CAIRO SAVED AND HELMAR'S REWARD
As they arrived outside the citadel of Mehemet Ali, Helmar looked up
at the frowning wall of the great fortress. Here he was at the place
where he had received his inhuman treatment; this was the place
where he had been found by his friends and rescued when in dire
extremity. Under what different circumstances was he now returning
to it. No longer to be a place for the perpetration of atrocities,
they had come to demand its surrender, and, with that surrender, the
capitulation of the town. And how was this done? By the daring of a
devoted little band of a hundred and fifty exhausted, though
determined, men!
Twenty thousand fanatics in the city and ten thousand troops in the
citadel--was there any limit to the daring recklessness of the
British soldier? After this exhibition, George thought not, and
waited to see what next this brave little band was capable of.
During the short pause while the garrison was being summoned, the
men, with stern, set faces, gripped their weapons ready for any
emergency. As Helmar glanced at the faces of those nearest him, the
expressions he saw written upon their features put all doubt as to
their intentions at rest. He had said truly on his journey to Cairo
that they were marching to "Death or Glory!"
At last the gates were flung open and Major Watson's summons
answered. The troops marched in, and to their utter surprise found
the commandant willing and ready to yield up his sword. After that,
the whole of the garrison laid down their arms like a flock of
sheep. Without a blow, without any resistance whatsoever, one
hundred and fifty thirsty, hungry, exhausted men had captured Cairo,
with its enormous garrison of nearly thirty thousand rebels! The
feat was one unprecedented in history, and though it reflected
little credit on the sagacity of the leaders of the campaign, it at
least was a tribute to the commander's knowledge of the
peculiarities of the Eastern character, and the reckless devotion to
duty of the men under his command.
The work of receiving the submission of the troops seemed as if it
would never end, and Helmar, wearied beyond words with the work,
felt that he was at the limit of bodily endurance. At last it was
over, and he was at liberty to take his rest.
He sought out his two friends, who had been occupied in a similar
manner, and the three men set out in search of quarters. There was
no fear from attack by the populace. Terror had been struck into
their hearts, and they hugged their dwellings, fearful that to show
their faces abroad would bring down summary chastisement upon them.
With this knowledge of security, they prepared to take their
hard-earned rest. After a little trouble, quarters were found.
"Well, Belbeis," exclaimed Helmar, with a triumphant smile, "what do
you think of it now? We are not going to die, as you prophesied!"
Belbeis seated himself preparatory to enjoying a comfortable smoke,
smiling benignly on his two companions the while.
"Allah is great, and Mahomet is His prophet. The English are a brave
race."
"You've about struck it there," answered George, yawning and
stretching himself out on a heap of rugs. "To use an expression of
your own--it is Kismet. I wonder what will happen next?"
"Sleep," replied the Oriental, laconically.
"Yes, and not before we need it. I suppose you will stick to the
English now?"
"If the work of their servant is good in their eyes, I am content.
Naoum is my master, and he knows what is best for Belbeis. I like
the children of the West, they do not beat the faithful."
"I never came across a man with so much sense as you have, Belbeis,"
said George. "You always seem to understand intuitively."
"My life is for peace," replied the Arab. "Where I get that best,
there is my heart, I am no soldier!"
"But a jolly good imitation of one, then," exclaimed George,
laughing. "Why, man, you have the heart of a lion?"
"That I cannot help," he replied, with a look of pleasure in his
eyes at his companion's words. "It is no doing of mine,
circumstances make it so."
"Well, it's a good thing for us there are not many of your
countrymen as brave," said George, sleepily. "Well," yawning again,
"here goes for a little 'shut-eye.'"
In a few minutes Belbeis and the guide followed George's example,
and the room in which they lay resounded with their stertorous
breathing. At daybreak they awoke refreshed and once more ready for
the day's work. After they had foraged for and devoured breakfast,
the little force were paraded prior to manning the forts. An hour
later the remainder of the nine hundred rode into the city and
joined them.
Cairo was quite quiet and orderly. Patrols were sent out to prevent
any riotousness on the part of the fanatics, and in this manner
they awaited the arrival of the rest of the army.
During the afternoon, the Commander-in-Chief, with a large force,
marched into the city from Zag-a-zig. He was met with acclamation by
the entire populace, and received from the officer in command of the
party to which our hero belonged the surrender of Arabi and Toulba
Pashas; thus the war of rebellion, which had threatened to overwhelm
the land of the Pharaohs and exterminate the domination of the
Khedive's rule, was at an end.
