The Pirate City: An Algerine Tale

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

  RELATES SOMETHING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS, SURPRISES, AND CHANGES IN THESTATE OF AFFAIRS.

  In consequence of the opportune interference of the British consul, andof the good-will which Lucien had inspired in the breast of the Dey, aray of light stole into the gloomy Bagnio, and tended to cheer at leasttwo of the slaves.

  This ray was conveyed by means of the Padre Giovanni, whom we haveelsewhere mentioned as being the friend and benefactor of the slaves.

  Previous to his visit a cloud had overshadowed the prison. Severalchaouses had entered, and, after loading Castello and the other runawayswith chains, had led them forth to death. It would be painful as wellas unnecessary to detail the terrible tortures under which thesewretched men perished. The remaining slaves knew well the nature of thefate that awaited them, and the blank caused by the disappearance forever of their well-known faces, was fitted to restrain all thoughts ofrebellion, had such existed. Some surprise was felt at first by all theslaves at the delay of punishment in the case of Francisco and Mariano,but after the first hour or two had passed, they ceased to give thematter a thought.

  When, therefore, the old man Giovanni entered the Bagnio and informedthese two that the Dey had reprieved them, and commanded theirattendance at the palace, their surprise was re-awakened, andspeculation as to the cause of such unusual proceedings was revived.

  "I am the bearer of still further tidings," said the old man, taking aletter from a sort of wallet that hung from his shoulder, and handing itto Francisco.

  "From Juliet!" exclaimed Francisco, tearing it open and reading aloudeagerly:--

  "`Dearest Father,--It is not possible to express to you the agony that we endured on hearing that you had been taken captive by the Algerines. Oh, why are such monsters allowed to live? ("Why, indeed!" interjected Francisco, bitterly.) But take comfort. God watches over us all. Some of your old friends here have begun to collect money for your ransom, and I work hard to increase the sum-- but oh! how slowly it grows! Even darling grandmamma has got some light sewing work which brings in a little. But our hearts mourn because of you. We earnestly hope that the pirates treat you well, ("Thank God they do not know anything about _that_," muttered Francisco), and we feel almost sure that they do, because we have been told that they are careful of the slaves who, they hope, will be ransomed. I have therefore written to the Dey--how I hated him while I wrote the humble letter!--telling him that we hoped to raise the sum in a short time. Every one here is very kind and sympathises with us, besides giving a contribution to the fund.

  "`This letter goes by a French vessel which is to touch at Algiers, and which conveys a priest who has a large sum of money with him to ransom Sicilian and other slaves. I entreated him to ransom you with part of it, but he smiled pitifully, and said the money had been raised by the friends of particular slaves, some of whom had been many years in captivity, and that it could not be diverted from its proper objects. How my heart sank when he spoke of some being in slavery for many years! But it was cheered again when I reflected how hard we are all working to raise the money for you and Lucien and Mariano. We send you all our dear love.--Your affectionate daughter.

  "Shall I have an opportunity of answering this?" asked Francisco,eagerly.

  "Yes; I am about to conduct you to the palace, where your son Lucien--who, I may mention, is a favourite--awaits you."

  "You mustn't let them know the truth, father," said Mariano earnestly.

  "Would you have him tell them what is false?" asked the Padre gravely.

  "No, no," replied the youth, with a laugh, "but there is no occasion tomention all that we have suffered, you know; and there is a good deal--Imean a little--that is agreeable to communicate. For instance, thisvery summons to the palace, and Lucien's good luck."

  "Trust me, lad," said Francisco; "I won't fail to cheer them if I can,and you may be sure I won't exaggerate our misfortunes.--But lead on,old man; I am anxious to get out of this foul den as quickly as--"

  "Forgive me, comrades," he added, checking himself, and turning to theslaves near him; "I am grieved more than I can tell to leave you behind.If by remaining I could lighten your sorrows, I would gladly do so. Itmay seem presumptuous in one who is himself a slave to say so, yet Ican't help assuring you that if the Almighty is pleased to give me anypower in this city, I won't forget you."

