"
"What is the true faith?" inquired I, in fear and amazement.
"There is but one God," replied he, "and I am his prophet."
* * * * *
"Merciful Allah!" exclaimed the pacha, "why, it must have been Mahomed
himself."
"It was so, your highness, although I knew it not at the time."
* * * * *
"Prove unto me that it is the true faith," said I.
"I will," replied he; "I will turn the heart of the infidel captain,"
and he disappeared. The next day the captain of the vessel, to my
astonishment, came to me as I lay on the forecastle, and begging my
pardon for the cruelty that he had been guilty of, shed tears over me,
and ordered me to be carried to his cabin. He laid me in his own bed,
and watched me as he would a favourite child. In a short time I
recovered; after which he would permit me to do no duty, but insisted
upon my being his guest, and loaded me with every kindness.
* * * * *
"God is great!" ejaculated the pacha.
* * * * *
I was lying in my bed, meditating upon these things, when the venerable
form again appeared to me.
"Art them now convinced?"
"I am," replied I.
"Then prove it by submitting to the law the moment that you are able.
You shall be rewarded--not at once, but when your faith has been proved.
Mark me, follow your profession on the seas, and, when once you find
yourself sitting in the divan at Cairo, with two people originally of
the same profession as yourself, without others being present, and have
made this secret known, then you shall be appointed to the command of
the pacha's fleet, which under your directions shall always meet with
success.
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