THE GRAND SECRET OF HUMAN HAPPINESS. 291 
tardly muleteer to chastise for theft or laziness ! Fain would 
he plunge his sword through the miserable dog ; tear out his 
bowels, and fling them to the crows; but the baggage of the 
Howadji must go on; it won’t do to gut the wretches yet 
awhile. I’ll gut them at the end of the journey ; by Eblis, 
sir, I’ll do it in Jerusalem! yea, 0 General! I can’t wait 
even so long as that! I’ll do it in Nazareth! No, by heav¬ 
ens ! I can’t wait till then. I’ll gut ’em in Tiberias ! Two 
days from this date I’ll—what ? wait two days ? Nay ; by 
all the glories of war! I’ll do it at Malaha—the very first 
stopping-place we come to. I’ll rip them open from head to 
foot! I’ll cast their entrails out over the house-tops, to be 
devoured by birds and beasts of prey ! I’ll drink their blood 
to cool the fever of courage and defiance that forever burns 
within me ! I’ll do it at Malaha! nay, by all the horrid lux¬ 
uries of murder, I’ll gut ’em now— this very moment—Ho ! 
Mustapha ! Yakob !” 
General (seizing Yusef’s horse by the bridle).—“ Hold, 
Yusef, hold! Are you mad ? In the name of humanity, don’t 
commit such an outrage as that. Calm yourself, Yusef—calm 
yourself. Now, I beg you, as a friend, not to shed the blood 
of innocent men. We may meet some robbers before long; 
and if we do, I promise you, on my honor, I shall not strike a 
blow; I’ll get behind you, and you may slay them all single- 
handed.” 
Yusef (foaming).—“I’ll do it, General; I’ll do it. What? 
only single-handed ? Is that all the odds your Excellency in¬ 
tends to give them? Tie my hands, sir—-tie my hands behind 
my back ! I’ll fight the rascals without hands ! Come on, 
sir ! come on ! By heavens ! I think I see some now behind 
that rock ! So-ho-o, Sulemin, So-o-ho; gently, my boy, 
gently—So-ho !” 
General (getting behind Yusef).—“Verity, I do believe 
they are robbers. Now, don’t sacrifice yourself, Yusef! Be 
calm ; be deliberate. Take good aim when you shoot; aim 
at their heads. Remember my life is in your keeping.” 
Hitherto Yusef had evinced his excitement by turning very 
red in the face ; he now evinced it by turning very pale, on 
