American fiction -- 19th century; Dime novels; Popular literature
Unexpected obstacles arise in his path--obstacles which in his native
land he could brush aside, or at least subdue with the sword, but which
are of a more serious nature under the civilizing influence of the
Stars and Stripes.
First of all, as the man from Stamboul is about to take Dorothy in his
arms, he is surprised to find someone tugging at his sleeve, someone
who seems bent upon distracting his attention, and who will not cease
even when he gives a bearlike shrug.
When he hears a woman’s voice pouring upon his devoted head all the
miserable names known in the Turkish language, the pasha, struck by
a sudden recollection, thinks it worth while to turn his attention
thither.
Of course it is the fortune teller; she realizes the peril of her
child. Since the day when Samson Cereal stole her away, she has learned
to look at the old-time habits of the Turks with aversion, and the
mother love in her heart, which nothing on earth can destroy, urges her
to save Dorothy.
As well might she appeal to a Nero. This dark-skinned man comes from
a country where women are bought and sold. As he sees who thus annoys
him, he frowns like a Tartar, and bellows out a string of oaths strange
to the gathering crowd.
There are those who hear, those who know his voice but to obey. Two
men seize upon the fortune teller of Cairo Street, and despite her
struggles bear her away.
“She is crazy,” is the only reply they make to the questions showered
upon them, as they half drag the woman further into the Plaisance.
Again the triumphant pasha bends forward to relieve the woman of her
lovely burden, but, shades of Mohammed! what is this that now descends
upon him with the fury of a young hurricane? What but the Canadian
protectorate, bent upon stepping between Turkey and the daughter of
Chicago!
One fling Craig gives the stout pasha, only a single flip of his
well-trained arms, and the Oriental goes spinning around like a
teetotum or a whirling dervish, bringing up in the arms of a gay young
fellow who has just come from the beer tables of Old Vienna and is
consequently in a hilarious condition.
“Set ’em up in t’other alley,” he shouts; “don’t send ’em in so hard.
Whoop! now you’re in the game, old man; back you go,” with which the
breezy reveler gives Aroun Scutari another whirl, which sends him
halfway back again, a collision with an elderly woman bringing his mad
dance to a sudden stop, as both of them fall over, and her startled
screams add to the clamor.
No sooner has Aleck entered the affair than he has his hands full.
His action in seizing upon the sacred person of the Turk was
equivalent to throwing down the gauntlet, and the Canadian is
immediately set upon by a number of worthies whose itching palms have
been crossed with the gold that makes them slaves to Scutari.
He is in his element, this man of Montreal: not that such a brawl is to
his liking, but the object for which he strives is a sacred one to a
gentleman--the defense of innocence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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