Under the Rebel's Reign Part 26

"Surely," broke in George, "you are not fighting on his side?"

"No, but you do not understand. I am in his hands, and for the sake of the result of my life's work, I cannot defy him. I take no active part with him in this war, but I have no other alternative than to supply him with money on purely business securities, the same as I would to anybody else. I am, as you well know, against him in all my feelings. If I refused to do as he requires, I should forfeit everything; so you see I am compelled. Being with him, I save my property, and can prevent much mischief by using my influence over him."

"I see," exclaimed George, heartily, "you are right. It would be folly to do otherwise. Well, returning to the awkward predicament I have placed you in, what is best to be done?"

"I heard during the night that trouble had befallen you. In fact, this note in your writing was brought to me by Belbeis, one of my men, just as I returned here from Cairo," he went on, producing a bundle of papers. "I had intended to intercede for you this morning, but now the situation is more complicated. However," with a smile of meaning, "I think you can safely leave it to me. For the time being you are free from the man Abdu, and are, at present, out of reach of your enemy Arden, so you can take some rest here. Food shall be brought you at once, and I will go and see what can be done."

George thanked his friend and threw himself on a divan, while his host started on his errand of mercy.

Good luck, as Naoum had said, was undoubtedly with him, and, as he lay back, with his weary, tired eyes closed from the bright light of the rising sun, he felt that Providence had been indeed good. He shuddered again and again as he went over, in thought, the exciting events of the night, and wondered what awful fate would have been his if he had chanced to take refuge in front of any of the other houses in the square. Naoum he knew would help him to the full extent of his power, and that seemed to be considerable, judging from the manner in which he had quieted the mob outside. It was too good to hope that he would be able to get him released altogether, but, probably, he would manage to secure for him a fairly comfortable prison and save his life.

His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of a servant with food, and, as soon as the man had retired, he set to ravenously. The food was of the most luxurious description, and Helmar marvelled the more at the mysterious man who had provided it. Who was he in reality? Naoum he knew was his name, and he had hitherto only taken him for a successful trader; but apparently he was a man of great fortune and power, or how could he supply money to the extent he appeared to be doing?

After finishing his repast, George lay back on the comfortable cushions of the divan. He was tired and worn out, his whole body ached with his efforts of the night before, and the sleep that he so badly needed was not long before it overtook him. How long he lay unconscious of his surroundings he did not know; when he awoke it was night, and the rays of a small lamp lit the chamber he was in.

For a moment or two he looked about him and tried to recall what had happened. At first it seemed like some horrid nightmare, but when he stood up and stretched himself he knew that it was all reality. He was greatly refreshed with his sleep, and now awaited eagerly the return of Naoum.

Before his host re-appeared food was again brought to him, and this, with the aid of soap and water, made him ready to face the world again. A few minutes later Naoum came in.

"I have been more fortunate than I had antic.i.p.ated. Arabi, who fortunately chanced to return here from Cairo this afternoon whilst you slept, has promised me at least to spare your life; but, on the other hand, he will not hear of your being released. This, however, is quite a secondary affair and a matter which we can ourselves attend to later on," and he chuckled softly. "In the meantime," he went on, "I expect you will be taken to Cairo. This he gave me to understand without actually saying so."

"Well, beggars mustn't be choosers," said George, resignedly, "and glad enough am I that I am to escape with my life."

"You may well say that," answered Naoum. "From what I can gather, this man Arden, who appears to hate you so cordially, is very powerful and enjoys Arabi's complete confidence. In fact I was shown a dispatch from that worthy recommending you to be _interrogated_; I dare say you know what that means. I had great difficulty to dissuade him from acting on the man's advice. Even now, notwithstanding I have his promise, your position is anything but safe, and we shall have to keep a watchful eye on them all."

"What! do you think Arabi can be persuaded to go back on his promise?" asked George.

Naoum smiled deprecatingly.

"Go back, you call it. You mean break his word, I suppose. Well, I would not like to say, but if I am not about at the time there may be trouble."

"Then the understanding is that I go to Cairo--when?"

"When he sends word. In the meantime you will see him. He intends to--how you call it--interview you; I shall dispatch some of my men to Cairo, and also write to Mariam Abagi my mother, that she may know what to do when you arrive there. So now you can rest comfortable and wait for what the future has in store for you. I shall look after you."

