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The stoutest opponent of the Osmanlis in Asia was the Anatolian Sultanate of Karaman Moslem, Turkish, and the legitimate heir of those Seljuk Turkish Sultans who had given Osman's father his first footing in the land. Osmanli and Karamanli fought on equal terms, but when Karaman was overthrown there was no power left in Asia that could stop the Osmanlis' advance.
He lay reclining on a mat in front of young Osman's couch, and in excited words, with glowing eyes, he told the heroic stories of the proudest people of Egypt. Osman's large eyes were fixed on his face in an earnest gaze, and a slight color tinged his pale cheeks as he listened. "Beautiful, is it not?" asked Mohammed, as he finished his narrative.
Stockdale, not finding Panton and Osman's station, had to leave some of his men in camp, and, after a hard struggle, reached the telegraph line with one companion, and sent back relief to the others, which duly reached them.
Night put an end to the affair. A few days after this skirmish, Ibrahim Pasha, having left to one of his lieutenants the direction of the siege of Saint Jean d'Acre and wishing to reconnoitre the country, appeared at the head of 800 men, with six field-pieces, before Osman's camp, who, seized with a panic, immediately abandoned it to the enemy, and hastened to form a junction with the Pasha of Aleppo, who was posted near Hameh.
On the other hand, Osman's force brought three times its number of Russians to a halt for five months before hastily constructed lines. In the opinion of many authorities the Russians did wrong in making the whole campaign depend on Plevna.
And yet, again and again, Osman's words come back to him. He could not bear to chat with his lips, while such voices were speaking in his heart. He must leave the house, seek solitude, and consult with his own thoughts. He made some pretence of pressing business requiring his attention, and went out into the street.
Looking, not at the mirror, but earnestly into his friend's eyes, Mohammed stooped down and kissed Osman's lips. "Listen, Osman, to what I say! I am almost ashamed to confess it, and yet it is true, next to my mother I love you best on earth, and I believe I could sacrifice my life for you." "And I mine for you," said Osman, gently. "Let us swear to be true friends forever," continued Mohammed.
"I hope they will send us across to Berber, when Osman's forces are swept from the path." "I doubt if they will," replied the doctor, shaking his head. "It will be frightfully hot in a couple of months." "It is the only way to save Gordon." "I fear you are right, but I hope not. But here is a boat coming off to us."
"It is a dreadful state of affairs, the two biggest and strongest of our party collapsing like this, and has had a very depressing effect on me, though I must not show it, for fear of causing a despondent feeling in the others. I do hope we shall now have fair travelling, and reach Panton and Osman's station, and send back horses and relief to those left behind.
The expectation was not, however, justified by events, for two years later the Arabs again mustered under him in such formidable numbers, that another expedition was necessary to protect Suakim against the gathering of fanatics reassembled under Osman's banner.
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