Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz
Category: Nonfiction
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because they could always move to a hotel incase of bad weather. Now, however, having fully investigated everythingon the place, he came to the conclusion that days and nights passed inthe fresh air would be a hundredfold more beneficial for his only childthan a stay in the musty rooms of the small local hotels. Beautifulweather favored this. Medinet, or rather El-Medineh, surrounded by thesandy hills of the Libyan Desert, has a much better climate than Cairoand is not in vain called "the land of roses." Owing to its shelteredposition and the plentiful moisture in the air, nights there are not socold as in other parts of Egypt, even those lying further south. Winteris simply delightful, and from November the greatest development of thevegetation begins. Date palms, olive-trees, which on the whole arescarce in Egypt, fig, orange, mandarin trees, giant castor-oil plants,pomegranate and various other southern plants cover this delightfuloasis as with a forest. The gardens are overflowing, as it were, with agigantic wave of acacias, elders, and roses, so that at night everybreeze carries their intoxicating scent. Here one breathes with fullbreast and "does not wish to die," as the residents of the place say.
A similar climate is possessed only by Helwan lying on the other sideof the Nile and considerably farther north, but Helwan lacks suchluxuriant vegetation.
But Helwan awoke sad recollections for Mr. Rawlinson, for there Nell'smother had died. For this reason he preferred Medinet, and gazing atpresent at the glowing countenance of the little girl, he promised tohimself in his soul soon to purchase here land with a garden; to erectupon it a comfortable English house and spend in these blissful partsall vacations which he could secure, and after finishing his service onthe Canal, perhaps even to reside here permanently.
But these were plans of the distant future and not yet wholly matured.In the meantime the children from the moment of their arrival movedabout everywhere like flies, desiring even before dinner to see all thetents as well as the donkeys and camels hired at the place by the CookAgency. It appeared that the animals were on a distant pasture and thatthey could not see them until the morrow. However, near Mr. Rawlinson'stent they observed with pleasure Chamis, the son of Chadigi, their goodacquaintance in Port Said. He was not in the employ of Cook, and Mr.Rawlinson was somewhat surprised to meet him in Medinet, but as he hadpreviously employed him to carry his implements, he engaged him atpresent to run errands and perform all other small services.
The evening dinner was excellent, as the old Copt, who for many yearswas a cook in the employment of the Cook Agency, was anxious to displayhis culinary skill. The children told about the acquaintance they madewith the two officers on the way, which was particularly interesting toMr. Rawlinson, whose brother Richard was married to Dr. Clary's sisterand had resided in India for many years. As it was a childlessmarriage, this uncle greatly loved his little niece, whom he knew onlyfrom photographs, and he had inquired about her in all his letters.Both fathers were also amused at the invitation which Stas had receivedfrom Captain Glenn to visit Mombasa. The boy took it seriously andpositively promised himself that sometime he must pay a visit to hisnew friend beyond the equator. Pan Tarkowski then had to explain to himthat English officials never remain long in the same locality onaccount of the deadly climate of Africa, and that before Stas grew upthe captain already would hold his tenth position in rotation or wouldnot be on earth at all.
After dinner the whole company went out in front of the tents, wherethe servants placed the cloth folding-chairs, and for the oldergentlemen brought a siphon of soda-water with brandy. It was alreadynight but unusually warm; as there happened to be full moon it was asbright as in daytime. The white walls of the city buildings oppositethe tents shone greenly; the stars glowed in the sky, and in the airwas diffused the scent of roses, acacias, and heliotropes. The cityalready was asleep. In the silence of the night at times could be heardonly the loud cries of cranes, herons, and flamingoes flying frombeyond the Nile in the direction of Lake Karun. Suddenly, however,there resounded the deep bass bark of a dog which astonished Stas andNell, for it appeared to come from a tent which they had not visitedand which was assigned for saddles, implements, and various travelingparaphernalia.
"That must be an awfully big dog. Let us go and see him," said Stas.
Pan Tarkowski began to laugh and Mr. Rawlinson shook off the ashes ofhis cigar and said, also laughing:
"Well, it did not do any good to lock him up."