George thanked him for his words, and then Naoum went on----

"I must go now, for I have much work and many things to do before morning. If there is anything you want, touch this gong, and my servants will wait on you--and now, good-night."

Naoum went away and Helmar was again left to speculate and wonder.

CHAPTER XX

ARABI PASHA

The next morning Naoum brought word that George was to start immediately for Cairo.

"Arabi intends mobilizing all his forces to the eastward, probably at Tel-el-Kebir or Ka.s.sa.s.sin. My men have brought me word that the British advance will be from the Suez Ca.n.a.l, which they have seized, towards Cairo. The rebels, indeed, have already been driven out of their position near the ca.n.a.l. This place is of no particular importance, and to all intents and purposes will be evacuated at once, so that you, in consequence, will have to be moved."

"And is all this to take place immediately?" asked George.

"Yes, immediately. The British have been landing a large army at Port Said, and if I am any judge, the days of the rebellion are numbered. If Arabi would only be advised by me, he would abandon his mad scheme."

"You are right," replied Helmar; "he little knows the people he is fighting or he would soon give it up. But how do you think this will affect me?"

Naoum paused for a moment before answering the question, and when he spoke, it was as if weighing each word before he uttered it.

"That is hard to say as yet. Toulba Pasha is in temporary command at Cairo, and he is a hard man. I understand your friend," with emphasis on the word, "Arden is to be sent down there to relieve him."

George made a grimace as Naoum uttered these words. He saw, in fancy, a busy time ahead of him. With this man Abdu, a renowned villain, to watch him at the instigation of his most bitter enemy there didn't seem to him to be much hope left.

Naoum stepped up to his side and seated himself on the divan.

Leaning over, he said in impressive tones----

"My plans are complete. By the time you reach Cairo, Mariam, my mother, will know of your coming and be ready for any emergency.

Before you leave here I will give you a sign by which you may know your friends. But more of this when the word comes for you to start, and, in the meantime, Arabi intends coming here to see you himself."

George started up.

"What! Coming to see me? Why?"

"Ah, that is the point I cannot myself understand. As I said, I do not trust him. But he dare not play me false," he added, thoughtfully. "It is bad, though, for there must be something in his mind. This man Arden is very powerful."

For some moments the two remained silent. Each was wrapped in his own thoughts. Naoum was endeavouring to solve the mystery of Arabi's intended visit to his prisoner. It seemed to him so unnecessary.

Helmar was not a man of great importance, in fact, very much the contrary. Somehow he fancied that the man Arden must have sent another dispatch, privately, with reference to Helmar, making him appear to be in possession of information necessary for the rebel chief to acquire. If this were so, then it opened up a much wider field of danger. Altogether he did not like the trend of affairs at all. Helmar, on the other hand, saw no danger in this visit. It seemed to him that he would now have a chance of proving to Arabi that he--Helmar--was only a very small man on the British side, and that he was no spy at all, but merely a paid interpreter. Such being the case, there was no reason why he should be shot, for it was against the ethics of warfare. Consequently he was delighted at the prospect, and told Naoum so.

"It seems to me the best thing that could happen, Naoum. Why, I shall be able to explain away all that the wretch Arden has told him, and, very likely, bring Arabi's wrath down on his own head.

It's splendid!"

Naoum watched the animated, hopeful face, smiling indulgently. The young man pleased him greatly; his st.u.r.dy hopefulness, his bright way of facing troubles, his general optimism, all combined to make the older man admire him. But, with better practical experience of the East, he did not share Helmar's view of the matter; he looked upon the Pasha's visit as of evil omen, to be treated with suspicion--to be watched with a lynx eye, and combatted with all the subtle means so dear to the Eastern heart. He vowed that if aught of evil befell his friend and _protege_, some one should pay dearly for it.

Instead of replying to George's words Naoum turned the subject.

"I have found out," he said, "that the priest you befriended has been released, and that he has already disappeared."

"Then he was not in the prison from which I escaped?"

"No, he was never placed in it. There is a superst.i.tion regarding that man, and even the worst fanatics would not harm him, so he was set free, and the man Abdu has been reprimanded for interfering with him."

"And a good thing too, it will perhaps be a lesson to him and----"

"Make him hate you the more."

"Why hate me the more? He ought to thank me that I have saved him from murdering the poor old man."

"Ah, you don't understand the Eastern mind. That would be a strong reason for Abdu's hatred of you, you baulked him in his villainies--it is enough."