An Australian team bound for England always has a good time on board the steamer, and the eleven of which Edgar was a member was no exception to the rule. At Melbourne and Adelaide they were joined by the members of the team hailing from Victoria and South Australia.
On arriving at Colombo they went ashore1 to play a match against a team selected from the leading local cricketers. Being out of practice they did not play up to their usual form, and the Colombo team nearly defeated them, and were much elated in consequence.
At this time the mail steamers did not pass through the Suez Canal at night-time, and the Cuzco anchored off Ismailia. A run ashore to pass away the time was only natural, and Edgar, accompanied by Will Brown and other members of the team, made up a party. This night ashore at Ismailia[215] was destined2 to effect a change in Edgar’s future life.
The population of Ismailia is a mixture of different nationalities, some of them being of a rather desperate and fierce nature. An Egyptian wedding-party passed through one of the streets; it was a curious sight to unaccustomed eyes. The men, swathed in long white garments, with turbans on their heads, and sandals on their feet, carried long poles, at the ends of which lanterns were fixed3. Their brown arms and faces shone in the reflected light, and offered a strong contrast to the colour of their garments. Fierce eyes gleamed from under dark, bushy eyebrows4, and as the men marched, uttering a wild chant in peculiar5 tones, the effect was somewhat weird6. The bridegroom, who was being escorted to his bride, was a tall, powerful young fellow, of a better caste than his friends.
All went well until the procession approached the bride’s house, when a party of young fellows from the Cuzco, who had been revelling7 not wisely but too well, barred the road. It was a foolhardy thing to do. To stop such a procession was exceedingly dangerous, and could only be construed8 as an insult by the natives, who are not slow to avenge9 any slight put upon them.
Edgar and those with him saw the danger, and shouted to the obstructionists to move out of the way. It was, however, too late, and the warning would probably not have been heeded10 in any case.[216] Seeing how matters stood, the Egyptians grew furious. Knives flashed in the light, and a rush was made at the foolish young fellows, who so recklessly hindered the procession.
‘Come on,’ shouted Edgar, ‘or there will be murder done!’
He rushed forward, followed by his companions, but they found it impossible to render much assistance, owing to the confusion. Edgar became separated from the others, and was drawing back from the crowd, when he heard a cry for help, followed by a woman’s shriek11.
Rushing in the direction of the sound, he saw a girl of about eighteen struggling in the grasp of a powerful Egyptian. He recognised her as Miss Muriel Wylde, a passenger on the Cuzco, with whom he had had pleasant chats on deck. In a moment Edgar had the ruffian by the throat, and forced him to loose his hold. No sooner, however, was the girl free, than another man seized her and attempted to carry her off. She struggled violently, and shouted again for help. Edgar had his work cut out with the man he first tackled. He was unarmed, and had to rely upon his fists. The furious Egyptian rushed upon him with an uplifted knife in his hand. Edgar did not flinch12, but caught the fellow by the wrist, and the knife flew from his grasp. Then, with his left fist, he dealt the man a savage13 blow between the eyes that well-nigh stunned14 him.
Turning to see what had become of Miss Wylde,[217] Edgar saw that she had fainted, and her captor was hurrying away with her. Edgar gave chase, and quickly came up with him. The Egyptian dropped his burden, and turned on Edgar, aiming a terrific blow at him with his knife. Edgar sprang backwards15, and the man over-reached himself. Before he recovered, Edgar had him on the ground, and stunned him by knocking his head on the hard road.
He then sprang to his feet, and went to the assistance of Miss Wylde, who had luckily been thrown on the soft sand by the side of the road, and found she had recovered from her faint.
‘Can you walk?’ said Edgar; ‘are you much hurt?’
She was trembling and alarmed, and could hardly answer him.
‘We must make our way to the quay16,’ he said, ‘and get a boat back to the ship as quickly as possible. These fellows are frantic17 at being interfered18 with, and are in a dangerous state. Lean on me, and try and walk.’
She put her hand on his shoulder, and Edgar supported her by placing his arm round her waist.
They had not gone many yards before Edgar heard loud shouting behind them. It was evident some of the Egyptians were coming that way, and they must be avoided if possible. A few paces straight ahead Edgar saw a high wall, and what looked like a doorway19. He lifted his companion off[218] her feet, and ran as fast as he could towards the archway.
On reaching it he knocked loudly. The door was opened by an old native woman, who peered curiously20 into his face.
Without saying a word Edgar stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.
‘What do you here?’ asked the old woman, in broken English. ‘Are you from the ship?’
‘Yes,’ said Edgar, not knowing what else to say, or what excuse to give for his conduct.
The old woman’s eyes gleamed, and her wrinkled, parchment-like skin seemed to crumple21 up and almost crack. Her mouth expanded in what she no doubt meant for a smile, but Edgar thought it a diabolical22 grin, and Muriel Wylde shrank back.
‘Money—gold!’ said the woman hoarsely23, her skinny hands extended like a couple of claws. ‘Gold, and you shall hear your fortune. The oldest Egyptian in Ismailia can speak truth.’
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