Kéraban

“ Kéraban put his head out of his window.
"Are we to lose our time on account of a wretched railway company?" he cried. "Why is the gate closed?"
"No doubt a train is due," said Van Mitten quietly.
"Why is a train due, then?" retorted Kéraban.
The postillion continued to call out, without achieving any result. No one appeared either in the hut or in the garden.
"May Allah choke him!" exclaimed Kéraban. "If he does not come, I will open the gate myself!"
"Calm yourself, uncle," said Ahmet, restraining him, for Kéraban was about to descend from the chaise. ”

“ No, by Mahomet, they do not know Kéraban!"
Evidently they did not know Kéraban. But Selim, Ahmet, Van Mitten, and Amasia knew him; and they perceived that, after what had passed, all their efforts to change his resolution would be in vain. There was no use in attempting to argue the point. Discussion would have only led to complications. They must accept the situation, and without any consultation it was accepted unanimously.
"After all, you are right, uncle," said Ahmet.
"Quite right," added Selim.
"I am always right," replied Kéraban modestly. ”

“ If the contumacious Kéraban was at that time endowed with all the most amiable qualities of mankind as friend, uncle, and "seigneur," by those interested, can we be surprised? His unexpected arrival meant the celebration of the wedding between Amasia and Ahmet, and the happiness of the young people was assured; no fatal delay would mar their future. Ah, if Kéraban were the most obstinate, he was, nevertheless, the best of men.
Yarhud, impassible as ever, was a spectator of this family scene ”

“ Kéraban was knocked down, and his companions could perceive him struggling through the flame. What would become of him if they did not go to his assistance?
The immense illumination quite filled the plain.
With one bound Ahmet dashed to the assistance of his uncle. He seized him before the burning gas could reach him, and dragged him, half suffocated, beyond the influence of the vapours.
"Oh! uncle, uncle!" cried the young man.
Then Van Mitten, Bruno, and Nizib, having assisted to carry him to the thicket near by, endeavoured to reanimate Kéraban. ”

“ Ahmet, who was as greatly put out as his uncle, was about to try to make him hear reason in the absolute impossibility of procuring horses, when Kéraban cried out,—
"A hundred roubles to any one who will find me a team."
A shiver passed over the natives who heard this offer. At length one man boldly came forward, and said,—
"Seigneur Turk, I have two dromedaries to sell."
"I will buy them," said Kéraban. ”

“ But Kéraban returned as he was at the door, and said, addressing the banker,—
"By the way, friend Selim, can you change me a few thousand piastres?"
"A few thousand piastres!" echoed Selim, who did not understand.
"Yes, Selim; for Russian money: I want some for my journey in Muscovite territory."
"But, uncle, will you tell us," began Ahmet, who was standing now beside Amasia,—"will you tell us—"
"At what rate is the exchange?" continued Kéraban, without paying any attention to Ahmet.
"Three and a half per cent.," replied Selim, in whom the banker at once predominated. ”

“ Have I not told you I have no horses?" replied the post-master.
"We'll find some."
"There are none in Arabat."
"Find a pair—find one," replied Kéraban, who began to lose his self-control; "find half a one, but find something."
"But if there are no horses—" began Van Mitten gently.
"There must be some found."
"Perhaps you can procure for us a team of mules?" said Ahmet to the post-master.
"Very well, mules will do," said Kéraban. "We will be content with mules."
"I have never seen any mules in the province," replied the post-master. ”

“ So saying, Kéraban and Van Mitten shut themselves up in the carriage, while Bruno climbed into the "dicky," to keep watch over his master, or masters; for since Kéraban and Van Mitten had met, Bruno could certainly count upon two masters.
Bruno, having carefully closed the carriage doors, went to see how the horses fared. The poor brutes, quite exhausted, lay prone upon the ground, breathing loudly, and mingling their hot breath with the fogs of the swamps. ”

“ Business, you know; all business. I never have had five minutes to spare to get married in."
"One minute is enough," replied Van Mitten seriously; "and very often one minute is too long."
"You will meet Ahmet at Odessa," said Kéraban. "A charming fellow. He detests business, for instance; he is somewhat of an artist, and trifles with the Muses; but charming, charming! He resembles his uncle in nothing, and obeys him without argument."
"Friend Kéraban—"
"Yes, yes; I understand: it is for his wedding that we are going to Odessa." ”

