CHAPTER XIII.
ALGIERS AND ANDY.
It was several hours later before they went ashore, the special partythat the girls were in being led by Mr. Lawrence, and consisting of thefour young people. Mrs. Vanderhoff had been quite upset by the storm,and was not equal to any exertion yet, which was, indeed, the conditionof several of the passengers.
Even Mr. Lawrence looked pale, and laughingly owned to "being a littleshaky in his gait." But he thought himself equal to a jaunt in thecity, especially such an odd, quaint one as Algiers.
Captain Hosmer took them ashore in his own gig, but left them on thequay, for he was full of business. He said they might take their time,as he did not expect to get up steam again much before night, andslipped a coin into each of the girl's hands, telling them to use it"for fun." Then, explaining that by the time they were ready to boardher again the steamer would doubtless be in her slip, and thus easilyreached, he lifted his cap and was off.
"How strange it all is!" cried Bess, with a slow delighted survey."This street we are in might be a part of New York, or of London, sofar as buildings go, but the old Egyptian fashions and people, the openbooths, and the queer old street venders are all mixed through it,somehow, until it seems as unreal as a dream.
"Yes," laughed Hope; "it makes me think of a girl dressed in a Parisgown, but wearing a mishmak, like our ayahs on the ship."
"It's the new grafted upon the old," observed Mr. Lawrence, "and we arenow coming to what is all old."
He led the way into a narrow lane-like street, which seemed mostly asuccession of rude steps, leading upwards.
Here they had to move one side and hug the wall, to make way for adonkey-train, with heavily laden panniers, which was being goaded alongby dark-skinned boys, who, as Dwight remarked, seemed to wear all theirclothes on their heads, where the heavy turban was coiled by the yard,while thence to the waist was scarcely any covering. Their black eyesgleamed good-naturedly, however, and when Mr. Lawrence flung a handfulof small coin among them they scrambled vivaciously, salaamed to himand to the girls, and showed every white tooth with pleasure at the"backsheesh."
"Dear me! It seems to be all climb here," remarked Faith wearily,after an hour or two of the rough native streets, which divide the oldtown and make it like a different place, as compared with the new.
"Yes, it's climbing, either way you take it," said Dwight. "You can'teven have the fun of sliding down-hill after getting up, for thesesteps are so rough you've got to pick your way every instant, or take atumble. Now, what is that? Did you ever see anything so queer? Why,_what_ is it?"
Even Mr. Lawrence was nonplussed for a moment, but presently broke intolaughter, in which he was quickly joined by the rest, for the queerfigure approaching turned out to be a vender of monkeys, and he hadcertainly chosen a most novel device for carrying his lively burden. Atall branch of considerable size had been freshly cut from an olivetree, and its leaves still hung, coldly-gray, and only half wilted,from the twigs.
Among this foliage were clustered a dozen or more of the littlecreatures, each fastened by one leg to prevent escape. This tree-likebranch was carried straight upward, like a flag-staff, by a stalwartMohammedan who, with his burnous wrapped about him, in all the dignityof a Roman senator, stalked steadily ahead, once in a while breakinginto an odd cry that told his wares, but, as Mr. Lawrence suggested,sounded more like the slogan of a Scottish chieftain going into battle.Altogether, he was an odd and striking spectacle.
They stopped the man to parley with him, and in a mixture of French andArabic he managed to inform Mr. Lawrence that his monkeys were welltrained and tamed, and that they came from the Vallee des Singes,[1]not far away.
"Oh!" breathed Faith in an aside to her sister, as the men wereconferring, "aren't they the cunningest things? And so little! Hope,I've a great mind to buy one in place of poor Hafiz. Don't you thinkit would be fun?"
"Y-yes, of course. But aren't they dreadfully mischievous?"
"All the more fun, then! I certainly am going to buy one. Father saidthe money he gave us was to be spent for fun, and there's nothingfunnier than a monkey."
Faith looked and felt like a naughty child. It was seldom she assertedherself against the known inclinations of others, and when she did shecould be really obstinate. Hope's objections only increased her desireto purchase.
"Mr. Lawrence," she cried eagerly, "do ask him the price of this weething on the lowest branch--the one that has such a forsaken look. Myheart aches for him!"
"But I thought you wanted a funny one, Faith," put in her sister."Now, this looks much jollier; see how he jumps about and grimaces."
