and Victorine.
They, however, were not to be found. The whole adowara seemed to be
deserted except by a few frightened women and children, and Victorine
and her Irish swain had no doubt been driven off into the woods by
Eyoub--no Achilles certainly, but equally unwilling with the great
Pelides to resign Briseis as a substitute for Chryseis.
It was too late to attempt anything more that night; indeed, at sundown
it became very cold. A fire was lighted in the larger room, in the
centre, where there was a hole for the exit of the smoke.
The Marabouts seemed to be praying or reciting the Koran on one side of
it, for there was a continuous chant or hum going on there; but they
seemed to have no objection to the Christians sitting together on the
other side conversing and exchanging accounts of their adventures.
Maitre Hebert could not sufficiently dilate on the spirit,
cheerfulness, and patience that Mademoiselle had displayed through all.
He only had to lament her imprudence in trying to talk of the Christian
faith to the children, telling them stories of the saints, and doing
what, if all the tribe had not been so ignorant, would have brought
destruction on them all. 'I would not have Monseigneur there know of
it for worlds,' said he, glancing at the Grand Marabout.
'Selim loves to hear such things,' said Estelle composedly. 'I have
taught him to say the Paternoster, and the meaning of it, and Zuleika
can nearly say them.'
'Misericorde!' cried M. Hubert. 'What may not the child have brought
on herself!'
'Selim will be a chief,' returned Estelle. 'He will make his people do
as he pleases, or he would do so; but now there will be no one to tell
him about the true God and the blessed Saviour,' she added sadly.
'Mademoiselle!' cried Hebert in indignant anger--'Mademoiselle would
not be ungrateful for our safety from these horrors.'
'Oh no!' exclaimed the child. 'I am very happy to return to my poor
papa, and my brothers, and my grandmamma. But I am sorry for Selim!
Perhaps some good mission fathers would go out to them like those we
heard of in Arcadia; and by and by, when I am grown up, I can come back
with some sisters to teach the women to wash their children and not
scold and fight.'
The maitre d'hotel sighed, and was relieved when Estelle retired to the
deserted women's apartments for the night. He seemed to think her
dangerous language might be understood and reported.
The next morning the Marabout sent messengers, who brought back Yakoub
and his people, and before many hours a sort of council was convened in
the court of Yakoub's house, consisting of all the neighbouring heads
of families, brown men, whose eyes gleamed fiercely out from under
their haiks, and who were armed to the teeth with sabres, daggers, and,
if possible, pistols and blunderbusses of all the worn-out patterns in
Europe--some no doubt as old as the Thirty Years War; while those who
could not attain to these weapons had the long spears of their
ancestors, and were no bad representatives of the Amalekites of old.
After all had solemnly taken their seats there was a fresh arrival of
Sheyk Abderrahman and his ferocious-looking following. He himself was
a man of fine bearing, with a great black beard, and a gold-embroidered
sash stuck full of pistols and knives, and with poor Madame de Bourke's
best pearl necklace round his neck. His son Selim was with him, a slim
youth, with beautiful soft eyes glancing out from under a haik, striped
with many colours, such as may have been the coat that marked Joseph as
the heir.
There were many salaams and formalities, and then the chief Marabout
made a speech, explaining the purpose of his coming, diplomatically
allowing that the Cabeleyzes were not subject to the Dey of Algiers,
but showing that they enjoyed the advantages of the treaty with France,
and that therefore they were bound to release the unfortunate
shipwrecked captives, whom they had already plundered of all their
property. So far Estelle and Arthur, who were anxiously watching,
crouching behind the wall of the deserted house court, could follow.
Then arose yells and shouts of denial, and words too rapid to be
followed. In a lull, Hadji Eseb might be heard proffering ransom,
while the cries and shrieks so well known to accompany bargaining broke
out.
Ibrahim Aga, who stood by the wall, here told them that Yakoub and
Eyoub seemed not unwilling to consent to the redemption of the male
captives, but that they claimed both the females. Hebert clenched his
teeth, and bade Ibrahim interfere and declare that he would never be
set free without his little lady.
Here, however, the tumult lulled a little, and Abderrahman's voice was
heard declaring that he claimed the Daughter of the Silkworm as a wife
for his son.
Ibrahim then sprang to the Marabout's side, and was heard representing
that the young lady was of high and noble blood. To which Abderrahman
replied with the dignity of an old lion, that were she the daughter of
the King of the Franks himself, she would only be a fit mate for the
son of the King of the Mountains. A fresh roar of jangling and
disputing began, during which Estelle whispered, 'Poor Selim, I know he
would believe--he half does already. It would be like Clotilda.'
'And then he would be cruelly murdered, and you too,' returned Arthur.
'We should be martyrs,' said Estelle, as she had so often said before;
and as Hubert shuddered and cried, 'Do not speak of such things,
Mademoiselle, just as there is hope,' she answered, 'Oh no! do not
think I want to stay in this dreadful place--only if I should have to
do so--I long to go to my brother and my poor papa. Then I can send
some good fathers to convert them.'
'Ha!' cried Arthur; 'what now! They are at one another's throats!'
Yakoub and Eyoub with flashing sabres were actually flying at each
other, but Marabouts were seizing them and holding them back, and the
Sunakite's chant arose above all the uproar.
Ibrahim was able to explain that Yakoub insisted that if the mistress
were appropriated by Abderrahman, the maid should be his compensation.
Eyoub, who had been the foremost in the rescue from the wreck, was
furious at the demand, and they were on the point of fighting when thus
withheld; while the Sunakite was denouncing woes on the spoiler and the
lover of Christians, which made the blood of the Cabeleyzes run cold.
Their flocks would be diseased, storms from the mountains would
overwhelm them, their children would die, their name and race be cut
off, if infidel girls were permitted to bewitch them and turn them from
the faith of the Prophet. He pointed to young Selim, and demanded
whether he were not already spellbound by the silken daughter of the
Giaour to join in her idolatry.
There were howls of rage, a leaping up, a drawing of swords, a demand
that the unbelievers should die at once. It was a cry the captives
knew only too well. Arthur grasped a pistol, and loosened his sword,
but young Selim had thrown himself at the Marabout's feet, sobbing out
entreaties that the maiden's life might be saved, and assurances that
he was a staunch believer; while his father, scandalised at such an
exhibition on behalf of any such chattel as a female, roughly snatched
him from the ground, and insisted on his silence.
The Marabouts had, at their chief's signal, ranged themselves in front
of the inner court, and the authority of the Hadji had imposed silence
even on the fanatic. He spoke again, making them understand that
Frankish vengeance in case of a massacre could reach them even in their
mountains when backed by the Dey. And to Abderrahman he represented
that the only safety for his son, the only peace for his tribe, was in
the surrender of these two dangerous causes of altercation.
The 'King of the Mountains' was convinced by the scene that had just
taken place of the inexpedience of retaining the prisoners alive. And
some pieces of gold thrust into his hand by Ibrahim may have shown him
that much might be lost by slaughtering them.
The Babel which next arose was of the amicable bargaining sort. And
after another hour of suspense the interpreter came to announce that
the mountaineers, out of their great respect, not for the Dey, but the
Marabout, had agreed to accept 900 piastres as the ransom of all the
five captives, and that the Marabout recommended an immediate start,
lest anything should rouse the ferocity of the tribe again.
Estelle's warm heart would fain have taken leave of the few who had
been kind to her; but this was impossible, for the women were in
hiding, and she could only leave one or two kerchiefs sent from
Algiers, hoping Zuleika might have one of them. Ibrahim insisted on
her being veiled as closely as a Mohammedan woman as she passed out.
One look between her and Selim might have been fatal to all; though
hers may have been in all childish innocence, she did not know how the
fiery youth was writhing in his father's indignant grasp, forcibly
withheld from rushing after one who had been a new life and revelation
to him.
Mayhap the passion was as fleeting as it was violent, but the Marabout
knew it boded danger to the captives to whom he had pledged his honour.
He sent them, mounted on mules, on in front, while he and his company
remained in the rear, watching till Lanty and Victorine were driven up
like cattle by Eyoub, to whom he paid an earnest of his special share
of the ransom. He permitted no pause, not even for a greeting between
Estelle and poor Victorine, nor to clothe the two unfortunates, more
than by throwing a mantle to poor Victorine, who had nothing but a
short petticoat and a scanty, ragged, filthy bournouse. She shrouded
herself as well as she could when lifted on her mule, scarce perhaps
yet aware what had happened to her, only that Lanty was near, muttering
benedictions and thanksgivings as he vibrated between her mule and that
of the Abbe.
It was only at the evening halt that, in a cave on the mountain-side,
Estelle and Victorine could cling to each other in a close embrace with
sobs of joy; and while Estelle eagerly produced clothes from her little
store of gifts, the poor femme de chambre wept for joy to feel indeed
that she was free, and shed a fresh shower of tears of joy at the sight
of a brush and comb.
Lanty was purring over his foster-brother, and cosseting him like a cat
over a newly-recovered kitten, resolved not to see how much shaken the
poor Abbe's intellect had been, and quite sure that the reverend father
would be altogether himself when he only had his soutane again.
CHAPTER XIV--WELCOME
'Well hath the Prophet-chief your bidding done.'
