an unprotected female at the pyramids-第4章

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don't　you　make　him　understand　that　if　all　the　Pyramids　depended　on　it；
I　would　not　give　him　sixpence！〃

And　then　Abdallah；　thus　invoked；　came　up；　and　explained　to　the　man　in
Arabic　that　he　would　gain　his　object　more　surely　if　he　would　behave
himself　a　little　more　quietly；　a　hint　which　the　man　took　for　one
minute；　and　for　one　minute　only。

And　then　poor　Mrs。　Damer　replied　to　an　application　for　backsheish　by
the　gift　of　a　sixpence。　　Unfortunate　woman！　　The　word　backsheish　means；
I　believe；　a　gift；　but　it　has　come　in　Egypt　to　signify　money；　and　is
eternally　dinned　into　the　ears　of　strangers　by　Arab　suppliants。　　Mrs。
Damer　ought　to　have　known　better；　as；　during　the　last　six　weeks　she　had
never　shown　her　face　out　of　Shepheard's　Hotel　without　being　pestered
for　backsheish；　but　she　was　tired　and　weak；　and　foolishly　thought　to
rid　herself　of　the　man　who　was　annoying　her。

No　sooner　had　the　coin　dropped　from　her　hand　into　that　of　the　Arab；
than　she　was　surrounded　by　a　cluster　of　beggars；　who　loudly　made　their
petitions　as　though　they　would；　each　of　them；　individually　be　injured
if　treated　with　less　liberality　than　that　first　comer。　　They　took　hold
of　her　donkey；　her　bridle；　her　saddle；　her　legs；　and　at　last　her　arms
and　hands；　screaming　for　backsheish　in　voices　that　were　neither　sweet
nor　mild。

In　her　dismay　she　did　give　away　sundry　small　coinsall；　probably；　that
she　had　about　her；　but　this　only　made　the　matter　worse。　　Money　was
going；　and　each　man；　by　sufficient　energy；　might　hope　to　get　some　of
it。　　They　were　very　energetic；　and　so　frightened　the　poor　lady　that　she
would　certainly　have　fallen；　had　she　not　been　kept　on　her　seat　by　the
pressure　around　her。

〃Oh；　dear！　oh；　dear！　get　away；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　haven't　got　any　more；
indeed　I　haven't。　　Go　away；　I　tell　you！　　Mr。　Damer！　oh；　Mr。　Damer！〃　and
then；　in　the　excess　of　her　agony；　she　uttered　one　loud；　long；　and
continuous　shriek。

Up　came　Mr。　Damer；　up　came　Abdallah；　up　came　M。　Delabordeau；　up　came
Mr。　Ingram；　and　at　last　she　was　rescued。　　〃You　shouldn't　go　away　and
leave　me　to　the　mercy　of　these　nasty　people。　　As　to　that　Abdallah；　he
is　of　no　use　to　anybody。〃

〃Why　you　bodder　de　good　lady；　you　dem　blackguard？〃　said　Abdallah；
raising　his　stick；　as　though　he　were　going　to　lay　them　all　low　with　a
blow。　　〃Now　you　get　noting；　you　tief！〃

The　Arabs　for　a　moment　retired　to　a　little　distance；　like　flies　driven
from　a　sugar…bowl；　but　it　was　easy　to　see　that；　like　the　flies；　they
would　return　at　the　first　vacant　moment。

And　now　they　had　reached　the　very　foot　of　the　Pyramids　and　proceeded　to
dismount　from　their　donkeys。　　Their　intention　was　first　to　ascend　to
the　top；　then　to　come　down　to　their　banquet；　and　after　that　to
penetrate　into　the　interior。　　And　all　this　would　seem　to　be　easy　of
performance。　　The　Pyramid　is　undoubtedly　high；　but　it　is　so　constructed
as　to　admit　of　climbing　without　difficulty。　　A　lady　mounting　it　would
undoubtedly　need　some　assistance；　but　any　man　possessed　of　moderate
activity　would　require　no　aid　at　all。

But　our　friends　were　at　once　imbued　with　the　tremendous　nature　of　the
task　before　them。　　A　sheikh　of　the　Arabs　came　forth；　who　communicated
with　them　through　Abdallah。　　The　work　could　be　done；　no　doubt；　he　said；
but　a　great　many　men　would　be　wanted　to　assist。　　Each　lady　must　have
four　Arabs；　and　each　gentlemen　three；　and　then；　seeing　that　the　work
would　be　peculiarly　severe　on　this　special　day；　each　of　these　numerous
Arabs　must　be　remunerated　by　some　very　large　number　of　piastres。

Mr。　Damer；　who　was　by　no　means　a　close　man　in　his　money　dealings；
opened　his　eyes　with　surprise；　and　mildly　expostulated；　M。　Delabordeau；
who　was　rather　a　close　man　in　his　reckonings；　immediately　buttoned　up
his　breeches　pocket　and　declared　that　he　should　decline　to　mount　the
Pyramid　at　all　at　that　price；　and　then　Mr。　Ingram　descended　to　the
combat。

