The Pirate City: An Algerine Tale

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  IN WHICH SOLES ARE BEATEN AND MEN ARE SOLD--WITH PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS.

  Comfortably ensconced in the palace of the Deys--elected by a majorityof his comrades--the Aga Hamet proceeded to enjoy his high position, andto exercise the authority of ruler of the pirate city.

  The day after his ascension of what we may call the dangerous throne, hesent for Hadji Baba the story-teller.

  "Thou art a witty fellow, it seems?" said the Dey, when Baba made hisappearance.

  "So it has been said of me, and so I once thought," replied the jesterhumbly; "but I have come to doubt the worth of my own wit, since it hasled me to dwell in a palace."

  "How so, knave? What mean you?"

  "In truth, I know not," replied Baba. "My wit is scarce sufficient tomake my meaning plain even to myself. Only I feel that the brilliancyof the wit of those who dwell in palaces is too much for me. 'Twerebetter, methinks, if I had remained on my shoemaker's bench."

  "'Twere indeed better for thee to have done so, good fellow, if thoucanst say nothing better than that," replied Hamet angrily, for he was astupid as well as an ambitious man. "Let's have something better fromthee, else the bastinado shall drive sense from thy heels into thyhead."

  "Nay, then, it is hard," returned Baba, with a smile, "to be asked totalk sense when I was hired by thy late master--"

  "_My_ late master!" roared the Dey.

  "Surely I said `_my_ late master,' did I not?" returned Hadji Baba,rubbing his forehead as if he were confused--as, in truth, the poorfellow was, by the terrible scenes that had lately been enacted in thepalace. "As I meant to say, then,--it is hard for me to talk sense when_my_ late master hired me expressly to talk nonsense."

  "H'm, yes, very true," replied the Dey, looking wise. "Let me, then,hear some of thy nonsense."

  "Ah, your highness, that is easily done," said Baba, with suddenanimation. "What shall be the subject of my discourse?--the affairs ofstate?"

  The Dey nodded.

  "Let me, then, make a broad statement of a nonsensical kind, which, inits particular applications may be said to be endless. A throne won bytreachery, violence, and bloodshed cannot stand long in--"

  "Villain!" shouted the Dey.

  "Nay, I do but jest," said Baba, with a look of simplicity.

  "Jest or no jest, thou shalt smart for it," cried the Dey, whose angerhad been greatly roused.--"Ho! seize him and give him the bastinado, andafterwards bring him hither again."

  Two chaouses, who were in attendance in a neighbouring room, at onceentered, and, seizing the unfortunate story-teller, hurried him down toan apartment in the palace which was reserved for punishments of variouskinds, including strangulation. Here they stripped off Baba'sembroidered shoes and white hose.

  "We have long been fellow-servants under this roof," said Hadji Baba, asthey were about to begin.

  "That is true," replied one of the chaouses sternly.

  "_I_ shall be forgiven, and depend on it _thou_ shalt not be forgotten,"said Baba quietly.

  The executioner, who knew that the story-teller had been a man ofinfluence and power in the previous reign, hesitated.

  "We have our orders, Hadji Baba," said he, remonstratively, "and youknow that it is as much as our lives are worth to fail in ourobedience."

  "I bid you not to fail in the performance of your duty, but I counselyou to lay on lightly," returned the jester, with a grim smile.

  "And how if the Dey should expect to hear thy cries, and afterwards tosee thee limp into his presence?" asked the man in a tone of indecision.

  "Depend on't he shall both see and hear," exclaimed Baba, with a laugh."Thinkest thou that my head is not equal to the saving of my feet? Layon _lightly_, so that there may be somewhat to show; but see thou dostnot over-do it. I will engage to let the tyrant hear on the deafestside of his head, and will limp into his presence with most unfeignedsincerity."

  "Well, then, I begin," said the man, applying a few strokes with a litherod to the soles of the jester's feet.

  Baba was true to his word. He suddenly gave vent to a yell so appallingthat the very executioner, accustomed though he was to such sounds,quailed for a moment, and said anxiously--

  "Did I hit you too hard?"

  "Hard!" echoed Baba, mingling a roar of laughter with his next yell."Fear not, good comrade; go on, do thy duty--ha! ha!--ho-o-o! Stop!Why, it is worse than I had imagined," he added, as the man delivered acut that was rather sharp. "But go on," cried Hadji Baba, with anotheryell; "I must have _something_ to show, and _he_ shall smart for it."

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

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

  "Ha!" exclaimed the Dey, "I think I have cured thee. Thou wilt talk nomore nonsense, I warrant."

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

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

  "Your highness shall be obeyed," said the jester, with a profoundobeisance, 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 messagereached him.

  "Thou art but a cowardly fellow, a weak villain after all," said Hassanto some remark of the interpreter. "The man who plays fast and loose issure to be brought low sooner or later. Why not leave the Britishconsul'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 sensitiveconscience, I cannot prevail on myself to betray my old master."

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

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

  Like many other sycophants, Sidi Hassan had mistaken his man. The newDey was well aware that Hassan was a turbulent, ambitious character, andthought that it would be best for his own interests to appoint himgovernor of a distant province of his dominions. Like many othercoarse, though energetic, characters, Hamet also mistook his man. Hedid not know that Hassan would be content with nothing short of theposition of second in command. When, therefore, he handed him, withmany compliments, the paper containing his commission to thegovernorship of the province alluded to, he was greatly surprised tobehold his former friend fly into a violent passion, tear the paper topieces, and fling it on the ground, as he turned on his heel and leftthe room abruptly.