  This speech was received with a kindly nod by some, and a laugh of scornby others.

  Probably the latter had heard similar sentiments before from somewhatkindred and hearty spirits, and had learned from sad experience thatnothing ever came of their good-will.

  Following the old man, the father and son were soon in the presence ofLucien, who received them, as may well be believed, with a full heart.

  "God bless you, my son," said Francisco, "for well assured am I that itis through your influence that we are here."

  "It is through the influence of the British consul," replied Lucien.

  "Well, I pray for a blessing on you both, for it is useless to tell methat _you_ have had no hand in it."

  "I do not say that I had no hand in it. On the contrary, I wrote outthe order for your acquittal; and," added Lucien, with a peculiar smile,"I also had previously written out your and Mariano's death-warrant!"

  "You are jesting, lad," said Francisco.

  "Indeed, I am not," returned Lucien, relating the circumstances of thewhole matter to his astonished and somewhat horrified auditors.

  "And now," he continued, "I must let you know your destination. Don'tbe disappointed. You must remember that we are slaves, and have justbeen delivered from the Bagnio. The Dey seems to have taken a fancy forme--"

  "I don't wonder," interrupted Mariano enthusiastically, seizing andsqueezing his brother's hand.

  "And," continued Lucien, "he has permitted me to select situations foryou. I have arranged that you, father, shall be my assistant in thesecretary's office, and that you, Mariano, shall be shopman to Bacri theJew."

  Lucien looked awkwardly at his father and brother as he spoke, feelinguncertain, no doubt, as to the manner in which they would receive thisinformation. He was therefore rather relieved than otherwise by a smileon the face of Mariano.

  "Why, Lucien," he said, "I always thought you a great original, and thislast display of your powers confirms me in my opinion. Not that I deemit strange your having appointed father your clerk--for, in thecircumstances, it would have been charity to have appointed him even tothe office of shoe-black--anything being better than the Bagnio,--butwhat wild fancy induced you to make _me_ shop-boy to a Jew?"

  "That," replied Lucien, "you shall find out in good time--only, pray,remember that I am not the Dey's Grand Vizier, and have not many placesto offer."

  "Well, well, be it so," returned the other; "I am well content with whatyour wisdom provides."

  "And so am I," said Francisco, cheerfully. "I suppose you will feed usbetter than we have been fed of late?"

  "That will I, father, but there is no pay attached to your offices, forslaves, you know, get no wages."

  "They get splendid habiliments, it would seem," observed Francisco,regarding his son with twinkling eyes. "But come, Lucien, I am allimpatience to begin the work of under-secretary of state! You bear inremembrance, I trust, that I can read and write nothing save my mothertongue?"

  "Yes; Italian will suffice, father; such of the duties as you fail toperform I can easily fulfil.--Now, Mariano," he said, taking his brotheraside, and speaking in a low earnest tone, "see that you act wisely inthe situation I have selected for you. The Jew is a kind, good man,despite what is said about his worship of Mammon. I would that all inthis city were like him, for in that case we should have no slavery.During the short period I have held my office, my eyes have been openedto much that I may not mention. There, the very walls of this palacehave ears! I have said enough. You remember Angela?"

  "Remember her!" exclaimed Mariano, with a
deep flush and a look ofintense surprise, "how can you ask me, Lucien?"

  "Well, you will hear of her from Bacri. Good bye--go!"

  He rang a bell as he spoke, and ordered the slave who answered thesummons to lead Mariano to the abode of Bacri; at the same time he tookhis father's hand and conducted him to his office or bureau.

  Amazed at all that had happened, particularly at his summary dismissalby his brother, the youth followed his conductor in silence, and in ashort time reached the iron-bolted door of the chief of the Jews.

  "This is Bacri's house," said his guide in Italian, and, havingdischarged this duty, he turned on his heel, and abruptly left him.