Helmar saw now that his career with the British army would soon be
at an end. He had done his duty, and, by his timely arrival at
Tel-el-Kebir, had prevented the razing to the ground of the ancient
capital. What now remained to him? As he looked these facts in the
face, he realized that after about six months of hardships,
misfortunes, and privations he was no better off than when he
started; whatever he had done seemed now entirely forgotten.
Consulting Belbeis upon the matter that evening, he received the
good fellow's opinion and advice.
"You do not know what to do?" replied the Arab, with a look of
unusual surprise on his impassive face. "How can that be? You have
not yet seen the master; he loves you, and you have done that which
he wished for most, you have conveyed his papers to the General. Go
to him, he will tell you that which you should do."
"That is all very well, Belbeis," said George, simply, "but I did
it for my own benefit as well, and, besides, I owe him more than I
can repay already."
Belbeis only smiled in answer, and, after a moment's pause, went
on----
"We shall see, there is yet time for thought of the future. Allah
will provide!"
After that, he left the citadel, and George was left to the
companionship of his own thoughts. They were not very pleasant, and
he put them from him and went out in search of his friend, Charlie
Osterberg. He had not the least notion of where to find him. He knew
the Engineers had arrived, but he was not aware of where they were
quartered. However, a soldier whom he met told him they were outside
the western gate of the city.
With this information he made his way through the slums until he
came to the Governmental portion of the town. This he passed
through, and at length reached the west gate. On making inquiries
there, he was directed to the camp he sought, and with some
difficulty discovered that Osterberg was with the troops. At last he
found him in a tent with two or three other civilians attached to
the force in a similar capacity to himself.
Charlie greeted his old friend and companion with open arms.
"Thank goodness, you are all right, George," he exclaimed, the
moment our hero appeared in the doorway. "I was wondering when I
should find you. I have only just been relieved from duty, or I
should have been in search of you now."
"It's a good thing that it happened so," replied George, "or we
should have both been searching in different directions, and so
missed each other. Now tell me of all that has happened to you, we
only had such a short time to talk when I saw you on the way to
Tel-el-Kebir, that there must be still much to talk about."
Osterberg's career had been so uneventful after they parted at
Alexandria that his story was soon disposed of, and then George
consulted him on matters concerning the future.
"What do you intend doing, Charlie," he said, "now that the war is
practically over?"
"Why, go back to the bank, of course--what did you expect? You see,
I made that arrangement with my employers, and they gladly consented
to it. Of course, business was at a standstill while the war was on,
and they were glad to dispose of their clerks; but now it is over
they'll want us back again. But you--how do you intend going on?
Shall you still remain with the Government authorities as
interpreter?"
"I can't say, I'm sure. Perhaps they won't want me," replied George,
in tones that betrayed his reluctance to leave the service.
"However, I expect they will soon enlighten us on that point."
"Why, George, you are a bigger stupid than I took you for! Do you
think they are going to discharge the man who made that magnificent
ride to save Cairo?"
"And himself!" put in George, in disgust. "There, for goodness sake,
don't harp on that! Belbeis has just reminded me of it--it was
nothing!"
"That may be so," replied Charlie, "but anyway all the troops seem
to have got hold of the story, and do nothing but talk about
it--they can't say too much for you. It isn't likely the Government
will forget you."
"Oh, by the way," exclaimed George, to change the subject, "what is
to be done with Arden? I suppose you haven't heard?"
"Yes, I have. He's to be tried along with other leaders of the
revolt. The probability is that he'll get a heavy sentence and no
doubt be banished from the country."
"Poor devil!" exclaimed George. "His ill-gotten wealth won't have
done him much good. I doubt if he'll ever be able to touch a penny
of it."
"'M! I'm not so sure. Mark is a cunning fellow, and probably has
sent it all out of the country to some safe place where he can get
at it again. For my part, I am not in the least sorry for him.
Hanging would be a too merciful sentence for such a villain."
"Well, I have no doubt that all he deserves will fall to his lot. I
bear him no malice; he is in trouble enough now; let us hope it will
be a lesson to him."
"No fear," exclaimed Charlie, with a hard look on his boyish face.
"Nothing will ever be a lesson to him; villainy was born in him, and
if ever he escapes, mark my word, the authorities will hear of him
again, or I am much mistaken."
His tone of conviction impressed his companion, and he looked
sharply at him.
"Why, what do you think he will do--raise another rebellion?" he
asked, incredulously.