MOORE (Lalla Rookh).
Bugia was thoroughly Moorish, and subject to attacks of fanaticism.
Perhaps the Grand Marabout did not wholly trust the Sunakite not to
stir up the populace, for he would not take the recovered captives to
his palace, avoided the city as much as possible, and took them down to
the harbour, where, beside the old Roman quay, he caused his trusty
attendant, Reverdi, to hire a boat to take them out to the French
tartane--Reverdi himself going with them to ensure the fidelity of the
boatmen. Estelle would have kissed the good old man's hand in fervent
thanks, but, child as she was, he shrank from her touch as an unholy
thing; and it was enforced on her and Victorine that they were by no
means to remove their heavy mufflings till they were safe on board the
tartane, and even out of harbour. The Frenchman in command of the
vessel was evidently of the same mind, and, though enchanted to receive
them, sent them at once below. He said his men had been in danger of
being mobbed in the streets, and that there were reports abroad that
the harem of a great Frank chief, and all his treasure, were being
recovered from the Cabeleyzes, so that he doubted whether all the
influence of the Grand Marabout might prevent their being pursued by
corsairs.
Right glad was he to recognise the pennant of the Calypso outside the
harbour, and he instantly ran up a signal flag to intimate success. A
boat was immediately put off from the frigate, containing not only
Lieutenant Bullock, but an officer in scarlet, who had no sooner come
on deck than he shook Arthur eagerly by the hand, exclaiming,
''Tis you, then! I cannot be mistaken in poor Davie's son, though you
were a mere bit bairn when I saw you last!'
'Archie Hope!' exclaimed Arthur, joyfully. 'Can you tell me anything
of my mother?'
'She was well when last I heard of her, only sore vexed that you should
be cut off from her by your own fule deed, my lad! Ye've thought
better of it now?'
Major Hope was here interrupted by the lieutenant, who brought an
invitation from Captain Beresford to the whole French party to bestow
themselves on board the Calypso. After ascertaining that the Marabout
had taken up their cause, and that the journey up Mount Couco and back
again could not occupy less than twelve or fourteen days, he had sailed
for Minorca, where he had obtained sanction to convey any of the
captives who might be rescued to Algiers. He had also seen Major Hope,
who, on hearing of the adventures of his young kinsman, asked leave of
absence to come in search of him, and became the guest of the officers
of the Calypso.
Arthur found himself virtually the head of the party, and, after
consultation with Ibrahim Aga and Maitre Hebert, it was agreed that
there would be far more safety, as well as better accommodation, in the
British ship than in the French tartane, and Arthur went down to
communicate the proposal to Estelle, whom the close, little, evil-
smelling cabin was already making much paler than all her privations
had done.
'An English ship,' she said. 'Would my papa approve?' and her little
prim diplomatic air sat comically on her.
'Oh yes,' said Arthur. 'He himself asked the captain to seek for you,
Mademoiselle. There is peace between our countries, you know.'
'That is good,' she said, jumping up. 'For oh! this cabin is worse
than it is inside Yakoub's hut! Oh take me on deck before I am ill!'
She was able to be her own little charming French and Irish self when
Arthur led her on deck; and her gracious thanks and pretty courtesy
made them agree that it would have been ten thousand pities if such a
creature could not have been redeemed from the savage Arabs.
The whole six were speedily on board the Calypso, where Captain
Beresford received the little heroine with politeness worthy of her own
manners. He had given up his own cabin for her and Victorine,
purchased at Port Mahon all he thought she could need, and had even
recollected to procure clerical garments for the Abbe--a sight which
rejoiced Lanty's faithful heart, though the poor Abbe was too ill all
the time of the voyage to leave his berth. Arthur's arrival was
greeted by the Abyssinian with an inarticulate howl of delight, as the
poor fellow crawled to his feet, and began kissing them before he could
prevent it. Fareek had been the pet of the sailors, and well taken
care of by the boatswain. He was handy, quick, and useful, and Captain
Bullock thought he might pick up a living as an attendant in the
galley; but he showed that he held himself to belong absolutely to
Arthur, and rendered every service to him that he could, picking up
what was needful in the care of European clothes by imitation of the
captain's servant, and showing a dexterity that made it probable that
his cleverness had been the cause of the loss of a tongue that might
have betrayed too much. To young Hope he seemed like a sacred legacy
from poor Tam, and a perplexing one, such as he could hardly leave in
his dumbness to take the chances of life among sailors.
His own plans were likewise to be considered, and Major Hope concerned
himself much about them. He was a second cousin--a near relation in
Scottish estimation--and no distant neighbour. His family were Tories,
though content to submit to the House of Hanover, and had always been
on friendly terms with Lady Hope.