  Pausing a moment to think, and finding that the more he thought the lesshe seemed to be capable of thinking to any purpose, Mariano applied hisknuckles to the door.

  For a youth of his character it was a timid knock, and produced noresult.

  Mariano was one who--in peculiar circumstances, like those in which atthat time he found himself--might once in a way act with timidity, buthe was not the man to act so twice. Finding that the first knock wasuseless, he hit the door a blow that caused the old house to resound.In a few seconds it was opened slightly, and the face of a beautifulgirl in Jewish costume appeared.

  If Mariano had been suddenly petrified he could not have stood morerigidly motionless; amazement sat enthroned on his countenance.

  "Angela!"

  "Signor Mariano!"

  The words in each case were followed by a deep flush, and Angelaretreated.

  Of course Mariano advanced.

  "Excuse--forgive me, signorina," he exclaimed, taking her handrespectfully. "I did not know--of course I could not--how was itpossible that--the fact is, I came to see a Jew, and--and--"

  "I've found a jewel," he _might_ have said, but that didn't seem tooccur to him!

  "Bacri--that's his name!" continued Mariano. "Is Bacri within? I cameto see him, but--"

  "Yes--Signor Bacri is at home," said Angela, much confused by theyouth's confusion, as well as by the sudden and unexpected nature of themeeting. "But your father--and brother Lucien--Oh, I hope they arewell; that they have not been treated cruelly; that they are not in thatdreadful Bagnio, of which I have heard so much," said Angela, at lastfinding the use of her tongue.

  They were interrupted at this point by the appearance of Bacri himself,who welcomed the youth to his house, said that he had been told byLucien to expect him, and introduced him to his wife and the othermembers of his family.

  Thereafter the Jew took his new shopman into his private apartment, andmade many strange revelations to him in regard to the affairs of thepiratical city, as well as about the details of his new appointment, inregard to which we shall say nothing here; but it may be well to addthat Mariano finally retired for the night well satisfied with thewisdom of his elder brother.

  For some time after this, things went well with those actors in our talein whose welfare we are chiefly interested.

  Francisco proved himself to be an able clerk--when assisted by hissuperior!--and Mariano became a most willing and useful shopman--withthe prospect before him of returning each night to bask in the sunshineof Angela's countenance!

  At the consul's residence Paulina was as happy as was possible in hersad circumstances, for she became very fond of Mrs Langley, and was aperfect treasure in the house,--not only taking a large part of themanagement thereof, but keeping watchful guard over the dangerous Zubby,so that that Zaharan specimen of humanity inflicted a perceptiblysmaller percentage of bumps on the head of Master Jim than in formertimes. Paulina's baby, too, began to indicate signs of intelligence bycrowing, knocking over whatever it came within reach of, andendeavouring to dig the eyes out of every one who permittedfamiliarities, especially the eyes of Master Jim, who, it is but fair toadd, soon displayed superior capacity in the same line, so that theparents agreed mutually that they would soon be sweet playmates to eachother, and that they were the most delicious babes that ever were orcould be born. Ted Flaggan also remained a happy inmate of the consul'sabode, awaiting the arrival of a British vessel which might enable himto depart, but not at all anxious for that consummation, and, in themeantime, making himself generally useful.

  Down at the Marina, too, the state of things was a little, though notmuch, improved. Another guardian of the slaves had been appointed,--theformer one having been strangled on account of some wickedness reportedby enemies to have been done by him, and of which he was afterwardsfound to be entirely innocent.

  His successor was a man of better nature, who, although he kept theslaves hard at their toil, and did not abate the lash or bastinado,nevertheless supplied them with occasional comforts, such as an extraroll of bread when extra work had to be done, or even a glass of spiritswhen, as was often the case, they were called up at nights, in drenchingrain and cold, to protect the shipping in the harbour, and preventwreck, when sudden gales arose.

  Thus the aspect of things in the pirate city, bad though it was, becamea little brighter, and continued so for some time, until an eventoccurred which flung a darker cloud than usual over the ever changingscene.