New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-03-17

and then - " 1G}5s MID
"she has taken a fancy to Oud Raj, whose peoples
treated me so shametul!y. nave
often said to her, Fatima my darling, things cannot
go on in this manner your improper cohuues sesS
everybody talking, and modest and vrtnous man.
like myself, will soon be the laughihg-stock OF the
whole country, and that on your account Mind what
youare about, esel shall be obgedto beat you: ana
you are aware my beloved, that when do bit, hlt
rather harl.n
"But do not see what reference your matrimonial
can have to the business now before u.s.
al beg your pardon; you will ste directly. ] adj
monished her, therefore, with the utmost genteness,
in accordance with my natural disposition But it
was waste Of time and breath. She persevered in
her infamous conduct till | was obliged, as gentle
man, to administer to herand to ond Raj one day,
@ )nsiderable number of kicls,and tlumps."
q But again ask, what have these details to do
with the theftof which you stand accused Explain
yourself more clearly
What! cannot q man OF your great genius see
now how things have been managed! :" ~
g have an idea can; but probably not III the
same light as you do" a..
WHAT doh'tsyou see that Oud Raj and my wretch
of wife to be revenged OF the beating gave them,
have subtracted the bullock in question without my
knowledge and have it cut up in my tent, inroyer to
compromise me with the authorities? sid Bou
KraIi it is as clear as the sun, that Don't you see
that am virtuous husband, calumniateapy cram cram
nal wife u
A suhdued murmer mingled with stilcd laughter,
arose in the assembly at the victim air which Ben
Seraq tried hard to assume and also at listening TO
the singular pleading which he Had improvised.
"Ben SerTaQ,' said the magistrate, in Sceptlcai
tone, your case must hea very bad one, to compel
you to employ such poor arguments for lts defense.
How could your wife play such trick as you de-
scribe without your knowledge, since your accusers
found your tent filed with the animals remains, the
head particularly being so conspicuous and reeog-
nzable an obiect?"
What is there extraordinary in that?n asked Ben
serraq, not in the slightest degree disconnected.
My wife is so arttul, and am so simple and limo
cent, that she could easily contrive to conceal the
mattern q
t'Cone these are ,wretched arguments. For a
man like you who has had many transactions with
tie authorities, it is not clever way Of getting out
of the sGrape.p gay.. -..-s5s&.
al invoke Allah with his justicc!' screamed Ben
Serraq with the throat of a wild boar. am poor
prosecuted innocen there is nothing proved against
me- absolutely nothing. The at least is doubtful
that is incontestabe---and in cases Of doubt the
law requires me to take an OATH Put me on my
oath. ! will swear on the Koran, Sid Bou@ Krar,
on whatever book you please-I ain as innocent as a
sueklng.' s-a
"No doubt. You will take hundred oaths as
readily But, unfortunately for you, have not
forgotten your previous character and must consider
the charge as completely established;
-" Allah Lord of the universe Justice is not to be
had in this conntry.''
Honest men will say the contrary, when they hear
You are canght, and especially when they see you
transported to France, whittier intend requesting
you to he sent
"That's the reward people get for Serving the
French, staggered Ben serraq as Coriolanas might
have done when banished by ungratefu Rome.
mot bad, by my faith You doubtless consider
you rendering people service BY easing them Of
their pulses.'is t'..
al have been of service to you in time Of war fare,
by marching constantly at the lcadof your columns
"True, you have sometimes marched at the head of
orr columns as a guide, hut most assuiedly you in
sisted upon heavy wages as far az I can recolleet.
Besides that Is no reason why you should be allowed,
in recompense to plumber tIe whole human race.
You ought to have reformed, as you promised you
would, and then should have forgotten the past"
u am sandered | am victim,'
Retain that IDEA for your consolation, and hold
your tongue. Dali, take some Of the men on guard
and lead this fellow to prison.n
Sid, Sidi 2 pleaded Ben Serrau, can you not
deliver me from these bonds, which give me horrible
pain?'