But Faith's tender heart was touched by the mournful look of thesmaller creature, and she felt, somehow, that she could better justifyher purchase if compassion helped to sway her, for, though no onereally opposed her, she felt denial in the air, and was quite certainshe might meet it from her father upon her return to the ship with thisnew pet. So she went on rapidly, "Yes, I want this one. With goodcare and petting he will grow happier, I'm sure. Then he really looksas if he had a conscience."
Mr. Lawrence laughed.
"Be not deceived by that long visage, Miss Hosmer. I have a forebodingthat he will prove a terror. Time will tell."
Dwight was of course wild to invest, also, but his uncle said,
"No, my boy! One monkey is a good many. Wait and see how this willturn out. There's no end to the opportunities for monkey deals in thispart of the world. They are a drug on the market."
Meanwhile, the stately vender set his tree against a wall and begangravely untying the wizened little specimen from his branch, thenhanded him into the eagerly outstretched hands of Faith with a superbsmile, as if he were some great potentate conferring a priceless boonupon a beloved subject. Not that he was anything but the poorestfellah,[2] with scarce a sou to his credit, but this is Orientalmannerism, and most impressive mannerism it is, too.
He then raised his finger and addressed a regular harangue to thecreature, who, with tail curled about Faith's wrist, sat gravely uponhis two palms and listened. The tiny beast was so moveless, soattentive, and so solemn, its master so earnest and impressive that alllooked on wonderingly until, having finished his remarks, the Arab gavea last shake of his dingy finger monkeywards, salaamed low to theparty, then shouldering his burden stalked on once more, the littlecaptive looking after him for a minute, and then wrinkling up his mummyvisage to give a weak, babyish cry.
"Oh, dear! He's going to be homesick," groaned Faith, almost repentingof her bargain. "See him cry after the man! What shall I do with him?"
"Let me take him," urged Dwight. "I'll button him up in my jacket andhe'll forget and go to sleep, and then, when he wakes, he'll be allright."
"Do you think so? Well, here he is--but tie the string tight tosomething, so that you won't lose him, please."
"Of course--to my buttonhole, here. There Mr. Monkey, you can'tcomplain of that for a nest--see here! Don't scratch so, you littlevarmint! You'll tear my shirt front to smithereens."
For a time there certainly was danger of such a catastrophe, but bysoothing and petting the tiny thing was at length appeased, and settleddown to slumber, while Dwight, in great content over his odd burden,trudged along with the rest, wishing more than ever that the littletreasure were his very own.
They had a delightful stroll of three hours up and down the queerscrambling streets of the old town, stopping now and then to buy fruit,or curios, of the merchants in the open booths, sitting cross-leggedand solemn over their long pipes, and seeming so utterly indifferent topurchasers, until they were in danger of losing them, when they woke toeager gesticulation and gabble.
Occasionally, they peered into the doors of the native schools, wherethe scholars squatted on shelves about the dim room, and were graduatedas to size, the largest sitting nearest the ceiling.
"For all the world," whispered Hope, "like a cupboard full of chinapitchers!"
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nbsp; Next to this, perhaps, would be a group that only needed framing tomake a picture, where two grave men, each wrapped in his burnous, satTurk-fashion, playing checkers before a low doorway, while back in theshadow an indistinct figure, in flowing white drapery, touched thestrings of some instrument which sent out a sound of thin tinkling,that could scarcely be called music because so tuneless and monotonous.
In places the streets were so very narrow, dark, and filthy, and thefew figures slid away into the windowless house walls in so ghostlike afashion, that the girls hesitated a little before following their guide.
"I feel a good deal as if I were going through a graveyard," whisperedBess once, "only it's one where the inmates sometimes walk!"
"Yes," said Mr. Lawrence, and told her how a French author who haswritten well and largely of this odd corner of the earth, called thesesteep dark streets, "mysterious staircases leading to silence," whichgreatly impressed them all as entirely descriptive of their weirdness.
Hunger at length drove them back to the fine new town, with its broad,well-paved streets, gas and electric lights, gay awnings, and beautifulparks and squares where grew a very luxury of blossoms. They were allquite ready for rest and dinner, and felt they had found both in thegreat dining-room of an elegant hotel, where the only foreign thingswere the punkahs and the turbaned waiters, for the tables, glitteringin silver and crystal, the richly frescoed walls, the surroundinggalleries lined with blooming plants, the military band playing there,and the many uniformed officers among the guests at table, suggestedonly French dominion and Parisian luxury and fashion. Indeed, as Mr.Lawrence explained, Algeria is a French colony, and its fortified wallsare manned and guarded by French soldiers, only.
