The Pirate City, Robert Michael Ballantyne [classic novels .TXT] 📗

must have _something_ to show, and _he_ shall smart for it."

He followed up this remark with a series of amateur shrieks and howls so terrible that the hardened chaouses, being accustomed only to the genuine display of suffering, were overcome, and entreated him to desist.

The excitement of the exercise, the conflict of varied feelings, the smarting of his soles, the indignation of his soul, and the absurdity of the deception, had such an effect on Hadji Baba's spirit, that he experienced no difficulty whatever in limping like a confirmed cripple, and trembling like an aspen leaf when led into the presence of the tyrant.

"Ha!" exclaimed the Dey, "I think I have cured thee. Thou wilt talk no more nonsense, I warrant."

"Not a word, your highness, not a syllable," exclaimed the jester, falling on his knees, as the executioners retired. "Even though your highness were to hold the reins of power with a hand of gentleness and benignity, which I doubt not you will, I would not repeat such nonsense for the world."

"Gentleness and benignity," laughed the Dey, catching at the words, and paying little regard to what followed; "truly that were a novel feature in my character, as thou knowest well.--Now, listen, rascal: as thy feet are in good walking trim, I have an errand for thee. Go, tell Sidi Hassan that I want him, and see thou find him quickly, else another beating awaits thee."

"Your highness shall be obeyed," said the jester, with a profound obeisance, as he turned and limped out of the room.

Sidi Hassan had left the service of the British consul, without leave, just before the insurrection, and was seated in his own town mansion, sipping a cup of coffee, and conversing with Rais Ali, when the message reached him.

"Thou art but a cowardly fellow, a weak villain after all," said Hassan to some remark of the interpreter. "The man who plays fast and loose is sure to be brought low sooner or later. Why not leave the British consul's service now that a chance offers? It will be to thy advantage, for I can speak a good word for thee with the new Dey."

"Because," said Rais Ali anxiously, "although I have not a sensitive conscience, I cannot prevail on myself to betray my old master."

"Very good," said Hassan; "continue to vacillate until thy head is shaken off. Adieu. I must not keep his highness waiting."

So saying, he hastened to the palace, congratulating himself on the expected fulfilment of the promises which the late Aga Hamet had so lavishly made to him.

Like many other sycophants, Sidi Hassan had mistaken his man. The new Dey was well aware that Hassan was a turbulent, ambitious character, and thought that it would be best for his own interests to appoint him governor of a distant province of his dominions. Like many other coarse, though energetic, characters, Hamet also mistook his man. He did not know that Hassan would be content with nothing short of the position of second in command. When, therefore, he handed him, with many compliments, the paper containing his commission to the governorship of the province alluded to, he was greatly surprised to behold his former friend fly into a violent passion, tear the paper to pieces, and fling it on the ground, as he turned on his heel and left the room abruptly.

So suddenly and vigorously was the act done that Hamet's wonted coolness failed him for a moment, and Hassan had passed out into the street before he gave orders, in a voice of thunder, to have him arrested and brought back.

There is no doubt that in his present temper the Dey would have had his late colleague strangled on the spot, but, fortunately for himself, Sidi Hassan, instead of returning to his own house, went straight to the Marina, without having any definite object in view, save that he thirsted for vengeance, and meant to have it if possible.

On his way down he met the sapient interpreter, Blindi Bobi.

"Well, Bobi," he said, making an effort to look calm, "any probability of a rising among the slaves?"

"Not much," replied Bobi, in Turkish, shaking his head; "slaves don't like to have their heads cut off and their skin torn away in bits."

"True!" returned Hassan, smiling grimly. "Do you know where Sidi Omar is?"

"There," said Blindi Bobi in reply, pointing to the individual in question, and sidling rapidly away.

"Something ails you, methinks," said Omar, with a keen glance, as Hassan approached.

"Ay, the new Dey ails me," returned Hassan, with a feeling of desperation, for he felt that he was committing himself in thus speaking to one whom he knew to be his enemy--but anger often leads men into unwise speech.

"Has he deceived you?" asked Omar, with a quiet smile.

"Truly, yes. Had I known him better he should not have had mine aid. My party followed _me_, not _him_. I could have led them otherwise, and still can."

"It may not be too late," said Omar pointedly, as he began to suspect that Hassan's thirst for revenge would carry him to any length.--"Are these sbirros in search of _you_?" he added on observing several of the officers of justice issue from the town gate.

Hassan turned pale.

"Your regrets come too late," said Omar significantly.

