The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-06-01
SELECTED TALE.
Dark Arches under COnStantinOpIe;
Or
THE SULTAN'S REFUGE.

lllU UUDlAlV " ltDI JUL.
The reluctance of the Turks to allow
these underground reservoirs to be ex.
plored. probably arises from the fact, that
if their courses were known they would
disclose many entrances to the city, and
SO facilitate the admission of a foe. An.
other reason may be given. The Turks
are excessively superstitious. They be-
lieve in ghosts, goblins. and demons, and
fancy that the powers of darkness and de-
struction take up their abode in places like
these subterranean retreats. The ira
ditions of the cruelties perpetrated
on the Greeks in these artificial cav.
erns have not yet died away; and when
we add, that these excavations have been
used by the Turks for the most detestable
purposes, we shall be at no loss to account
for the rigid reserve they maintain upon
the subject. They have served the pur-
poses of revenge, intrigue, and political
necessity. The father of the present sui.
tan once found the one above described
very useful.
Selim had been dethroned and impris.
oned by the Janissaries, and Mustapha
w., reigned in his stead. This arrange
ment did not at all suit Baractier-a gen.
eral who marched to Constantinople at
the head of forty thousand men. Hav-
ing obtained possession of the capital, he
hastened to the seraglio, but found the
gates closed, and every preparation made
for determined defence. The general,
disappointed, but not inundated, gave
orders for an immediate assault. The
contest lasted only short time, but the
interval was fatal to Selm. On the sound
of the first shot, the emissaries of the sui
tan were dispatched to the apartments of
Selim-whom, Notwithstanding he was at
his devotions, they strangled. From the
murder of Selim, the executioners pro.
ceeded to the apartment of Mahmoud,
the youngest son of Abdulhaimid, and
the only remaining prince of the blood
royal, There was still some hope for the
sultan, in the eventual death of his broth
er. Selim was no more the audacious
Baractier himself would respect the last
of the Ottoman race. The mutes rushed
into the chamber of the confined prince,
but he was nowhare to be found. To the
fond fidelity Of slave he was indebted
for his life. At the moment that Barac.
tier had rushed into the palace, Mahmoud
who had first been concealed in the fur
mace Of bath, guided by the slave, was
cautiously threading some subterranean
passages, until they gained an opening or
recess in the wall, from which opened a
door that concealed flight of steps,
The slave had brought torch with him,
and as he held it aloft, the future sultan
gazed in some trepidation on mass Of
darkly flowing water.
Whittier couldst thou conduct me 2
he demanded.
TO life and throne ! answered the
slave, decisively These waters flow un-
der the streets Of Constantinople, and run
from the harbor of Perimi to the sea Of
Marmora. Behold the means of safety
1 have provided!'
The prince on looking down beheld a
small boat; and as he saw no other chance
of escape, he stepped into it, followed by
his faithful slave, who had previously ia
ken the precaution to close the door on
the landing. After rowing about for a
few minutes, the prince endeavored to
pierce the gloom by which he was sur
rounded but the feeble rays of the torch
only enabled him to gaze in wonder at
the massive and beautiful pillars that sup
ported the cave, and which the slave dex.
terously avoided. The dull splashing Of
the water, the Stygian darkness, and his
own peculiar position, would have weigh
ed down the spirits of any but Turk
but, falling back for relief on the hered.
itary fatalism of his race, he sat calmly in
the stern of the boat, fully prepared fol
whatever might happen to him. Sudden
ly the quick ears of the slave caught the
sound Of oars, and exclaiming, we are
pursued !! he dashed the torch overheard
and pulled with redoubled energy.
The sound of the other oars became
louder, and on the prince looking behint
him, he could plainly perceive boat il
their wake, with torch in the bows
The slave, whose eye was as keen as hi
hearing, relaxed in his exertions, and let
ting the boat become stationary betweel
two pillars, said:
tits woman and man-we are two
let them passP
AN intrigued thought the prince, as h
eagerly prepared to catch glimpse ofth
fair one s countenance. Nearer and near
er came the boat, until it approached tn
pillars and the prince, with mingled ad
miration and surprise, saw that the lady
who was unveiled-was not only young
but supremely beautiful. Her companion
was a tall, handsome looking man, in tn
garb of Turk but his fair complexion
betrayed different origin. The lightre
vealed the boat containing the slave an
prince. The lady uttered shrek, an
quickly hid her face but her companion
although rather surprised, undauntedl
cried out, in excellent Turkish, but with
foreign accent:
'Halloa Who's there Friend or foei
4 am Mahmoud the unfortunate ! sal
the prince proudly.
The Frank-for such we must call hin
doffed his turban, and making profoun