Part 15 (1/2)
The inquisitors were for a ave place to their cruelty, when they considered how long they had tortured thousands for doubting points to which they theiven credence I was reaoler, who had never before witnessed such boldness in the hall of justice, and was impressed with the conviction that I was supported as I had affir me comforts, which, had it been knoould have cost hio of the vessel was landed at the Custom-house, and she was hauled on shore to have her bottom caulked and pitched, when, to the astonishment of the captain and crew, the hole which had occasioned the leak was discovered with the head of the figure of the saint, which I had thrown overboard, so fired in, that it required some force to pull it out ”A miracle! a h every part of the town It was evident that the Virgin had instigatedthe leak The friars of the nearest convent claie frorand procession to carry it to their church The grand inquisitor, hearing the circuy ment: and not three hours after the shi+p had been hauled on shore, I was visited inprocession, iven I was taken aith every mark of respect, and looked upon as one under special favour of the Virgin ”Did I not say, eon in honour?”
”You did, my friend,” answered the inquisitor: and I heard hiin Mary, or you are amy stay at Valencia, I was courted and feasted by every body, and sold ht that to possess any thing that had belonged to ood fortune
I received many handsome presents, had divers requests to become a member of the different fraternities of e sum of money, hich I proceeded to Toulon, with the intention of e was still the object of hts
”Stop,” said the pacha; ”I wish to knohether you believe that the Virgin, as you call her, did thrust the head of the ie into the hole in the bottohness, I do not I believe it originated fro but cause and effect It is the nature of a whirlpool to dran all substances that co into the bottom of the shi+p is but the vortex of a whirlpool reversed; and the ie of the saint, when it was thrown overboard to leeward of the shi+p, which was pressed down upon it by the power of the wind, was forced under the water, until it was taken into the vortex of the leak, and naturally found its way into the hole”
”I dare say you are very right,” answered the pacha, ”but I don't understand a word you have said”
”Such, your highness, were the adventures attending ade, with an inclination of his head
”And a very good voyage too! I like it better than your first
Mustapha, give hi him here to-morrow, and ill hear what happened in his third”
”You observe,” said Mustapha, when the pacha had retired, ”ade, holding out his hand for the money: ”To-morrow I'll lie like any barber”
VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN
”Keoda shefa ives relief!” cried the pacha, as the divan closed: and, certainly, during its continuance oods, and one or two fros--”What have we to-day, Mustapha?”
”May your highness's shadow never be less!” replied the vizier ”Have we not the slave who offered to lay his story at your subli that we met those sons of shi+tan--Ali and Hussan, who received the punishment merited by their enormous crimes? Have we not also the manuscript of the Spanish slave, now translated bywith honey, and theirto his favourite rose?”
”And the Giaour who relates his voyages and travels,” interrupted the pacha--”where is he? No kessehgou of our own race tells stories like unto his”
”The Giaour is on the waters, your highness He is a very _rustas wealth to the _hazneh_ of your subliers, and the stars were propitious
To-morrow I expect he will return”
”Well, then, we must content ourselves hat is offered Let the slave approach, and ill listen to his story, since we cannot have the wonderful tales of Huckaback”
”Whose dog was Lokhness in wisdom?” replied Mustapha ”What are the words of Hafiz--'Every ain Who shall say ill be the event of any thing?'”
The slave, who had been detained by the orders of Mustapha, was ordered to appear During his confinement, Mustapha had been informed by his people that he was ”visited by Alla;” or in other words, that he was a madman Nevertheless, Mustapha--as afraid to release a man (or rather, a story) without the consent of the pacha, and could not send for the renegade to supply any defalcation--considered that, upon the whole, it was better that he should be admitted to the presence of the pacha
”You asked me to hear your story,” observed the pacha, ”and I have consented,--not to please you, but to please ood story: which I take it for granted yours will be, or you would not have presuo on”
”Pacha,” replied the slave, who had seated hi his body backward and forward, ”it is the misfortune of those who not aware--of the excitehness exceeds in altitude the lofty and snow-covered peak of Hebrus--and, nevertheless, cannot be worth more than four or five paras--”
”Holy Prophet! what is all this?” interrupted the pacha; ”I cannot understand a word that you say Do you laugh at our beard? Speak ibly Remember!”