“ The stable was empty, and the post-master could not supply the animals for any consideration.
Ahmet, very much annoyed at this check, returned to the inn. Kéraban, Van Mitten, Nizib, and Bruno, all ready to start, were waiting for the chaise. Already one of the party—it is needless to say which—was exhibiting signs of impatience.
"Well, Ahmet," cried this individual, "have you returned alone? I thought you had gone to procure horses for us?"
"My errand was useless, uncle," replied Ahmet. "There is not a single horse to be had."
"No horses!" exclaimed Kéraban. ”

“ Kéraban was already boiling over with impatience.
Finally the way was clear, and the chaise began to cross the line.
At this moment, on the opposite side, appeared a party of travellers. A Turkish noble, mounted upon a splendid horse, and attended by four riders as an escort, prepared to cross the line.
This personage was evidently an important individual. He was about thirty-five years old; tall; and comported himself with that peculiar nobility of the Asiatic race. He was good-looking enough; his eyes only sparkled when he was moved by passion. ”

“ But no matter. Seigneur Kéraban would have paid double the amount. The two animals were harnessed, and with the assurance of a substantial "tip" the late proprietor of the dromedaries, mounting as postillion, seated himself on the hump of one of the animals. Then the chaise, to the great astonishment of the natives, and to the extreme satisfaction of the travellers, descended the road toward Kertsch at a long slinging trot. The same evening the travellers reached Argin, twelve leagues from Arabat. ”

“ There was indeed imminent danger. Instinctively Kéraban and his companions separated, so as to diminish the danger of a common destruction. But they did not stop—they passed on more rapidly: it was absolutely necessary to traverse the dangerous zone as quickly as possible. The way, well lighted, appeared practicable. So, winding in and out amongst the cones, they traversed the fiery steppe.
"Come on—come on," cried Ahmet.
The others did not answer him, but they complied. Each one hurried in the direction which the chaise had taken, but they could not perceive it. ”

“ One can no more argue with Cossacks than with gendarmes. It is no use to resist. So Kéraban was carried off to the Sakario station in a towering passion; while Ahmet, Van Mitten, Bruno and Nizib, remained by the damaged vehicle. ”

“ Ahmet paid all, even to the knives, glasses, spoons, forks, and plates.
As may be expected, such dealings served only to excite Kéraban so much that he finished by purchasing en bloc the various necessaries for the supper, but not without certain objurgations which the landlord listened to with an impassibility which would have done credit to Van Mitten. When the meal was finished, Kéraban resold the utensils at a loss of fifty per cent.
"It is lucky that he does not charge us anything for our digestion," remarked Kéraban. "What a man he is! He ought to be Financial Minister in Turkey. ”

“ No asses in this country—not enough to form a team—not sufficient to relay a carriage? You are joking."
As he spoke Kéraban looked round at a number of natives who had assembled near the post-house.
"He is quite capable of having those people harnessed to the chaise," muttered Bruno.
"Yes, them or us," replied Nizib, who knew his master.
However, since there were neither horses, mules, nor asses, it was evident that the travellers could not proceed; and all they could do was to resign themselves to the delay of twenty-four hours. ”

“ They thought the front part had given way.
"All the better," said Kéraban. "The horses will gallop away across the plain, and the wild boars will pursue them; so we shall be left undisturbed."
But the forepart of the chaise resisted with a strength that did credit to its English builder. So, as it would not part, the whole chaise moved, and the shock became extremely violent; so much so, indeed, that the carriage was pulled from its oozy bed, and the horses, mad with terror, rushed at headlong speed across the marshy plain through the thick darkness of the night. ”

“ He was mistaken, and Ahmet did not undeceive him.
One may be a good Turk, an excellent tobacco-merchant, and yet an indifferent geographer. Kéraban was probably unaware that the flow of the Sea of Azof into the Black Sea is carried through a wide "sound," the ancient Cimmerian Bosphorus, known as the Strait of Yenikale, and must be crossed by any one who wishes to pass between the peninsulas of Kertsch and Taman. ”