The　protestations　of　the　men　were　fearful。　　They　declared；　with　loud
voices；　eager　actions；　and　manifold　English　oaths；　that　an　attempt　was
being　made　to　rob　them。　　They　had　a　right　to　demand　the　sums　which　they
were　charging；　and　it　was　a　shame　that　English　gentlemen　should　come
and　take　the　bread　out　of　their　mouths。　　And　so　they　screeched；
gesticulated；　and　swore；　and　frightened　poor　Mrs。　Damer　almost　into
fits。

But　at　last　it　was　settled　and　away　they　started；　the　sheikh　declaring
that　the　bargain　had　been　made　at　so　low　a　rate　as　to　leave　him　not　one
piastre　for　himself。　　Each　man　had　an　Arab　on　each　side　of　him；　and
Miss　Dawkins　and　Miss　Damer　had　each；　in　addition；　one　behind。　　Mrs。
Damer　was　so　frightened　as　altogether　to　have　lost　all　ambition　to
ascend。　　She　sat　below　on　a　fragment　of　stone；　with　the　three　dragomans
standing　around　her　as　guards；　but　even　with　the　three　dragomans　the
attacks　on　her　were　so　frequent；　and　as　she　declared　afterwards　she　was
so　bewildered；　that　she　never　had　time　to　remember　that　she　had　come
there　from　England　to　see　the　Pyramids；　and　that　she　was　now
immediately　under　them。

The　boys；　utterly　ignoring　their　guides；　scrambled　up　quicker　than　the
Arabs　could　follow　them。　　Mr。　Damer　started　off　at　a　pace　which　soon
brought　him　to　the　end　of　his　tether；　and　from　that　point　was　dragged
up　by　the　sheer　strength　of　his　assistants；　thereby　accomplishing　the
wishes　of　the　men；　who　induce　their　victims　to　start　as　rapidly　as
possible；　in　order　that　they　may　soon　find　themselves　helpless　from
want　of　wind。　　Mr。　Ingram　endeavoured　to　attach　himself　to　Fanny；　and
she　would　have　been　nothing　loth　to　have　him　at　her　right　hand　instead
of　the　hideous　brown；　shrieking；　one…eyed　Arab　who　took　hold　of　her。
But　it　was　soon　found　that　any　such　arrangement　was　impossible。　　Each
guide　felt　that　if　he　lost　his　own　peculiar　hold　he　would　lose　his
prey；　and　held　on；　therefore；　with　invincible　tenacity。　　Miss　Dawkins
looked；　too；　as　though　she　had　thought　to　be　attended　to　by　some
Christian　cavalier；　but　no　Christian　cavalier　was　forthcoming。　　M。
Delabordeau　was　the　wisest；　for　he　took　the　matter　quietly；　did　as　he
was　bid；　and　allowed　the　guides　nearly　to　carry　him　to　the　top　of　the
edifice。

〃Ha！　so　this　is　the　top　of　the　Pyramid；　is　it？〃　said　Mr。　Damer；
bringing　out　his　words　one　by　one；　being　terribly　out　of　breath。　　〃Very
wonderful；　very　wonderful；　indeed！〃

〃It　is　wonderful；〃　said　Miss　Dawkins；　whose　breath　had　not　failed　her
in　the　least；　〃very　wonderful；　indeed！　　Only　think；　Mr。　Damer；　you
might　travel　on　for　days　and　days；　till　days　became　months；　through
those　interminable　sands；　and　yet　you　would　never　come　to　the　end　of
them。　　Is　it　not　quite　stupendous？〃

〃Ah；　yes；　quite；puff；　puff〃said　Mr。　Damer　striving　to　regain　his
breath。

Mr。　Damer　was　now　at　her　disposal；　weak　and　worn　with　toil　and　travel；
out　of　breath；　and　with　half　his　manhood　gone；　if　ever　she　might
prevail　over　him　so　as　to　procure　from　his　mouth　an　assent　to　that　Nile
proposition；　it　would　be　now。　　And　after　all；　that　Nile　proposition　was
the　best　one　now　before　her。　　She　did　not　quite　like　the　idea　of
starting　off　across　the　Great　Desert　without　any　lady；　and　was　not　sure
that　she　was　prepared　to　be　fallen　in　love　with　by　M。　Delabordeau；　even
if　there　should　ultimately　be　any　readiness　on　the　part　of　that
gentleman　to　perform　the　role　of　lover。　　With　Mr。　Ingram　the　matter　was
different；　nor　was　she　so　diffident　of　her　own　charms　as　to　think　it
altogether　impossible　that　she　might　succeed；　in　the　teeth　of　that
little　chit；　Fanny　Damer。　　That　Mr。　Ingram　would　join　the　party　up　the
Nile　she　had　very　little　doubt；　and　then　there　would　be　one　place　left
for　her。　　She　would　thus；　at　any　rate；　become　commingled　with　a　most
respectable　family；　who　might　be　of　material　service　to　her。

