Part 13 (1/2)
”Then give ear unto me,” said the Khalifa, in a low, earnest tone.
”Thou hast admitted that we have both much to gain by the downfall of thy Sultan, therefore we must act together carefully, with perfect trust in one another. My suggestion is that exactly four moons from to-day my fighting-men, to the number of sixteen thousand, shall encamp at various points two days distant, ready to converge upon this city. On thy part, thou wilt invent some grievance against the Sultan to stir up discontent among the guards, Janissaries and slaves, and let the dissatisfaction spread to the army itself. Then, when they are ripe for revolt, an announcement will be made that the Dervishes are already in force at the city gates, and that if they are prepared to live under better conditions, with thyself as ruler under the Khalifa, they must throw down their arms. This they will a.s.suredly do, and my Ansar will enter the city and the Fada as conquerors. They will have orders to kill the Sultan at once, and to secure his daughter Azala, of whose wondrous beauty I have heard much, for my harem. In the meantime, Katsena and Sokoto will be immediately subdued by my hors.e.m.e.n, and before sundown I shall be proclaimed ruler throughout the Empire. a.s.suredly, I shall not forget thee, and thy gains will be large. This palace, with the whole of the harem and half the treasure it containeth, shall be given unto thee, and thou wilt continue to reside here and rule on my behalf.
Under my suzerainty thy power will be absolute, and with the army of the Soudan at thy back thou wilt fear none.”
”Thou temptest me, O Khalifa,” the Aga said, still undecided to turn traitor to the monarch who reposed in him the utmost confidence. ”But even if thou gavest unto me this palace I should not have the means to keep it up. Of a verity I am a poor man, and--”
”Do my bidding and thou shalt be wealthy,” Abdullah exclaimed, impatiently. ”As Governor of Sokoto thine expenses will come from the Treasury, therefore trouble thyself not upon that score. Stir up the revolt, and take precaution that the life of the Princess Azala is preserved; leave the rest unto me.”
”The daughter of the Sultan hath already a lover,” Khazneh said suddenly, his words causing my heart to beat so quickly that I could distinctly hear it.
”A lover!” cried the Khalifa. ”Who dareth to gaze upon her with thoughts of affection?”
”A spy from thy camp.”
”From my camp?” he repeated, puzzled.
”I had intended that he should lose his head, but the Sultan himself pardoned him because he feared the consequence of some strange symbol the spy bore upon his breast.”
”Was he the Arab horseman captured at the well of Sabo-n-Gari?” asked the Khalifa, with knit brows, evidently recollecting the description I had given of the attack.
”The same. The Lalla Azala saved his life, and declared to me that she loved him.”
”Then I, the Khalifa, have a rival in Zafar, the chief of my body-servants!” my master cried angrily, between his teeth. ”I will give orders to-day for his removal.”
”Send his head to her as a present,” suggested the Aga, with a brutal laugh. ”The sight of it will break her spirit.”
”Thy lips utter words of wisdom. I will send it to thee, that thou mayest convey it to her.”
Thus I stood, hearing my fate being discussed, not daring to move a muscle, for so close was I to the pair, that I could have struck them dead with the keen _jambiyah_ I carried in my sash.
”Then it is thine intention to annex Sokoto unto thine already extensive domains,” the Aga exclaimed, in a few moments.
The Khalifa nodded an affirmative, adding, ”Hesitate no longer, but give thy decision. If thou wilt open the gates of Kano for the admission of my Ansar, thou shalt, as reward, occupy the highest and most lucrative post in the Empire. If not--” And he shrugged his shoulders significantly.
”And if not?” the Aga asked, slowly.
”If not, then every man in Omdurman capable of bearing arms shall come forth unto this thy city, and take it by a.s.sault. Then a.s.suredly will little mercy be shown those who have defied the Ruler of the Soudan,”
and his brow darkened. ”The Empire, as thou hast said, is badly governed. Men are appointed to all offices who are unfit, war languishes, thine enemies rejoice, the leaders of thy troops prefer their harems to their camps, and from the cadis the people obtain no justice. Therefore give me the promise of thine a.s.sistance, and let us together gather the reins of office in our hands. Thou hast no power now outside the Courts of Enchantment, and no wealth beyond thine emoluments, but it is within thy reach to acquire both wealth and greatness.”
”But if, while I sought to alienate the guards and soldiers against the Sultan, my seditious words should be whispered into his ear? a.s.suredly my head would fall beneath the _doka_ of the executioner.”
”Fear not,” answered the head of the Mahdists. ”If thou art willing to carry out my suggestion, I shall make an excuse for remaining as guest of thy Sultan, by continuing the negotiations for the defensive treaty against those dogs of English. At sundown to-night a trusty messenger will leave, bearing orders to my emirs to a.s.semble the troops and speed hither with all haste, and while the Sultan is unsuspecting, his doom will fast approach. What craft cannot effect, gold may perchance accomplish. If thy treasonable practices are detected, then will I intercede for thee, and he cannot act in direct opposition to the entreaty of his guest. But hearken! Some one is astir!”
The patter of bare feet upon the polished pavement broke the silence as intently we listened. A black slave was approaching.
”Come, give me thine answer quickly, and before sundown our written undertakings under seal shall be secretly exchanged.”
Khazneh hesitated. Apparently he was distrustful of the Khalifa's true intentions, although the generous reward promised for his services in securing the entry of the Dervishes without opposition was a tempting bait. His fingers toyed nervously with the jewelled hilt of his sword-- the keen, curved weapon that had struck off so many fair heads within the brilliant Courts of Enchantment--and again he bit his uneven fingernails.
”Think! Thou hast much to gain, with naught to lose,” urged the Khalifa. ”Under me thou wilt occupy the same position as thine Imperial Master. Come, speak; and let us part ere we are remarked.”
”I--I will a.s.sist thee,” the Aga stammered at last, in a low, half-frightened whisper. ”At sundown let our secret compact be concluded.”
My astute master well knew that the temptation to secure wealth and power would induce the scheming Aga of the Women to become his catspaw.