“ But he replied that so long as he came within six weeks we had no reason to complain!"
"Well, we must only wait his good pleasure, Ahmet."
"Wait, wait!" exclaimed the young man. "He is robbing us of so many days of happiness!"
"Men who have done no worse are often arrested," remarked Nedjeb, tapping her foot impatiently.
"What shall I do? await Uncle Kéraban? I declare, if he does not answer my letter by to-morrow, I will go to Constantinople—!" ”

“ I must trouble you to follow the chaise on foot, as I cannot manage the horses, and they may run away."
"Let us do so," said Ahmet. "The man is right. We must get out."
"There are five or six versts to be traversed," added the postillion: "perhaps eight, but no more."
"Will you decide, uncle?" said Ahmet.
"Let us get out, Kéraban," said Van Mitten. "We must see what kind of phenomena these mud volcanoes are."
Kéraban consented, but not without protest. They all quitted the carriage and walked behind the chaise, which only advanced at a slow pace, guided by the light of the lamps. ”

“ I dine at my villa at Scutari, and will carry you across."
"That is, of course, if—"
"I will carry you across," reiterated Kéraban, "do you hear? So, make up your mind; are you going to make excuses?"
"No, I accept," replied Van Mitten. "I am yours, body and soul."
"You shall see what a charming place I have got. I built it myself, under the cypress-trees, half-way up the hill of Scutari, in full view of the Bosphorus and Constantinople. Ah, your true Turk is always on the Asiatic side. ”

“ Fortunately for the captain of the Guidare, no one perceived the angry gestures with which he received this intelligence. The sudden arrival of Ahmet's uncle was a contingency which would seriously interfere with the accomplishment of the worthy captain's designs.
"Ah! Seigneur Kéraban is good," exclaimed Nedjeb.
"But why is he coming?" asked Amasia.
"For your marriage, my dear young lady," replied the attendant. "What other object could bring him to Odessa?"
"That must be the reason," said Selim.
"I think so too," said Ahmet. "Else why need he have quitted Constantinople? ”

“ Nizib and Bruno confirmed the assertion in chorus.
In fact, when they picked up their pipes, the disputants had each seized the wrong one; and so, without perceiving the exchange, the disputants had respectively asserted the virtues of their favourite tobacco; Kéraban all the while smoking Latakia, and Van Mitten, tombéki.
They could not help laughing, and finally they shook hands like friends whose good feeling no dispute could disturb.
"The horses are harnessed," said Ahmet; "we have only to get into the chaise." ”

“ The attacks of these animals are greatly dreaded, and they may be well classed amongst the wild beasts.
"What are we going to do?" asked the Dutchman.
"Remain quiet if they do not attack us," replied Kéraban. "We will defend ourselves if they do."
"Why should they attack us?" asked Van Mitten. "Wild boars, so far as I am aware, are not carnivorous animals."
"Quite so," replied Kéraban, "but if we do not run the risk of being eaten, we have the chance of being ripped up by their tusks."
"That's about it," said Bruno calmly. ”

“ I will pass, by Allah! and that too without the loss of a single para."
"Yes, you may pass, certainly; through the prison-door," replied the chief of police, who was getting rather excited also; "and you will pay a pretty fine before you come out again."
"I will go to Scutari."
"Not by crossing the Bosphorus; and as it is impossible to go any other way—"
"You think so, do you?" sneered Kéraban, who with clenched hands and red face looked quite apoplectic. "You think so; well, then, I will go to Scutari, and I will not cross the Bosphorus, neither will I pay the fine." ”

“ Ahmet stood a little apart all this time. He did not know what reply to make to his uncle, and did not wish to provoke any discussion on the topic.
"Well, nephew," said Kéraban drily, "how are we to pass this 'river,' since the bridge has been carried away?"
"We shall find a ford, no doubt, said Ahmet. "There is so little water—"
"Scarcely enough to wet our feet," added Van Mitten, who had better have held his tongue.
"Well, then, my friend, turn up your trousers and wade across this river. We will follow you," said Kéraban. ”