"My hand and party," said Hassan quickly, "are with you, Sidi Omar, if-- if--"

"Step in here," said the Minister of Marine, pushing open a small side-door which led into his house.

Hassan obeyed, the door was shut, and he felt that he was now completely in the hands of one whom he had hitherto regarded with suspicion and dislike.

Of course the Minister of Marine understood this as well as himself, but he was too wily to let him read his thoughts by his looks or words.

"Hassan," he said, leading him into a small chamber in the seaward ramparts, which was lighted by a very small and strongly-barred window, "you are safe from immediate danger. We may here talk over our plans-- for plans I at least have. The Dey fears me too much, as you know, to permit me to remain here as Minister of Marine. He is also so savage and hasty that I do not expect him to restrain his hand for more than a day or two. But I do not mean to give him a chance. My friends are already in possession of the casba--"

"Already!" exclaimed Hassan in surprise.

"Ay, and they hold other places besides. You and your party are of course doomed."

Hassan started to his feet.

"Nay--_were_ doomed," said Omar, with a smile; "but what you have said just now alters the case. Give me your aid, and that of your party, and you shall have from _me_ the post which Hamet has failed to give you. You know me to be a man of my word."

Whether Hassan was much comforted by the last remark is a point of uncertainty; but, feeling that he was now entirely in Omar's power, and knowing that although the soldiers whom he styled his "party" were not nearly numerous or influential enough to place him on the throne, he willingly fell in with Omar's views.

"When do you strike?" he asked.

"To-night," said Omar.

"So soon?"

"The sooner the better. Come, we have time to go together to the casba. There thou wilt assemble thy chief men, and in my presence give them instructions."

"You do not trust me," said Hassan reproachfully.

"I _have_ trusted you with my secret and my life," replied Omar, "it is but fitting that thou shouldst give me some sure guarantee of thy friendship--though I doubt it not."

"Be it so," said Hassan, as he rose, and, following the conspirator into the street, hurried up to the citadel.

When Hamet Dey issued the order to have Sidi Hassan arrested, as already related, Hadji Baba, having returned to his wonted place in the lobby of the palace, heard the order, and, being a bold man, ventured into the audience-chamber after the Dey had left it. There he found the pieces of the torn commission. Picking them hastily up, he retired to his own apartment, put them together, and very soon guessed the nature of the quarrel between his new master and Sidi Hassan. Rightly concluding, from the insolent violence of Hassan's exit and the extremity of the Dey's rage, that the breach was irreparable, and knowing that Hassan was a man of some weight with the army, he resolved to ascertain the views of that worthy, and, in the event of his designing mischief, to aid him.

With this end in view he hastened out to search for Hassan, but, like the officers of justice, failed for some time to find him. He met, however, with two of the searchers in the persons of the chaouses who had so recently administered the bastinado in a mild manner to himself.

"Well met, comrades," he said, with a nod; "we have no chance of finding Sidi Hassan, I fear, for when fools are abroad, wise men stop at home."

"Thou hadst better get thee home, then," retorted the executioner gruffly.

"Not badly thrust," said the jester, laughing; "but have patience with me, comrade. I am no fool to-day. For once in a way I mean to act the wiseacre. You see,"--here he became confidential--"what the household of the palace may expect from our new master."

"I see nothing," replied the man testily, "except that whatever master rules there is always plenty of work for me and my chum here to do; and let me tell you, Master Baba, that I am no revolutionist--I mind my own business."

"Very good, comrade," returned Baba lightly; "thou wilt play the fool to-day and change places with me. But bear in remembrance that a chaouse may have to be beaten as well as a jester, and that it would not be difficult to find others to take thy place. I might even be tempted to do so myself in case of necessity. It would be a rare jest to have a chaouse beaten by a jester, would it not?"

"If it ever comes to that, I hope you will prove grateful and lay on lightly," returned the man, with a grim smile.

"That will depend on thy behaviour. If thou art resolved to play the fool _now_, I must of necessity be in earnest _then_."

"What mean you?"

"This," said Baba, with sudden gravity, "that those who stand by a falling man must e'en fall along with him."

"But Hamet Dey is not falling. He has only just risen!" said the chaouse, with a perplexed look.

"He is not the first who has risen to fall," replied Hadji Baba gravely. "I would not stand in his slippers for all the treasure in the casba. Be wise, and take advice from a fool. Sidi Hassan did not quit the palace to-day to go and smoke his pipe. He is a man of power and a malcontent. There are other men of power who are also malcontents and more popular than Hamet. When this is so, it behoves the like of you and me to look carefully after our necks, to say nothing of our soles!"

As he said