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Updated: May 31, 2025
Go tell the brothers that before the moon has reached its twentieth course, I shall be in their midst, and blood will flow in streams! Go!" With an imperious wave of the hand Maldar pointed toward the horizon, and the Mekkadem prostrated himself anew.
"You acknowledge that you were cowardly enough to murder defenceless men," said Monte-Cristo, after a pause, to Maldar; "have you been so base as to kill an innocent child?" "Are you speaking of your own son?" "Yes. Is my son dead?" "Your son still lives," replied Maldar. Monte-Cristo uttered a cry. His son lived and was behind these walls. "You are Maldar. You have enjoyed my hospitality.
"Then I say to you, Maldar Mohammed ben Abdallah, the hour for revenge has come. Death to the Giaours!" He paused for a moment; then continued: "Where are the Khouans?" "At Uargla." "Where are the Christian prisoners? Have my commands been obeyed?"
Search every corner of the ship." Monte-Cristo stopped the sailors. "It is useless," he said, pointing to the shore, "look there!" Maldar stood on the beach, shaking his fist angrily at the yacht. "Comrades, listen," said Monte-Cristo, "the Arab is our deadly enemy. In Algeria every bush conceals a danger, every foot of ground carries an assassin! Do your duty, but look out for yourselves!"
Esperance was in such a deep slumber that he did not make a movement, even when the Arab lifted him from the bed and held him in his arms. "Away!" cried Maldar in an undertone, adding, as the Khouan sprang from the window and disappeared in the darkness without: "Now, Count of Monte-Cristo, you are once more at my mercy, and this time you will not escape my vengeance!"
Over him stood Maldar, his yataghan uplifted to strike. The four Khouans stood at a short distance, chanting what was evidently a death-hymn. Instantly Monte-Cristo aimed his weapon at the Sultan and fired. Maldar fell dead beside his intended victim. The other Arabs leaped through the open windows and, mounting their horses, fled across the desert. Monte-Cristo caught his son in his arms.
The party started off again, following the track of the Arabs' horses, and after an hour's ride came in sight of a long, low building with a gleaming minaret, standing alone in the midst of the desert. "The mosque of the Khouans!" cried Captain Joliette, triumphantly. "Maldar and his ruffians are there! Look! Yonder are their horses!"
Come here and write." Maldar went toward a table upon which were writing materials, and, pressing a pen in Monte-Cristo's hand, he shoved a piece of paper toward him. The count was silent, and seated himself at the table. "I, the Count of Monte-Cristo," the Arabian began to dictate, "inform the Governor of Themcen that I am at Uargla, and have won the confidence of the Sultan Maldar.
"MY DEARLY BELOVED SON To-day is the anniversary of your rescue from the hands of that terrible Maldar, and although twelve years have passed since then, I still feel the effects of the fright I sustained. Thanks to faithful friends, you were saved to us; God bless them for it, and give you and me an opportunity to repay them for what they have done for us.
He was very angry when he heard that the prisoners had been massacred. "Unfaithful, traitorous people!" he exclaimed at the mosque at Uargla. "Who told you to disobey my orders?" The Khouans begged pitifully for mercy. "Allah demands obedience," continued Maldar; "and now bring the young prisoner, who is waiting in front of the mosque, for the sentence."
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