"Stranger things have happened. We shall see. I am going to walk
back to the city with you," he went on, as George rose to go. "A
little fresh air will do me good."
The two friends linked arms and strolled back to Cairo. The night
was deliciously cool, and each had much to talk about, going over
and over again through the many incidents that had occurred since
their arrival in Egypt. At last the citadel was reached, and George,
to his great surprise, found Belbeis anxiously awaiting his return.
"My master, Naoum, bade me deliver this note," said he, directly our
hero came up. "He wishes to see you to-night. He had not anticipated
that you would return so soon."
"Good!" exclaimed George, scanning the contents of the missive. "Now
you shall see my benefactor, Charlie. Come, Belbeis, conduct us to
him, that is, if I may bring my friend."
"Your words are law to my master's servant," replied Belbeis; "to
refuse you would be to cross the wishes of Naoum, and that cannot
be."
Without waiting for a reply, Belbeis led the companions down to the
best part of the city. Stopping at one of the smaller Oriental
palaces, he disappeared, asking George to await his return. In a few
moments he came back, and led the way into the great entrance hall,
where they found Naoum waiting to receive them.
He greeted our hero with affection, and looked in surprise at
Charlie. Helmar was quick to interpret the glance, and hastened to
set his mind at rest.
"This is my greatest German friend, Naoum," he said, "and I brought
him with me that he might meet the man who has done so much for a
stranger in a strange land; his name is Charlie Osterberg."
Naoum acknowledged the introduction cordially, and begged them to
rest.
"I was surprised when Belbeis told me that you had returned to Cairo
again so quickly. Had I known it before, I should have sought you
earlier," he said, in his well-known kindly tones. "There are many
things I would say to you, but time presses, and no doubt you would
return to rest."
The two young men shook their heads, and declared their willingness
to hear all he had to say.
"I have been thinking of your future," he said, looking keenly at
George. "We have so long been associated that it seems as if Allah
had woven our lives together. I am unwilling that we should now
part. The war is over, therefore the Government will have little for
you to do."
George waited. Evidently Naoum had some proposition to make for his
good. Somehow he did not like the thought of accepting more from
this man who had done so much for him already, and yet he felt he
had no right to refuse anything he might offer.
"As you know," resumed Naoum, as if afraid to come too bluntly to
the point, "I am wealthy beyond the knowledge of your people. I do
not rest, my money begets money, and I trade and traffic always--it
is my pleasure. I have caravans all over the Soudan and Upper Egypt,
bringing in the wealth of produce of the scattered tribes in that
country, therefore I employ many to do my work."
He paused again, and a look of anxiety came into his eyes. He was
fearful that Helmar might refuse what he was about to suggest.
"I would not ask you to be my servant, but I would give you caravans
that you may go and trade for yourself. There is wealth beyond your
dreams in the enterprise. I have no children of my own, my mother is
old, and she is all I have in the world to care for. If you will
accept what I offer you, you shall, when Allah brings my work to a
close, succeed me in my business. Say, shall it be so?"
George did not answer at once, and Naoum waited patiently for him
to speak. The generosity of this man knew no bounds; his offer was
princely, and George hardly knew what to say. He hated to refuse
this thing, for Naoum's heart was evidently set upon it, and yet he
could not accept. The peaceful life of a trader, or at least the
peaceful life he imagined it to be, had no attraction for him,
despite the wealth accruing to it, and yet how could he make this
good man understand? Naoum was still awaiting his reply, and George
felt that he must not delay in giving his answer; perhaps if he
could gain time he might see his way to doing as his protector
wished, although, at present, he did not see how. Stepping over to
the good man, he wrung him by the hand.
"Naoum, you are all too good to me--you overwhelm me with your
generosity. At present I cannot give you a definite answer, you must
give me time to consider. You know, at heart I am a soldier, and I
would that my life ran in that groove; therefore I must think
carefully before I decide. You will not think me ungrateful, I'm
sure, for you know me well. To-morrow evening I will see you again,
and give you my answer."
"Be it so, my son," answered Naoum, indulgently. "It is well to
think. May Allah guide your thoughts into the right course! Go, and
sleep well!"
The two young men left Naoum's house and hurried back to the
citadel; here Osterberg said good-night, and went back to his own
quarters.
That night Helmar did not sleep much, over and over again he thought
of Naoum's offer, but with each attempt he failed to come to any
decision. Wealth was not his main object; that, of course, had its
attraction, but he wished to live the life of his choice; he had
started as a soldier, and he wished to remain one, so that wealth
sank into insignificance in his thoughts. He could not decide. For
the first time in his life he failed to make up his mind.
