Of the nature or character of this event all were alike ignorant. They merely knew they were commanded to assemble, and the authority of the khan, backed by that of the Grand Mufti Salaman, ranking next to him, was sufficient to bring them to a man at the appointed hour.
The press was truly great, even in this spacious4 hall of audience. Upon a raised dais sat Ahmed Khan, arrayed in his most magnificent robe of state. At one side, but upon a lower platform, sat Prince Kasam, and at the Khan’s right hand stood the Grand Mufti, wearing his decoration of the jewelled star.
A silence bred of intense curiosity pervaded5 the assemblage. Even Zarig, who, clad in his well-worn riding dress, had pressed close to the platform, was awed6 by the dignity of the proceedings7 and glanced nervously8 from Kasam to Ahmed and then upon the stately form of the priest.
Presently the great Salaman stepped forward, offering a brief prayer imploring9 the guidance of Moses, of Jesus, of Mahomet and of Allah the All-Wise upon their deliberations. Then, drawing himself erect10, he addressed the people in these words:
“My friends and brothers, it is my duty to declare to you, as representatives of all the people, that a great wrong has been done you. It was not an intentional11 wrong, nor one which, having been discovered, may not be fully12 redressed13; nevertheless, you must hear the truth and act upon it as you deem just and right.”
He paused, and a thrill of excitement swept over the throng14. In all their history no such thing as this had been known before.
“The man who sits before you as Ahmed Khan,” resumed the priest, in a cold voice, “came to you purporting15 to be the grandson of Keedar Khan and the son of Burah Khan, and thus entitled to rule over you. He is, indeed, the legitimate16 grandson of the great Keedar; but he is no son of Burah, being the offspring of Keedar’s younger brother Merad, who fled to Persia an exile in his youth.”
Notwithstanding the astonishing nature of this intelligence the assemblage maintained its silent, curious attitude. Many eyes were turned upon the calm and dignified17 countenance18 of Ahmed Khan, but no mark or token of unfriendliness was manifested in these glances.
The priest continued:
“Those among you who heard the dying Burah acknowledge this man to be his son,before all the sirdars, will marvel19 that my statement can be true. You must now know that at that time Burah had really been dead for two days, and that another falsely took his place. It was this lawless one who, masquerading as the khan, made the formal acknowledgment. For this reason Ahmed has never legally been your khan. He is not your khan now.”
At last a murmur20 burst from the throng; but to the listening ears of the priest it seemed more a sound of amazement21 than of protest or indignation. Ahmed arose from the throne, drew off his splendid robe of office and laid it over the arm of the chair, disclosing to all eyes the simple inner garb22 of a tribesman of Ugg. With dignified mien23 he stepped from the dais to the lower platform and held up a hand to command silence. Instantly every voice was hushed as if by magic.
“Brothers,” said he, “if I have wronged you I beg your forgiveness. Most willingly I now resign the throne to which I am not entitled, and ask you to choose for yourselves one more worthy24 than I to rule over you.”
“Ahmed! Give us Ahmed for our Khan! None shall rule us but Ahmed, the grandson of Keedar Khan!”
Salaman turned pale at this unexpected denouement27, which threatened to wreck28 all his plans. He strode forward and seized Ahmed’s arm, dragging him into the background and then returning himself to confront the multitude.
Higher and higher the shouts arose, while the priest waved his hands to subdue29 the excitement that he might again be heard.
Zarig, scowling30 fiercely as the crowd pressed him against the edge of the platform, fingered his dagger31 as if longing32 to still this unwelcome homage33 to one of the hated tribe of Ugg; but so far as Salaman could determine there were few others who did not join the enthusiastic tribute to Ahmed.
But gradually the dignitaries tired of their unusual demonstration34, and remembering their official characters subsided35 to their accustomed calm. The priest took advantage of the first moment that he could be plainly heard.
“Listen well, chieftains and friends!” he cried. “It is clear to me that your loyalty36 and admiration37 for Keedar’s grandson have clouded your clearer judgment38. Not that I denounce Ahmed as unworthy to rule, but that before your eyes sits one entitled above all others to occupy the throne of his forefathers—the descendant of seven generations of just and worthy rulers of this land. Brothers, I present to you one who is a native-born Baluch—the noblest of you all—Prince Kasam of Raab!”
Kasam, who until now had been ignorant of the purposes of Salaman, and was therefore as greatly astonished as any man present, obeyed the beckoning39 finger of the priest and arose to face his people with that air of proud dignity he knew so well how to assume.
Zarig shouted his name wildly: “Kasam! Kasam Khan!” and a few others, carried away by the priest’s words, followed the sirdar’s lead. But the shouts for Kasam were soon drowned by more lusty acclaims40 for Ahmed, and Salaman hesitated, at a loss how to act, while Kasam shrank back as if he keenly felt the humiliation41 of his rejection42.
“No Ahmed Khan for me!” he shouted, and drawing a slender dagger from his belt he threw himself upon the American with the ferocity of a tiger.
But Kasam was even quicker. Before the multitude realized the tragic44 nature of the scene being enacted45, the Prince had fallen upon his sirdar and plunged46 his knife twice into Zarig’s breast. The man fell to the floor in a death agony, dragging Ahmed with him, while above them Kasam stood grasping the weapon that had so promptly47 saved the life of the man whom his people had preferred before him.
Then, indeed, a shout of admiration burst from the Baluchi, their impulsive48 natures quick to respond to the generosity49 of such an act. Ahmed, freeing himself from the dead sirdar, rose up and seizing the royal robe he had discarded flung its brilliant folds over Kasam’s shoulders. Then he knelt before his preserver, and Salaman, prompt to take advantage of the diversion which was likely to turn the tide of popular enthusiasm his way, knelt also at Kasam’s feet as if saluting50 him as kahn.
Zarig had accomplished51 by his mad act all that he had once longed for in life. The cries for Kasam grew stronger and more spontaneous, and Ahmed was able to quietly withdraw from the platform without his absence being observed.
Soon the people were as eager in shouting for Kasam as they had been for Ahmed, and Salaman lost no time in completing the ceremony that established the heir of seven generations of rulers firmly upon the throne.
Janet met her husband at the entrance to the harem, where he had hurried as soon as he could escape from the hall.
“Well, how did it end?” she asked. “They terrified me, at first, with their cries for Ahmed Khan.”
“They terrified me, too, sweetheart,” he answered lightly. “But my cousin Kasam is truly made of the right stuff, and turned the tide in the nick of time. Now then, join me—all together, dear one!—hurrah for Kasam Khan!”
And as their voices died away an answering shout, grave and stern, came like an echo from the great audience chamber52:
“Kasam Khan!”
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1
mosques
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| 清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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2
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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3
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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redressed
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| v.改正( redress的过去式和过去分词 )；重加权衡；恢复平衡 | |
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14
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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15
purporting
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| v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的现在分词 ) | |
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16
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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17
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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20
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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26
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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denouement
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| n.结尾，结局 | |
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28
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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29
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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30
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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31
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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32
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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33
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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34
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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35
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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36
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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37
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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38
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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39
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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40
acclaims
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| 向…欢呼( acclaim的第三人称单数 )； 向…喝彩； 称赞…； 欢呼或拥戴（某人）为… | |
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41
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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42
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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43
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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44
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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45
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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47
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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48
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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49
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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50
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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51
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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52
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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