DAOUD THE LITTLE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 40, 7 October 1867, Page 4

DAOUD THE LITTLE.

CHAPTER 111.

“The world is very beautiful, and full of a sweet variety, morally as well as physically; one bucket falls as another rises, but it is not always the lighter that ascends, nor do the good prosper as they ought to do.” iio mused Daoud the Little, a few months after the incidents we have first detailed, when he found that honesty had not obtained its just reward, and that he was constrained to leave Bassova, and seev elsewhere for employment. “A bird in the hand” had scarcely p oved “worth two in the hush,” he t ought, unless the gratification derived from the just punishment of Yousscfs knavery could counterbalance the trouble and subsequent disappointment he had to endure when he found no 'substantial advantages arising from his recovery of the Tunquin goldfinch of the favourite Airaoe.

He wandered for many leagues, and, taking a northern) Inaction, suffered great privations, until, after visiting several towns and villages, ho arrived at length at Mosul, and was constrained to accept employment in the repairs of a causeway of one of the principal suburbs of that city. Here he toiled, going backwards and forwards daily from the city to the place of his labours.

After his fcastinading, Youssef made no delay in (putting ii.vssora. He was perfectly aware that the world was not so narrow but that he might be able to conceal for a time his evil reputation, and as beheld the opinion that some hundreds of fools are born-every day, ho specially hoped that he might yet light upon one of them whom he might for a time victimise.

“ Mankind are like vegetables, after all, 51 said Youssef. ‘“There are your plants that grow on earth and those that float on water; others that live-on air with nothing to cling to but the barren rock. There are also your parasitical plants, over which has a special cave, —plants that live-on other plants, sucking the juices, exhausting the vigour, even until they die, of other vegetable productions. Yes, and of such a species am I in the natural order of society

_ Recruiting his invention with reflections of this sort, Youssef levied his exactions whtreever he could, lor some time he led a roving, scrambling life, not being - able to fls himself for . a while in any congenial soil. At one time he assumed tue habit of a-cervi.se, levying contributions -from the , pious; on another occasion he assumed the habit and practised the austerities of a fakir.

The latter profession, however he soon abandi ned, for although he had hypocrisy and cunning enough to qualify a whole college of these enthusiasts, he soon found that the starvation - and torture system, even on the most restricted scale, by no means suited his constitution. He then became for a brief period amughrihi or magician, and sat for hours in corners of the public places with a collection of strangely inscribed slips of writing before him, from which he cast omens for all who sought his aid. However, ho obtained but a precarious living in any •of these pursuits. At length the lucky moment came. Great disturbances, he heard had broken out at Motul, on account of the exactions of the ] acha; nay. it was asserted that one portion of the city was in the bands of rioters, and given up to the plunder •of slaves and the lowest of the populace, koussef hastened thither and joined the insurgents; but directly he heard of the approach- of the ’pacha -with additional forces,he betrayed his comrades, and by admitting the soldiery through a postern gate which was confided to his special charge, he secured the triumph of the Government party —a success which was brought with the slaughter and puoscription of a vast number of the -inhabi■tants.

ioussef was not without reward ; and -although no rich merchant nor prosperous Utzaar-keoper was assigned.as his

shave of tl e booty, and from whom he might extort a subsidy, he was at once promoted to a high station in the pacha’s household, and before six months had elapsed, became that officer’s master of the horse.