The dinner was exquisitely cooked and served, and all were enjoying itas only youth and good digestion, stimulated by exercise, can, whensomething happened--Mr. Monkey awoke. Dwight felt his wriggles, buthoped he would calm down again after a little, as he had before. Therest of the party, absorbed in their dinner, had nearly forgotten thestranger, and Bess, when she saw an uneasy movement or two on herbrother's part, thought he had taken too large and hot a mouthful ofthe red curry, and gave him a protesting glance for his greediness.
The next instant there was a worse convulsion, and just under hisnecktie suddenly appeared a tiny apish head. Before any one could domore than gasp the whole monkey was out of prison, and, with a leap toDwight's shoulder, began taking observations; then seeing the food onhis plate made a dive for it.
Both Dwight and Mr. Lawrence interfered to stop him, but the creaturewas brought up short by his bit of rope, fastened to the lad'sbuttonhole, and began crying loudly as he hung suspended by one leg foran instant.
With a scarlet face Dwight jerked him upright, and tried to slip himinto a pocket; but by this time Mr. Monkey's ire was up, and he scornedto be thus concealed. People all about were looking and laughing,while the head-waiter was bearing down upon them with a threateningeye. Faith, conscience-stricken, and too well aware that she ought tobear the brunt other new pet's misbehavior, rather than Dwight, lookedon miserably, as red as he, while Hope giggled wildly, and Bess lookedutterly disgusted.
Dwight made another clutch at the creature, which evaded him and, witha rapid movement, wound the rope around his neck so tightly that hechoked, and began to turn black in the face. Mr. Lawrence, who, thoughmortified by the sensation they were creating, could not restrain hislaughter, now sprang to his nephew's aid, and was about to cut thestrangling cord when another flashing movement unwound it, and left thelad's windpipe intact.
Thoroughly angry now, Dwight caught the apish thing, and, boxing itsears till it howled, stuffed it into his pocket and hurried from theroom, his dinner forgotten in his chagrin.
"Oh, oh!" moaned Faith, cowering disconsolately over her plate, "whatcan I do, Mr. Lawrence? Poor Dwight! It's all my fault. And he was_so_ hungry. Can't we give it to somebody, or--or wring its neck, ifit must be? It's too bad!"
"Well, it is a somewhat upsetting episode," he agreed, still shakinginwardly, "but it may serve one good purpose. Dwight will cease histeasing to own one of the pesky things, I imagine. And don't worryover his dinner, Miss Faith. He's eaten enough already to keep himfrom starvation, I'm sure, and I'll see that he returns to finish afterthe guests have thinned somewhat. Poor boy! He's had monkey enoughfor to-day, I'll warrant."
They soon left the table, for Faith could not eat another mouthful, andall felt anxious to know how the battle had ended. They at lengthfound Dwight sitting dejectedly in one of the veranda chairs, his hairtumbled, coat torn, and necktie awry, and his face as long as his arm.The monkey, quite as solemn, was tied to a post, and sat pensivelyholding its chops in its skinny palms and eyeing its new master withgreat disfavor.
"So you've conquered?" laughed Mr. Lawrence, while Faith began humblyto beg pardon, but was quickly interrupted.
"What for?" asked Dwight brusquely. "You couldn't help it because he'sa fool, could you?"
"No, no, Dwight--not that! Only a monkey," cried Hope, delighting inthe scene. "You and Faith both wanted a funny one, you know, andyou've got it, so what's the use of fretting? I'll tell you--let'sgive him to the next beggar that follows us, shall we, Faith?
"No," said the girl with sudden resolution, "I'll take care of him,myself."
She stepped close to the troubled mite and untying the rope, gentlylifted it to her arms, softly stroking it and speaking in a low, cooingvoice. Both touch and glance proved magnetic, and soon it had curleddown in the shelter of her arms and gave no more trouble.
After Dwight had finished his interrupted repast Mr. Lawrence saidthere was one more place, not far distant, that he wanted themparticularly to visit, and all somewhat reluctantly followed him into achurch that, though handsome, looked too thoroughly English to seeminteresting amid old-world quaintness. But they were to findthemselves mistaken. It proved to be, indeed, an English chapel, butit was still more--a memorial to all English-speaking people who oncesuffered martyrdom in this city, when it boasted its thousands ofChristian slaves brought from doomed vessels by the dreaded Corsairs;also of those who have died more happily, as free men, in later years.
