История о корабле призраке

           I,however,liveinpeaceandtranquillity,andeveryfiveyearsmakeajourneytoMecca,tothanktheLordforhisprotection,inthatholyplace,andtoentreatfortheCaptainandhiscrew,thatHewilladmitthemintoParadise. 

           ThemarchoftheCaravanproceededthenextdaywithouthinderance,andwhentheyhalted,SelimtheStrangerbeganthustospeaktoMuley,theyoungestofthemerchants: 

           "Youare,indeed,theyoungestofus,neverthelessyouarealwaysinfinespirits,and,toacertainty,knowforus,somerightmerrystory. Outwithitthen,thatitmayrefreshusaftertheheatoftheday." 

           "Imighteasilytellyousomething,"answeredMuley,"whichwouldamuseyou,neverthelessmodestybecomesyouthinallthings;thereforemustmyoldercompanionshavetheprecedence. Zaleukosiseversograveandreserved;shouldnothetelluswhathasmadehislifesoserious? Perhapswecouldassuagehisgrief,ifsuchhehave;forgladlywouldweserveabrother,evenifhebelongtoanothercreed." 

           ThepersonalludedtowasaGrecianmerchantofmiddleage,handsomeandstronglybuilt,butveryserious. Althoughhewasanunbeliever,(thatis,noMussulman,)stillhiscompanionsweremuchattachedtohim,forhiswholeconducthadinspiredthemwithrespectandconfidence. Hehadonlyonehand,andsomeofhiscompanionsconjecturedthat,perhaps,thislossgavesograveatonetohischaracter.