It was not long 1 , however, before Youssefis old propensities breke out with renewed vioh nee. Lucrative as his position was, he thought it Iris duty to increase, like his superiors, the perquisites of his place by plunder, and very soon every client that approached, or any individual that he could influence) was alike subject to bis exactions, his threats or his cajolery. ■One peculiar passion, however, lie entertained; no length of time could diminish, no prosperity weaken, his hatred of Daoud the Little, and his determination to bo avenged upon him. He had caught sight of him one day as he was -engaged in his labour on the causeway, and the humble but apparently contented aspect of bis former-companion seemed to cast a reflection that darkened all his own prosperity, and sent a pang of hatred to bis heart. How to consumate the ruin and death of Daoud was the leading thought in his mind. Soon, however, had Youssef to scramble for himself. One day as he was about to mount at the head of a numerous cavalcade, prepared to accompany Mustapha Pacha on one of his official visitations into a neighbouring district, tne pacha, suddenly accosting him in a voice of thunder, bade him “ retire to the rear of the procession, and, at the peril of his head, beware how he encountered his glance during that day!” From the menacing tone of his master and his -consciousness of what such throats prognosticate, Youssef was not satisfied with hanging in the rear of the cavalcade, and he soon found an opportunity of making a precipitate retreat. Kis first impulse was to try the speed o' his horse in a direction as opposite as possible to that which the pacha had taken, and so leave Mosul altogether, or at least until the pacha himself had felt some of the usual vicissitudes of official life, and a successor ruled in his stead.

The second reflection assured him that, as the pacha would necessarily he absent frembis palace for some Lours, lie bad at least that period of reprieve, and doubted not that, in the interval, something might turn up to his advantage. Accordingly lie returned to his duties, as if nothing of an unpleasant nature had occ tired. He was not. idle, however; his fears stimulated his curiosity, and he soon learnt from a confidant that he had that mornding been denounced to the pacha for his cupidity and extortion, and that his ruin, if not. his death, urns resolved upon. It was even worse than this, for the pacha had himself drawn up a written warrant for the immediate application of the bowstring to the unfortunate Youssef.

It was Mustapha’s intention to deliver this warrant to the proper officer, but, in the hurry of his departure, he had thrust the paper into his robe, and forgotten it for the moment. The appearance of Youssef, however, among his officers, instantly recalled his determination—hence'his threatening attitude. He resolved, nevertheless, to delay the execution of his design until the return of tb e cavalcade to Mosul.

Youssef saw it was necessary to be prompt in action. lie swept away all the money that came within his reach, not being very nice whether it belonged to himself or to the absent officers of his guard. As he passed out of the palace he observed in a corner of the audiencechamber a matchlock belonging to his master, a weapon made of costly materials, and elaborate for its workmanship and ornaments, —a prize indeed in itself, worth all the wealth he carried with him. i Concealing it as he thought in his garments, he departed by a private door, and hurrying off to one of the city gates took good care to avoid the one by which he expected the pacha and his retinue -would return. He entered the causeway, where he beheld poor little Daoud laboring with his usual industry at some piece-work, all his companions having gone to a festival held in one of the squares of the city. Covering up the matchlock closer than ever in his robe he approached Daoud and entered into conversation with him,more out of curiosity to see if he were recognised in his altered appearance and costume than any consideration ne bore to Daoud’s present condition. iDaoud appeared to have no knowledge of him; so, after bantering the poor laborer upon his wret hed appearance, and bidding him hang himself sooner than consume his life in such misery, Youssef withdrew, and creeping stealthily along the causeway prepared to strike into the open country. At this moment Youssef heard the rapid approach of a horseman. Apprehensive of danger, and thinking doubtless that the-rider might be some emissary of the pacha, sent to order hisarrest, he stopped and dbsevving by the way-side the low broken wall of a deserted hermitage, he .-crouched down and concealed himself behind it. To his astonishment themanwLoappvoached was no other than the Mustapha himself. He recognised the pacha immediately by his splendid robe and the jewelled ornaments of bis plumed turban.

Youssefs eyes Hashed fire; ho grasped

the matchlock and and placed its muzzle through an opening in the old wall. Quick as thought, he applied the match, for he had not forgotten to provide himself in that particular. The piece was loaded, hut some portion of the powder had fallen out, and the explosion was slight. A puff of white smoke curled through the weeds and brambles that clustered up the wall but the bullet sped, and went, as aimed, true to the victim’s heart. Mustapha clapped his hand upon his sword and half drew it; then falling from his horse, lie rolled in a cloud of dust upon the road. (To be concluded in our next.)