Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 9, 2025
Arabi was seated on a big lounging chair, dressed in the uniform of the Egyptian army. His face was turned away as the prisoner entered, so that George was unable to realize all that Naoum had told him; but no time was given him to speculate, for Naoum broke the silence at once. With an easiness that astonished Helmar, he addressed the Pasha as though talking to his equal.
The splash of the water at the bow of the boat had insidiously attracted George's attention, and he found himself humming a tune to the time of the lapping stream. Suddenly Naoum turned with an exclamation. George looked at his companion, his tune gone from his mind, and all thoughts absorbed into a keen excitement.
Naoum sat smoking and gazing at the banks as they passed by; George gave himself up to reflections. The man at the tiller moved to and fro with the regularity of clockwork, altering the tack as the wind chopped and changed about. The rest of the crew were squatting about the deck in various attitudes of perfect laziness.
The food was of the most luxurious description, and Helmar marvelled the more at the mysterious man who had provided it. Who was he in reality? Naoum he knew was his name, and he had hitherto only taken him for a successful trader; but apparently he was a man of great fortune and power, or how could he supply money to the extent he appeared to be doing?
"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.
Had I not gone through this, had I not been a prisoner, I do not know who Naoum could have sent with the news. It is an ill wind that blows no one any good. Let us hope I am in time." George's calm words, his lack of resentment at the treatment he had received from Mark Arden, touched a deep chord in the officer's nature, but he wondered at George's apparent unconcern.
Come, you are a good man, say, will you stay? Sooner or later things will calm down and then " "No, no, Naoum, you have done so much for me already, I cannot let you risk more. My mind is made up, I will forge my own way ahead now."
At last he heard again, outside in the hall, a bustle and noise similar to that which had occurred at Arabi's arrival, and he knew that at last the rebel chief was taking his departure. After a while the noise died away and Naoum appeared.
She treated him as a son, and could not have been more affected had she been saying good-bye to Naoum himself. George, on his part, was deeply touched by her solicitous care of him, but words did not come easily; yet his farewell lost nothing of its sincerity in the silence that accompanied it. At last it was over, and he was left to himself for the few remaining hours before his departure.
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!"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking