CHAPTER IV
THE CALIPH HARUN
Here there is an absolute blank in my story. One of those walls ofoblivion of which I have spoken seems to be built across its path. It isas though a stream had plunged suddenly from some bright valley into thebosom of a mountain side and there vanished from the ken of man. Whathappened in the tomb after Heliodore had ended her tale; whether wedeparted thence together or left her there a while; how we escapedfrom Kurna, and by what good fortune or artifice we came safely toAlexandria, I know not. As to all these matters my vision fails meutterly. So far as I am concerned, they are buried beneath the dustof time. I know as little of them as I know of where and how I sleptbetween my life as Olaf and this present life of mine; that is, nothingat all. Yet in this way or in that the stream did win through themountain, since beyond all grows clear again.
Once more I stood upon the deck of the _Diana_ in the harbour ofAlexandria. With me were Martina and Heliodore. Heliodore's face wasstained and she was dressed as a boy, such a harlequin lad as singersand mountebanks often take in their company. The ship was ready to startand the wind served. Yet we could not sail because of the lack of somepermission. A Moslem galley patrolled the harbour and threatened to sinkus if we dared to weigh without this paper. The mate had gone ashorewith a bribe. We waited and waited. At length the captain, Menas, whostood by me, whispered into my ear,
"Be calm; he comes; all is well."
Then I heard the mate shout: "I have the writing under seal," and Menasgave the order to cast off the ropes that held the ship to the quay.One of the sailors came up and reported to Menas that their companion,Cosmas, was missing. It seemed that he had slipped ashore without leaveand had not returned.
"There let him bide," said Menas, with an oath. "Doubtless the hog liesdrunk in some den. When he awakes he may tell what tale he pleases andfind his own way back to Lesbos. Cast off, cast off! I say."
At this moment that same Cosmas appeared. I could not see him, but Icould hear him plainly enough. Evidently he had become involved in somebrawl, for an angry woman and others were demanding money of him and hewas shouting back drunken threats. A man struck him and the woman gothim by the beard. Then his reason left him altogether.
"Am I, a Christian, to be treated thus by you heathen dogs?" hescreamed. "Oh, you think I am dirt beneath your feet. I have friends,I tell you I have friends. You know not whom I serve. I say that I ama soldier of Olaf the Northman, Olaf the Blind, Olaf Red-Sword, he whomade you prophet-worshippers sing so small at Mitylene, as he will doagain ere long."
"Indeed, friend," said a quiet voice. It was that of the Moslem captain,Yusuf, he who befriended us when we arrived at Alexandria, who had beenwatching all this scene. "Then you serve a great general, as some ofus have cause to know. Tell me, where is he now, for I hear that he hasleft Lesbos?"
"Where is he? Why, aboard yonder ship, of course. Oh! he has fooled youfinely. Another time you'll search beggar's rags more closely."
"Cast off! Cast off!" roared Menas.
"Nay," said the officer, "cast not off. Soldiers, drive away thosemen. I must have words with the captain of this ship. Come, bring thatdrunken fellow with you."
"Now all is finished," I said.
"Yes," answered Heliodore, "all is finished. After we have endured somuch it is hard. Well, at least death remains to us."
"Hold your hand," exclaimed Martina. "God still lives and can save usyet."
Black bitterness took hold of me. In some few days I had hoped to reachLesbos, and there be wed to Heliodore. And now! And now!
"Cut the ropes, Menas," I cried, "and out with the oars. We'll risk thegalley. You, Martina, set me at the mouth of the gangway and tell mewhen to strike. Though I be blind I may yet hold them back till we clearthe quay."
She obeyed, and I drew the red sword from beneath my rags. Then, amidstthe confusion which followed, I heard the grave voice of Yusuf speakingto me.
"Sir," he said, "for your own sake I pray you put up that sword, whichwe think is one whereof tales have been told. To fight is useless, forI have bowmen who can shoot you down and spears that can outreach you.General Olaf, a brave man should know when to surrender, especially ifhe be blind."
"Aye, sir," I answered, "and a brave man should know when to die."
"Why should you die, General?" went on the voice. "I do not know thatfor a Christian to visit Egypt disguised as a beggar will be held acrime worthy of death, unless indeed you came hither to spy out theland."
"Can the blind spy?" asked Martina indignantly.
"Who can say, Lady? But certainly it seems that _your_ eyes are brightand quick enough. Also there is another matter. A while ago, when thisship came to Alexandria, I signed a paper giving leave to a certaineyeless musician and his niece to ply their trade in Egypt. Then therewere two of you; now I behold a third. Who is that comely lad with astained face that stands beside you?"
Heliodore began some story, saying that she was the orphan son of Iforget whom, and while she told it certain of the Moslems slipped pastme.
"Truly you should do well in the singing trade," interrupted the officerwith a laugh, "seeing that for a boy your voice is wondrous sweet. Areyou quite sure that you remember your sex aright? Well, it can easily beproved. Bare that lad's bosom, soldiers. Nay, 'tis needless; snatch offthat head-dress."
A man obeyed, and Heliodore's beautiful black hair, which I would notsuffer her to cut, fell tumbling to her knees.
"Let me be," she said. "I admit that I am a woman."
"That is generous of you, Lady," the officer answered in the midstof the laughter which followed. "Now will you add to your goodness bytelling me your name? You refuse? Then shall I help you? In the lateCoptic war it was my happy fortune twice to see a certain noble maiden,the daughter of Magas the Prince, whom the Emir Musa afterwards took forhimself, but who fled from him. Tell me, Lady, have you a twin sister?"
"Cease your mockings, sir," said Heliodore despairingly. "I am she youseek."
"'Tis Musa seeks you, not I, Lady."
"Then, sir, he seeks in vain, for know that ere he finds I die. Oh! sir,I know you have a noble heart; be pitiful and let us go. I'll tell youall the truth. Olaf Red-Sword yonder and I have long been affianced.Blind though he is, he sought me through great dangers, aye, and foundme. Would you part us at the last? In the name of the God we bothworship, and of your mother, I pray you let us go."
"By the Prophet, that I would do, Lady, only then I fear me that Ishould let my head go from its shoulders also. There are too many inthis secret for it to bide there long if I did as you desire. Nay,you must to the Emir, all three of you--not Musa, but to his rival,Obaidallah, who loves him little, and by the decree of the Caliph onceagain rules Egypt. Be sure that in a matter between you and Musa youwill meet with justice from Obaidallah. Come now, fearing nothing, towhere we may find you all garments more befitting to your station thanthose mummer's robes."
So a guard was formed round us, and we went. As my feet touched the quayI heard a sound of angry voices, followed by groans and a splash in thewater.
"What is that?" I asked of Yusuf.
"I think, General, that your servants from the _Diana_ have settled someaccount that they had with the drunken dog who was so good as to barkout your name to me. But, with your leave, I will not look to makesure."
"God pardon him! As yet I cannot," I muttered, and marched on.