'I writ at once, on hearing of you, to let her know you were in
safety,' said the major. 'And what do you intend the noo?'
'Can I win home?' anxiously asked Arthur. 'You know I never was
attainted!'
'And what would ye do if you were at home?'
'I should see my mother.'
'Small doubt of the welcome she would have for you, my poor laddie,'
said the major; 'but what next?' And as Arthur hesitated, 'I misdoubt
greatly whether Burnside would give you a helping hand if you came
fresh from colloguing with French Jacobites, though my father and all
the rest of us at the Lynn aye told him that he might thank himself and
his dour old dominie for your prank--you were but a schoolboy then--you
are a man now; and though your poor mother would be blithe to set eyes
on you, she would be sairly perplexed what gate you had best turn
thereafter. Now, see here! There's talk of our being sent to dislodge
the Spaniards from Sicily. You are a likely lad, and the colonel would
take my word for you if you came back with me to Port Mahon as a
volunteer; and once under King George's colours, there would be
pressure enough from all of us Hopes upon Burnside to gar him get you a
commission, unless you win one for yourself. Then you could gang hame
when the time was served, a credit and an honour to all!'
'I had rather win my own way than be beholden to Burnside,' said
Arthur, his face lighting at the proposal.
'Hout, man! That will be as the chances of war may turn out. As to
your kit, we'll see to that! Never fear. Your mother will make it
up.'
'Thanks, Archie, with all my heart, but I am not so destitute,' and he
mentioned Yusuf's legacy, which the major held that he was perfectly
justified in appropriating; and in answer to his next question, assured
him that he would be able to retain Fareek as his servant.
This was enough for Arthur, who knew that the relief to his mother's
mind of his safety and acceptance as a subject would outweigh any
disappointment at not seeing his face, when he would only be an
unforgiven exile, liable to be informed against by any malicious
neighbour.
He borrowed materials, and had written a long letter to her before the
Calypso put in at Algiers. The little swift tartane had forestalled
her; and every one was on the watch, when Estelle, who had been treated
like a little princess on board, was brought in the long-boat with all
her party to the quay. Though it was at daybreak, not only the
European inhabitants, but Turks, Arabs, Moors, and Jews thronged the
wharf in welcome; and there were jubilant cries as all the five
captives could be seen seated in the boat in the light of the rising
sun.
M. Dessault, with Ulysse in his hand, stood foremost on the quay, and
the two children were instantly in each other's embrace. Their uncle
had to be helped out. He was more bewildered than gratified by the
welcome. He required to be assured that the multitudes assembled meant
him no harm, and would not move without Lanty; and though he bowed low
in return to M. Dessault's greeting, it was like an automaton, and with
no recognition.
Estelle, between her brother and her friend, and followed by all the
rest, was conducted by the French Consul to the chapel, arranged in one
of the Moorish rooms. There stood beside the altar his two chaplains,
and at once mass was commenced, while all threw themselves on their
knees in thankfulness; and at the well-known sound a ray of
intelligence and joy began to brighten even poor Phelim's features.
Arthur, in overflowing joy, could not but kneel with the others; and
when the service concluded with the Te Deum's lofty praise, his tears
dropped for joy and gratitude that the captivity was over, the children
safe, and himself no longer an outcast and exile.
He had, however, to take leave of the children sooner than he wished,
for the Calypso had to sail the next day.
Ulysse wept bitterly, clung to him, and persisted that he WAS their
secretary, and must go with them. Estelle, too, had tears in her eyes;
but she said, half in earnest, 'You know, Mentor vanished when
Telemaque came home! Some day, Monsieur, you will come to see us at
Paris, and we shall know how to show our gratitude!'
Both Lanty and Maitre Hebert promised to write to M. Arture; and in due
time he received not only their letters but fervent acknowledgments
from the Comte de Bourke, who knew that to him was owing the life and
liberty of the children.
From Lanty Arthur further heard that the poor Abbe had languished and
died soon after reaching home. His faithful foster-brother was deeply
distressed, though the family had rewarded the fidelity of the servants
by promoting Hebert to be intendant of the Provencal estates, while
Lanty was wedded to Victorine, with a dot that enabled them to start a
flourishing perruquier's shop, and make a home for his mother when
little Jacques outgrew her care.
Estelle was in due time married to a French nobleman, and in after
years 'General Sir Arthur Hope' took his son and daughter to pay her a
long visit in her Provencal chateau, and to converse on the strange
adventures that seemed like a dream. He found her a noble lady, well
fulfilling the promise of her heroic girlhood, and still lamenting the
impossibility of sending any mission to open the eyes of the half-
converted Selim.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 | 13