DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11448#0474
162
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.
[chat, rv
folded arms, to. approach; and, as the gaunt negro knelt before
me, the whole circle closed round us, and looked on in breathless
suspense, while I passed my hands slowly over my patient's eyes,
Soon and suddenly, to my surprise and their astonishment, a shud-
der passed over the gigantic frame, and he sank upon the ground,
huddled like a black cloak that has fallen from a peg. A low
exclamation of " Wallah !" escaped from all the bystanders, who,
one by one, endeavoured to waken him, but in vain. At length
they said quietly, " He is dead," and resumed their pipes and
their placid attitudes on the divans, as if it was all quite regular.
My host was beside himself with astonishment, and overwhelmed
me with eager questions, to which I only replied with that invalu-
able Burleigh nod that throws all the responsibility of perception
on the inquirer, and off of the nodder. The physician gazed in
silence for some time on the apparently breathless black mass of
humanity that lay heaped upon the floor; and then, with great
diffidence and many apologies, requested 1 would bring him back
to life, as he was worth nearly a hundred pounds. I was far
from certain whether, or in what manner, this was to be done,
and postponed the attempt as long as possible. At length, I tried,
and succeeded with a vengeance !
It was like a thousand wakenings from a thousand sleeps—
long-suppresed consciousness seemed suddenly to flash upon his
brain, too powerfully for its patient endurance. With a fearful
howl, he started to his feet, flung wide his arms, threw back his
head, and, while his eyes rolled wildly in their sockets, he burst
into a terrible shrieking sort of laughter. He seized a large vase
of water, and dashed it into fragments on the marble floor: he
tore up the divan, and smashed the lantern into a thousand bits;
then, with his arms spread wide, he rushed about the courtyard,
while the terrified Turks hid themselves, or fled in every direc-
tion. As I watched their horror-stricken countenances, hurrying
to and fro in the various light of the moon and the remaining lan-
tern, their long draperies tangling in the plants and pillars, their
black pursuer stalking along, as if engaged in some grim game
of " blindman's-buff;" together with the howl of the maniac
ringing far and wide through the silent night, the shrieks of the
women in the hareem above, the rapid tread of the pursued and
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.
[chat, rv
folded arms, to. approach; and, as the gaunt negro knelt before
me, the whole circle closed round us, and looked on in breathless
suspense, while I passed my hands slowly over my patient's eyes,
Soon and suddenly, to my surprise and their astonishment, a shud-
der passed over the gigantic frame, and he sank upon the ground,
huddled like a black cloak that has fallen from a peg. A low
exclamation of " Wallah !" escaped from all the bystanders, who,
one by one, endeavoured to waken him, but in vain. At length
they said quietly, " He is dead," and resumed their pipes and
their placid attitudes on the divans, as if it was all quite regular.
My host was beside himself with astonishment, and overwhelmed
me with eager questions, to which I only replied with that invalu-
able Burleigh nod that throws all the responsibility of perception
on the inquirer, and off of the nodder. The physician gazed in
silence for some time on the apparently breathless black mass of
humanity that lay heaped upon the floor; and then, with great
diffidence and many apologies, requested 1 would bring him back
to life, as he was worth nearly a hundred pounds. I was far
from certain whether, or in what manner, this was to be done,
and postponed the attempt as long as possible. At length, I tried,
and succeeded with a vengeance !
It was like a thousand wakenings from a thousand sleeps—
long-suppresed consciousness seemed suddenly to flash upon his
brain, too powerfully for its patient endurance. With a fearful
howl, he started to his feet, flung wide his arms, threw back his
head, and, while his eyes rolled wildly in their sockets, he burst
into a terrible shrieking sort of laughter. He seized a large vase
of water, and dashed it into fragments on the marble floor: he
tore up the divan, and smashed the lantern into a thousand bits;
then, with his arms spread wide, he rushed about the courtyard,
while the terrified Turks hid themselves, or fled in every direc-
tion. As I watched their horror-stricken countenances, hurrying
to and fro in the various light of the moon and the remaining lan-
tern, their long draperies tangling in the plants and pillars, their
black pursuer stalking along, as if engaged in some grim game
of " blindman's-buff;" together with the howl of the maniac
ringing far and wide through the silent night, the shrieks of the
women in the hareem above, the rapid tread of the pursued and