CHAPTER LXVII.
MR. MOLE'S LETTER--A TRIP ASHORE--THE TURKISH BAZAAR--A MUSSULMANSLIPPER MERCHANT--WONDER ON WONDERS--BY THE PIPER THAT PLAYED BEFOREMOSES, AN IRISH TURK.
It is now high time to give Mr. Mole's letter which threw young JackHarkaway and his friend Harry Girdwood into such a state of excitement.
Here it is verbatim.
"MY DEAR BOY JACK,--The prolonged silence you have kept has rendered your absence a matter of serious moment to us all here, and to me more than all; I can bear it no longer. I intend to come in search of you and see for myself what keeps your tongue tied. Ah, I mean to rout you out and give a sharp eye to your shortcomings. Expect me then soon, for I hope to run athwart you, yardarm and yardarm, as an old salt we once knew used to say.
"Believe me, my dear Jack,
"Ever sincerely yours,
"ISAAC MOLE.
"P.S.--I am told that the native liquors where you are staying are more cheering than inebriating in their effects. This will suit me capitally; but as you and your companions may find sherbet rather thin diet, I shall bring with me a bottle or two of something with a more decided flavour."
"I tell you what," said Jack to his comrade Harry, "we shall have tolook out for poor old Mole. We must send word back by special courier,that he may know what direction we have taken."
Messages were sent by sure hands to the different stations which theyhad made upon their journey, to guide Mr. Mole to the place Jack andHarry were stopping at.
"Meanwhile my only recommendation is, young gentlemen, that you don'tget yourselves embroiled in any way with the native folks here anymore. The Mussulmen are fierce and fanatical, and the least provocationmay make them burst out into wildness."
The speaker was Captain Deering, and the occasion of it was the eve ofanother projected trip by Jack Harkaway and Harry Girdwood.
"We shall be careful, captain," said the latter.
"Of course," said Deering, with a merry twinkling in his eye; "youalways are."
"Always."
"There's not much to fear, captain," said Jack, lightly.
"Oh, yes, there is," responded Deering, quickly, "very much."
"How?"
"Why, very little will provoke a Mussulman when he has to deal with aChristian."
"But no one would be indelicate enough to show a want of respect totheir religious scruples," answered Harry.
"I don't see how we can interfere with them at all," said Jack. "Whyshould the question of religion be raised?"
"Not by you," returned Captain Deering, "but by them, for they will atany time unite to fall upon an unlucky Christian if opposed to aMussulman in a dispute, should the Turk choose to invoke their aidagainst the unbelievers, as they stigmatise the Christians."
"Well, captain," said Jack, who jibbed at being lectured, "you need notfear for us; we shall be careful enough."
"No doubt, Master Jack," returned the captain, drily. "You're a mildspring chicken, you are; it is only that wild, rampagious companion ofyours that I want you to look after."
Saying which, he left the two boys to their own devices.
"That's a nasty jar," said Harry, with a chuckle.
Tinker and Bogey were their only companions.
Jack and Harry had taken the orphan once more under their protectionsince his narrow escape from the trial he had passed through with thebashaw, and hearing from the orphan the description of the Turk he hadbought his dress from, they resolved to pay him a visit.
In the bazaar there were Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Arabs, and a motleycollection of coloured people.
The Turkish dealers sat at their stalls, pushing trade in a taciturnmanner, speaking little, it is true, but when they did make a remark,it was to tell lies with earnest gravity about their wares.
"If you could only speak Turkish as glibly as you did to Mr. Figgins,"said Harry Girdwood, "you should go and cheapen a fez for me, Jack."
"I could manage that, Harry," replied Jack.
"No, no," said Harry; "remember what the poor orphan suffered throughbuying his Turkish dress."
"Bother that," returned Jack. "Let's go and have a lark with that chapselling the slippers."
"Be careful."
There were several slipper vendors present.
Jack picked up a pair of slippers and inquired the price.
The dealer gave him an odd look.
Jack looked round to Harry Girdwood for assistance.
"I can't help you," returned Harry. "Ask him again."
"What's the figure, old Turkey rhubarb?" asked Jack, bowing as ifpaying the merchant a compliment.
The Turk replied with the same gravity.
"He don't appear to understand," said Harry Girdwood. "Try him in St.Giles's Greek?"
"What's the damage for the brace of trotter boxes, old Flybynight?"demanded young Harkaway, looking as solemn as a judge.
The Turkish merchant repeated the price in his native tongue, and theymade no progress in their deal.
While they were thus engaged, who should come into the bazaar but NatCringle, and with him their old friend the Irish diver?
"I'll put it to him. Mayhap he'll understand me. What an illigant ouldthafe it is," said the diver, when he had waited some time for a reply.
"Why don't ye answer, ye dirrty ould spalpeen?" he demanded, after apause. "Be gorra, av ye don't sphake, I'll give ye one wid my twig."
Saying which, he flourished his shillelagh before the slippermerchant's face, and then gave him a smart tap on his head.
The grave old Turk then found his tongue, and the reply was such astartler, that the four travellers were knocked off their moralequilibrium.
"Tare and 'ounds, ye blackyard omadhauns! Ye thavin' Saxin vaggybones!ave ye'd only thread on the tail av me coat, so as to give me agintlemanly excuse for blackin' yer squintin' eyes, I'd knock yez intonext Monday week, the blessed lot av yez!"
The four visitors stared at each other in wonder.
They had not a word to say for themselves.
No wonder that it took their breath away.
The Irish diver was the first to find his tongue.
"By the blessed piper that played before Moses, here's an Irish Turk!"
"Stop that!" ejaculated the slipper merchant; "av ye call me names,I'll have a go at yez av ye was as big as a house."
"Ye're Paddy from Cork," retorted the diver.
"Niver," protested the merchant, stoutly.
"Get along wid yez," retorted the diver, "ye Mahommedan Mormonite; nowI'll take short odds to any amount up to a farden that that brogue camefrom Galway. Tell the truth, and shame the ould gintleman as shall benameless."
The Turk had an inward struggle, and then he confessed. He was anIrishman, settled for some years in Turkey.
"But devil a word must ye say. Ye'll spoil me shop entirely," he said,"av the folks hereabout takes me for a Christian gintleman, and I shallbe kilt intirely."