With daylight he awoke from the broken slumber that had, at last,
overtaken him. Already Belbeis was awake, and preparing breakfast.
George sprang up to assist him. During the meal Helmar was unusually
silent. The doubts of over-night were still upon him, and made him
irritable. Belbeis noticed these signs, and refrained wisely from
breaking in on his thoughts.
After breakfast Helmar went for a stroll round the fortress; the
place was alive with troops, all the work of the day was carried out
at this early hour, so that, when the heat of the day came on, the
soldiers could rest. He was nearing the officers' quarters when a
sergeant came out and walked quickly towards him.
"Ah," he said, as he came up, "I was just coming to look for you.
You are wanted at once at the office--you had better come with me
now."
George followed his guide without demur, and was conducted to the
orderly room. After a short wait, he was shown in. A colonel was
seated at the table, dictating a letter to his clerk. When our hero
appeared he ceased, and, turning to a pile of papers, selected one
from among the rest.
"I have just received this from the Commander-in-Chief. It is the
result of the excellent way in which you assisted in saving this
city from destruction. Listen!"
He then read out the following order----
"In consequence of the gallant conduct of Interpreter Helmar in
conveying the information of the rebels' intention to destroy the
city of Cairo by fire, his Highness the Khedive of Egypt has been
pleased to appoint him to a responsible office in the Intelligence
Department. The appointment will carry with it the honorary rank and
pay of Lieutenant in the Egyptian army. Interpreter Helmar's
acceptance of the post must be forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief
without delay."
"I congratulate you, Lieutenant Helmar, on the result of your
distinguished services," said the Colonel, breaking through his
official iciness. "I hope what has gone before may be but the
precursor of many such services in the future," and he shook our
astonished hero by the hand.
"But, sir----"
"Tut, tut, man! I suppose I can reply to that letter in the
affirmative? Such opportunities and promotion come but rarely. Good
luck to you!"
Helmar signified his intention of accepting his good fortune at
once, and with his head in a whirl of excitement, he left the
orderly room in search of Naoum.
Hurrying down town, he found his benefactor, and explained what had
happened.
"You see, Naoum, all my aspirations are for a soldier's life, and
last night, when you made me that generous offer, I felt it
impossible to tell you so; events that have happened since have made
it impossible for me to longer conceal from you that a civil life
would be distasteful to me. I beg that you will not be hurt at my
refusal, and will understand my motives."
Naoum smiled at the young man's earnest manner, but the smile did
not for a moment conceal from Helmar his deep disappointment that
the decision was unfavourable to his offer.
"I am glad that you are pleased, my son, but it would be idle to
disguise my disappointment. I had hoped that you would have been a
son to me upon whom I might lavish all my wealth, but it is not to
be. You must make your own way. You are young and independent, your
brave heart is unquestionable, do as it dictates. I am your friend
always. Allah is good and great--may He watch over you!"
After his conversation with Naoum, George had an interview with
Mariam, and then sought out Charlie. He found him in his tent,
getting ready to leave for Alexandria.
"I have just received my discharge," he said, directly George
entered, "and am now off back to the bank. What are you going to
do?"
Helmar seated himself on a flour barrel, and Charlie propped himself
on an ammunition box.
"Do?" our hero exclaimed, bursting to recount his good fortune;
"why, stay here, of course! I am now Lieutenant Helmar of the
Egyptian army, with a post in the Intelligence Department! Well," he
added, laughing at Charlie's astonished face, "why don't you salute
me?"
And so, after months of hardships and failures, George Helmar had at
last found what he sought. He reasonably considered that he had made
a record in his search for fortune. An assured position in the walk
of life he preferred, a liberal salary, and the prospect of heaps of
adventure in the future. What more could he desire? Was there
anything? Yes, there was. He wanted news of all in Germany. During
the excitement of the last few months he had thought little of his
friends and relatives in the Fatherland. Now that peace reigned, and
he began to settle down in his new occupation, he longed to hear
what had happened to them. As nobody, excepting friend Osterberg and
foe Arden, knew of his whereabouts or what he was doing, he
determined to write to his father and describe the adventurous time
he had had, and tell him of the reward the end had brought him.
After a few weeks' interval he received what he wanted--a long
letter in return. The item of news which pleased him most was that
telling of the safe recovery of Landauer, his opponent in the duel.
"Thank God!" he exclaimed fervently. "My prayer was answered."
THE END
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