'>yery well will Diilali, unfasten the ropes
which, in fact. are little too tight It is impossible
for him to make his escape now: on y take some Of
the cavalry with you, and keep sharp eye on him
on the way to prison.
as gentle as lamb And Ben Serraq made his exit
escorted by numerous suite Of mekrazenis, at the
head Of whom was DjiIa and who, feeling the great
ness Of his responsibility, marched as i'll carry
ingthe world But an Arab chief in alliance with Tie
French named Ben SAT-, whispered to the president
as soon as the prisoner had Disappeared
Perhaps yon were wrong toilet lis agTlis be
That is rather too good the magistrate replied.
! " How do you suppose, can he contrye to escape
from the custody Of ten soldiers, and in the midst of
the town T"
II have seen him escape,n Ben SAT- explained ''un-
dercrcunstances that would make one believe there
was something dabolical in his composition. One
+ night, when he had the impotence to come and rob
in my own snala, we contrived to seize him by kill
ing the horse he had stolen from us, and under which
it Glanced that he was caught as it fell | had his
hands tied behind his back, and ordered one Of my
men tokill him like dog, from behind with pistol
SHOT The shot was fired but my gentleman, in
stead OF dropping down dead, as he ought TO have
done, jumped up as lively as grasshopper, and dis
appeared az if flash Of lightning had carried him off.
/ The bullet had only cut the cords which bound him,
and had teen tiatencd on the palm of his hand. We
were stupcticd with astonishmNnt.
And well you might he =! said the official head of
the Arab bureau, beginning to feel little fdgety. Il
now believe should have acted more prudently, if
had forbidden his being unpinioned till lie was safely
:! lodged in prison..
q | am sure you would, interposed Ben Tekronide,
E. a second friendly chief 81 have always been told
that this fellow is perfect demon in human shape.
AT the market of kremis, he once robbed man Of
his ass, without his being aware of the theft although
he was sitting on its back at the time
/ ''Indeed. said the magistrate, in fidget. II
should be very glad to know that he was definitely in
custody under lock and key"
ale has the strength of twenty men," observed
Ben NIaoudj, a third philo-Gac clieftan. (" He
once stole a camel laden with wheat from caravan
proceeding to the south and, as the animal was
unable to travel over the rocky road by which he
wanted to pass he took his back wheat and all,
and carried it in that way for half nghts march,"
ca That must be slight eXaggeration," remarked
the president now feeling horribly uncomfortable.
Nevertheless should like to be quite sure that he
had reached the inside of the prison walls They are
very long about it they ought to be back by this
time.'
"Doyou wish that should go and see 2" asked
Ben Sail pitYing his friend .uneaSness.
:" shall be much obliged to you.;'s
At the moment when Ben Sai was leaving the
court, distant clamor was heard from without, fol-
lowed by several successive gun-shots. A sound Of
many footsteps was audible as if crowd of men were
approaching. The doors were thrown open violently
and Djilali made his appearance. His clothes were
torn and soilcd with dirt and his right eye seemed to
have suffered severely
"Ouf! he pulled out, my back is broken! Nav
Sid ADD Allah burn me- if he is man.
Explain yourself Tell me y said the court on
thorns. " Ben Serraq?-"
''Ben Serraq indeed? If ever you contriye to
get him into prison, + will consent to be roasted
alive
"a He has escaped, them
" How should it be otherwise? He is the devil in
person!"
-" Have the goodness to tell me how you could have
been 50 stupid as to let single break away from
ten of you?'
The thing was very simple, and he was not long
about it. When we got to the prison, at the instant
when they opened the door, he uncercmoniouslv
seized the sentinels gun He twisted it round like
the sails ola windmill, and threw down tlee-iomths
OF our number fiat on our backs. ! Immediately
rushed upon him together with the rest who uorn