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

  There is no doubt that in his present temper the Dey would have had hislate colleague strangled on the spot, but, fortunately for himself, SidiHassan, instead of returning
to his own house, went straight to theMarina, without having any definite object in view, save that hethirsted 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 probabilityof a rising among the slaves?"

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

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

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

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

  "Ay, the new Dey ails me," returned Hassan, with a feeling ofdesperation, for he felt that he was committing himself in thus speakingto one whom he knew to be his enemy--but anger often leads men intounwise 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, andstill can."

  "It may not be too late," said Omar pointedly, as he began to suspectthat Hassan's thirst for revenge would carry him to any length.--"Arethese sbirros in search of _you_?" he added on observing several of theofficers 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 smallside-door which led into his house.

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

  Of course the Minister of Marine understood this as well as himself, buthe 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 seawardramparts, 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, topermit me to remain here as Minister of Marine. He is also so savageand hasty that I do not expect him to restrain his hand for more than aday or two. But I do not mean to give him a chance. My friends arealready in possession of the casba--"

  "Already!" exclaimed Hassan in surprise.

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

  Hassan started to his feet.

  "Nay--_were_ doomed," said Omar, with a smile; "but what you have saidjust now alters the case. Give me your aid, and that of your party, andyou 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 ofuncertainty; but, feeling that he was now entirely in Omar's power, andknowing that although the soldiers whom he styled his "party" were notnearly numerous or influential enough to place him on the throne, hewillingly 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 theminstructions."

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

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

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

  When Hamet Dey issued the order to have Sidi Hassan arrested, as alreadyrelated, Hadji Baba, having returned to his wonted place in the lobby ofthe palace, heard the order, and, being a bold man, ventured into theaudience-chamber after the Dey had left it. There he found the piecesof the torn commission. Picking them hastily up, he retired to his ownapartment, put them together, and very soon guessed the nature of thequarrel between his new master and Sidi Hassan. Rightly concluding,from the insolent violence of Hassan's exit and the extremity of theDey's rage, that the breach was irreparable, and knowing that Hassan wasa man of some weight with the army, he resolved to ascertain the viewsof 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, likethe officers of justice, failed for some time to find him. He met,however, with two of the searchers in the persons of the chaouses whohad so recently administered the bastinado in a mild manner to himself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  "What mean you?"

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

  "But Hamet Dey is not falling. He has only just risen!" said thechaouse, 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 thepalace to-day to go and smoke his pipe. He is a man of power and amalcontent. There are other men of power who are also malcontents andmore popular than Hamet. When this is so, it behoves the like of youand me to look carefully after our necks, to say nothing of our soles!"

  As he said this an exclamation from the elder chaouse drew his attentionto the fact that Sidi Hassan himself had just turned the corner of thestreet in which they had been conversing, and was at that moment soearnestly engaged in conversation with Sidi Omar, that the twoapproached without at first observing the officers of justice.

  The instant Hassan's eye alighted on them, he stopped and became visiblypaler. Omar also stopped, but pretended not to observe the change inhis companion's countenance, nor its cause, as he continued theconversation.

  "Hist!" whispered Hadji Baba to his companions, "when enemies becomesudden friends, we should know how to act."

  It was evident from the look of anxiety and uncertainty depicted in thevisage of the elder chaouse that he did not by any means know how toact. With the stern resolution of a bull-dog nature, however, hesuddenly made up his mind to do his duty.

  Advancing quickly toward Hassan, he was about to lay hold of him, whenHadji Baba stepped abruptly before him, and said with an affable air andsmile--

  "His Highness the Dey has sent these good fellows to arrest Sidi Hassan,and I have taken upon my own shoulders the weighty responsibility--being, as is well-known, a fool--to offer our united services in th
ereversal of the decree by the arrestment of the Dey instead."

  "A bold jest, good fellow, and one that may cost thee thy life, for thepresent Dey understands not a jest."

  "It is no jest," returned Baba, with a keen glance at Omar, whom he knewto be a plotter in the state; "my soles tingle now with what they havealready received, and my thoughts tingle with what is yet to come. Ifyou have need of friends in the palace here are two--good and true,"said Baba, turning to the chaouses, who stood mute with amazement at theman's impudence, "and I am one, which makes three, according to therules of arithmetic. If we are not wanted, then these men must do theirduty, for Sidi Hassan is wanted, and we may as well go blithely to ourdoom together."

  "Fellow," said Omar sternly, "dost know that I have power to have theeflayed alive without consulting thy master?"

  "Nay, not without consulting my master," said Baba, bowing respectfully,"for my master is before me!"

  "In sooth thou art a very impudent knave," returned Omar, smiling inspite of himself; "and were I the vile plotter thou imaginest, I shouldbe afraid of having such a changeable friend in the palace."

  "Am I changeable for preferring the kind master who was slain to him whoslew him?" said Baba simply.

  "That is true, Hadji Baba," returned Omar, suddenly changing histone.--"Sidi Hassan, fortune is favourable to us. We will trust thesemen. They dare not play us false even though they would, because theirown lives would be forfeited.--Hadji Baba, it may be well for thee toknow that, while we avail ourselves of thine aid and that of thyfriends, we are quite independent of it, because it happens that thetrain is already laid, and nothing that thou couldst do, not even theinstant alarm of the palace guards, could prevent it from being fired, Ibelieve thee faithful, but this information may help to increase thyfidelity. Go, and, hark 'ee, be very careful to have the guards wellplaced and looked after to-night at _the hour of nine_."