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I think it must be that Rajah Hamet's men, as they says are our enemies." "No, no; he's our friend." "Then it must be t'other one, sir. You remember when you come by in the boat that moonlight night?" "Boat! What moonlight night?" "Oh, Lor' ha' mussy!" muttered Peter. "He can't be fit to talk." "What's that you are saying to yourself? Why don't you speak?"
I go to join them. I trust that Hamet's promise if he succeeds will sufficiently guard me from violence. It may be that they will respect my position. In any case I stay not here. Farewell."
Any doubts as to the truth of this story were set aside by the sultan's earnest request that the English officers should at once proceed up the river and severely punish this rajah, who was a thorn in Hamet's side.
It was a very busy time for all, and after the "Startler" had been made what Dick the sailor called snug that is to say, firmly anchored head to stream, for they were now far above the reach of the tide a strong party of the blue-jackets were landed upon the pleasantly umbrageous island, along with the soldiers; for this island was to be the site of the residency, and it proved to have four good-sized buildings amidst the trees, which had been roughly prepared by Sultan Hamet's orders.
After several fruitless attempts to buy over the rebel Arabs, the Bey, on the 13th of May, made a sudden attack upon the quarter of the town held by Hamet's forces, and drove all before him as far as the Governor's house; but a few volleys from the nine-pounders sent him and his troops back at full speed. Hamet's cavalry pursued, and cut down a great many of them.
Why should he wish him to be kept a close prisoner? It was a puzzle that he could not solve; but at last, as he lay there thinking, the light broke more and more into the darkness of his mind. It would be, he was sure, something to do with his intimacy with the English; and if so, Hamet's friendship was false.
He knew that Solyman, having considered the dispositions of his sons, was of opinion, that if they had been blended in one person, they would have produced a character more fit to govern in his stead, than either of them alone: ALMORAN, he thought, was too volatile and warm; but he suspected, that HAMET would sink into inactivity for want of spirit: he feared alike ALMORAN'S love of enterprize, and HAMET'S fondness for retirement: he observed, in HAMET, a placid easiness of temper, which might suffer the reins of government to lie too loose; and, in ALMORAN, a quickness of resentment, and jealousy of command, which might hold them too tight: he hoped, therefore, that by leaving them a joint dominion, he should blend their dispositions, at least in their effects, in every act of government that should take place; or that, however they should agree to administer their government, the public would derive benefit from the virtues of both, without danger of suffering from their imperfections, as their imperfections would only operate against each other, while, in whatever was right, their minds would naturally concur, as the coincidence of rectitude with rectitude is necessary and eternal.
His first thought was to put Osmyn to death: but he considered; that by this he would gain no advantage, as he would be in equal danger from whoever should succeed him: he considered also, that against Osmyn he was upon his guard; and that he might at any time learn, from him, whatever design might be formed in favour of HAMET, by assuming HAMET'S appearance: that he would thus be the confident of every secret, in which his own safety was concerned; and might disconcert the best contrived project at the very moment of its execution, when it would be too late for other measures to be taken: he determined, therefore, to let Osmyn live; at least, till it became more necessary to cut him off.
He stood wreathed in smiles and nodding confirmation of Hamet's words. But to Hillyard, with the emotions of the dark hour just past still shivering about him, he seemed something out of nature. Hillyard leaned from his donkey and took the carbine from the postman's hand. It was an ancient thing of Spanish manufacture, heavy as a pig of lead. "But this can't be of any use," he cried.
"I mean, take my place and escort Minnie up the river in the Resident's boat." "De-lighted!" cried the lad excitedly. "Of course but I don't know whether the Major will give me leave, as Rajah Hamet's here. Here, I'll run back as fast as I can, and be with you, if it's all right, in no time." "Yes, do. I don't want the poor girl to be disappointed; and you will take care of her?" "Of course!"
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