As they strolled quietly about the interesting building, beneath thestained-glass windows, reading these various records, which areinscribed on precious marbles in high colors, that make a dado aroundthe walls, Hope gave a little cry and eagerly beckoned Dwight, who hadfallen behind. He came at once, and both read with intensesatisfaction a glowing tribute to a certain American consul from ourown United States, who once "rendered eminent services to the Britishnation"--so read the inscription--by friendly help to the BritishConsul, who was held in chains by the Dey, and his family expelled tolonely and terrified isolation far in the interior. A grateful nationhad erected the tablet.
"Good!" whispered Dwight, then as if to relieve their excited feelings,the two gravely shook hands.
"What means this ceremony?" asked Mr. Lawrence with amusement, as helooked on surprisedly, and Dwight, pointing to the mural tablet,answered with dignity,
"We were just showing our pride in our two countries, uncle," and inspite of the disarray caused by his little unpleasantness with themonkey, Dwight at that moment looked so noble that his uncle could nothelp a quick, "Bless you, my boy!" as he laid a hand lovingly upon thelad's shoulder.
When on board the "International" once more, our friends separated forneeded rest, and the sisters entered the library, to find their fatherbusy over a wilderness of papers spread out upon the large table in thecenter. But he took leisure to give them a hearty greeting, and criedmerrily,
"You never can guess what I found for you in Algiers!"
"Nor you what I found in Algiers," returned Faith quickly, keeping afirm hold on the little captive, who was now hidden beneath her lacescarf.
"You found? Have you been buying me a present, girlie?" laughed herfather with eager interest.
"Why, n--no, not exactly," stammered Faith, som
ewhat taken aback, andgrowing decidedly warm in her efforts to keep the beast quiet. "OnlyI--"
"What's the matter with your hands? Can't you keep 'em still underthat gauze thing?" asked her father suspiciously, while Hope, expectantand amused, looked on with dancing eyes.
"Yes only--oh! Hope, I can't hold him, he scratches so--a-auch!" andin spite of herself she dropped the spunky mite which, like a streak oflightning, dashed across the room and up Captain Hosmer's leg, into hiscoat pocket. The yard of twine, still attached to him, hung outside,and the astonished man, seeing only the streak and the string, sprangup with a shout of dismay.
"A snake!" he cried. "A _snake_! What are you doing with a snake?"
Hope, in a paroxysm, fell back upon the window seat, Faith, betweenlaughter and dismay, tried to explain, and poor little Monsieur Siege,nearly scared out of his wits, darted from the inhospitable pocket upthe chair-back, then leaped to the top of the window, where, feelingsecure, he hung himself up to the curtain-rod by his tail, andproceeded to scold, like a perfect virago.
The captain looked at him, glanced down at his pocket saw the "snake"had gone, but thumping it once or twice to make sure turned upon Faith,his face red and puckered, yet with a gleam of fun in his eye thatdetracted from the fierceness of his mien.
"You little greenhorn! Have you been buying a nasty monkey?" hethundered.
"Oh, papa! I'm sorry if you're not pleased. I thought, now poor Hafizis dead--and Hope has Texas--oh see, see! Ha, ha! I _must_ laugh.Isn't that the cutest thing you ever saw?"
For the shriveled witch, taking in the whole scene, had drawn himselfup as nearly like the captain as possible and with one wee fist doubledup, was thumping his own little hams, an exact imitation of the man'sgesture. In spite of himself, Captain Hosmer burst into laughter, Hopefairly rolled, and Faith, relieved and delighted, let the merry pealsring out, till Tegeloo, busy with some duty just outside, shook hislittle fat sides, and showed all his ivories in sympathy.
Faith and her pet had won the day, and when her father broke out,
"Where did you get such a Handy-Andy?" she cried quickly,
"There, you've named him, father, you've named him! I have beenwondering what to call him, and that's just the thing. Handy-Andy heshall be."
And Handy-Andy he was, but this soon became shortened to Andy alone,and by that name we will speak of his monkeyship in future.
[1] Vale of Monkeys.
[2] Egyptian peasant.
All Aboard: A Story for Girls Page 13