After which he addressed the children:
"Remember, to-morrow is Christmas Eve, and that dog was intended by PanTarkowski to be a surprise for Nell, but as the surprise has started tobark, I am compelled to announce it to-day."
Hearing this, Nell climbed in a trice on Pan Tarkowski's knees andembraced his neck and afterwards jumped onto her father's lap.
"Papa, how happy I am! how happy I am!"
Of hugs and kisses there was no end. Finally Nell, finding herself onher own feet, began to gaze in Pan Tarkowski's eyes:
"Pan Tarkowski--"
"What is it, Nell?"
"--As I already know that he is there, can I see him to-night?"
"I knew," exclaimed Mr. Rawlinson, feigning indignation, "that thislittle fly would not be content with the news itself."
And Pan Tarkowski, turning to the son of Chadigi, said:
"Chamis, bring the dog."
The young Sudanese disappeared behind the kitchen tent and after awhile reappeared, leading a big dog by the collar.
Nell retreated.
"Oh," she exclaimed, seizing her father's hand.
On the other hand, Stas grew enthusiastic.
"But that is a lion, not a dog," he said.
"He is called Saba (lion)," answered Pan Tarkowski. "He belongs to thebreed of mastiffs; these are the biggest dogs in the world. This one isonly two years old but really is exceedingly large. Don't be afraid,Nell, as he is as gentle as a lamb. Only be brave. Let him go, Chamis."
Chamis let go of the collar with which he had restrained the dog, andthe latter, feeling that he was free, began to wag his tail, fawnbefore Pan Tarkowski with whom he was already well acquainted, and barkjoyfully.
The children gazed in the moonlight with admiration on his large roundhead with hanging lips, on his bulky paws, on his powerful frame,reminding one, in truth, of a lion with the tawny-yellowish color ofhis body.
"With such a dog one could safely go through Africa," exclaimed Stas.
"Ask him whether he could retrieve a rhinoceros," said Pan Tarkowski.
Saba could not, indeed, answer that question, but instead wagged histail more and more joyfully and drew near to the group soingratiatingly that Nell at once ceased to fear him and began to pathim on his head.
"Saba, nice, dear Saba."
Mr. Rawlinson leaned over him, raised his head towards the face of thelittle girl, and said:
"Saba, look at this little lady. She is your mistress. You must obeyand guard her. Do you understand?"
"Wow!" was the basso response of Saba, as if he actually understoodwhat was wanted.
And he understood even better than might have been expected, for takingadvantage of the fact that his head was on a level with the littlegirl's face, as a mark of homage he licked her little nose and cheekswith his broad tongue.
This provoked a general outburst of laughter. Nell had to go to thetent to wash herself. Returning after a quarter of an hour she saw Sabawith paws upon the shoulders of Stas, who bent under the weight; thedog was higher by a head.
The time for sleep was approaching, but the little one asked for yethalf an hour of play in order to get better acquainted with her newfriend. In fact, the acquaintance proceeded so easily that PanTarkowski soon placed her in lady fashion on Saba's back and, holdingher from fear that she might fall, ordered Stas to lead the dog by thecollar. She rode thus a score of paces, after which Stas tried to mountthis peculiar "saddle-horse," but the dog sat on his hind legs so thatStas unexpectedly found himself on the sand near the tail.
The children were about to retire when in the distance on
the marketplace, illumined by the moon, appeared two white figures walkingtowards the tents.
The hitherto gentle Saba began to growl hollowly and threateningly sothat Chamis, at Mr. Rawlinson's order, again had to take hold of thecollar, and in the meantime two men dressed in white burnooses stoodbefore the tent.
"Who is there?" asked Pan Tarkowski.
"Camel drivers," answered one of the arrivals.
"Ah, Idris and Gebhr? What do you want?"
"We come to ask whether you will need us to-morrow."
"No. To-morrow and the day after are great holidays, during which it isnot proper to make excursions. Come on the morning of the third day."
"Thank you, effendi."
"Have you good camels?" asked Mr. Rawlinson.
"Bismillah!" answered Idris; "real saddle-horses