Thus　actuated　she　commenced　an　earnest　attack　upon　Mr。　Damer。

〃Stupendous！〃　she　said　again；　for　she　was　fond　of　repeating　favourite
words。　　〃What　a　wondrous　race　must　have　been　those　Egyptian　kings　of
old！〃

〃I　dare　say　they　were；〃　said　Mr。　Damer；　wiping　his　brow　as　he　sat　upon
a　large　loose　stone；　a　fragment　lying　on　the　flat　top　of　the　Pyramid；
one　of　those　stones　with　which　the　complete　apex　was　once　made；　or　was
once　about　to　be　made。

〃A　magnificent　race！　so　gigantic　in　their　conceptions！　　Their　ideas
altogether　overwhelm　us　poor；　insignificant；　latter…day　mortals。　　They
built　these　vast　Pyramids；　but　for　us；　it　is　task　enough　to　climb　to
their　top。〃

〃Quite　enough；〃　ejaculated　Mr。　Damer。

But　Mr。　Damer　would　not　always　remain　weak　and　out　of　breath；　and　it
was　absolutely　necessary　for　Miss　Dawkins　to　hurry　away　from　Cheops　and
his　tomb；　to　Thebes　and　Karnac。

〃After　seeing　this　it　is　impossible　for　any　one　with　a　spark　of
imagination　to　leave　Egypt　without　going　farther　a…field。〃

Mr。　Damer　merely　wiped　his　brow　and　grunted。　　This　Miss　Dawkins　took　as
a　signal　of　weakness；　and　went　on　with　her　task　perseveringly。

〃For　myself；　I　have　resolved　to　go　up；　at　any　rate；　as　far　as　Asouan
and　the　first　cataract。　　I　had　thought　of　acceding　to　the　wishes　of　a
party　who　are　going　across　the　Great　Desert　by　Mount　Sinai　to
Jerusalem；　but　the　kindness　of　yourself　and　Mrs。　Damer　is　so　great；　and
the　prospect　of　joining　in　your　boat　is　so　pleasurable；　that　I　have
made　up　my　mind　to　accept　your　very　kind　offer。〃

This；　it　will　be　acknowledged；　was　bold　on　the　part　of　Miss　Dawkins；
but　what　will　not　audacity　effect？　　To　use　the　slang　of　modern
language；　cheek　carries　everything　nowadays。　　And　whatever　may　have
been　Miss　Dawkins's　deficiencies；　in　this　virtue　she　was　not　deficient。

〃I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　accept　your　very　kind　offer；〃　she　said；
shining　on　Mr。　Damer　with　her　blandest　smile。

What　was　a　stout；　breathless；　perspiring；　middle…aged　gentleman　to　do
under　such　circumstances？　　Mr。　Damer　was　a　man　who；　in　most　matters；
had　his　own　way。　　That　his　wife　should　have　given　such　an　invitation
without　consulting　him；　was；　he　knew；　quite　impossible。　　She　would　as
soon　have　thought　of　asking　all　those　Arab　guides　to　accompany　them。
Nor　was　it　to　be　thought　of　that　he　should　allow　himself　to　be
kidnapped　into　such　an　arrangement　by　the　impudence　of　any　Miss
Dawkins。　　But　there　was；　he　felt；　a　difficulty　in　answering　such　a
proposition　from　a　young　lady　with　a　direct　negative；　especially　while
he　was　so　scant　of　breath。　　So　he　wiped　his　brow　again；　and　looked　at
her。

〃But　I　can　only　agree　to　this　on　one　understanding；〃　continued　Miss
Dawkins；　〃and　that　is；　that　I　am　allowed　to　defray　my　own　full　share　of
the　expense　of　the　journey。〃

Upon　hearing　this　Mr。　Damer　thought　that　he　saw　his　way　out　of　the
wood。　　〃Wherever　I　go；　Miss　Dawkins；　I　am　always　the　paymaster　myself；〃
and　this　he　contrived　to　say　with　some　sternness；　palpitating　though　he
still　was；　and　the　sternness　which　was　deficient　in　his　voice　he
endeavoured　to　put　into　his　countenance。

But　he　did　not　know　Miss　Dawkins。　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Damer；〃　she　said；　and　as
she　spoke　her　smile　became　almost　blander　than　it　was　before；　〃oh；　Mr。
Damer；　I　could　not　think　of　suffering　you　to　be　so　liberal；　I　could
not；　indeed。　　But　I　shall　be　quite　content　that　you　should　pay
everything；　and　let　me　settle　with　you　in　one　sum　afterwards。〃

Mr。　Damer's　breath　was　n