The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-05-12
g}listellalrtolts,
THE STOLEN CASKET OF
t JEW ELS.
FROM THE LONDON FAMILY HERALD.

AAN-A~~AS@D'
In the winter of IS, while ascending
the Nile with q Frenchman named Gar
Diet, in pursuit of adventure, we had occa-
sion to stop at the town of Ossiut. Gar
Diet was Frenchman by birth, and had
been my companion for three years
through all my Asiatic wanderings; and
a mutual attachment having arisen, he
now considered himself an inseparable
constituent of mine. He was man
shrewd by nature, of undaunted courage,
but SO garrulous that I never breathed to
him my plans until they were ready for
fulfllment. Of myself, all the reader need
know is, that | had been travelling in
Egypt and Asia; spoke the language
fuently, and fiattered myself that under
stood Oriental manners and character
pretty thoroughly.
AS we always made it point to pay
our respects at headquarters, we at once
went to see the Governor, Achmet Bey,
a fine looking Oriental, Turk by birth,
although, as he told us, a resident of
Egypt for twenty years. We found him
at his palace, about half q mile from the
river. seated on d;van of beautiful nee
die work, before which was one of. the
finest and most gorgeous Of Pers an mats.
On his right was long 'sargi1eh. He
rose as we entered, oreceiyed us with cor
diality, and bestowed on us every atten-
ton that inherent politeness could devise.
After smoking with him for some time,
and conversing on Egyptian topics, he
showed us many curiosities, and all his
accoutrenents; among them was saddle,
richly mounted with silver, which was
presented to him by the Pasha Of Egypt.
While examining its workmanship atten-
lively, I noticed small pocket on one
side, which seemed to be filled with coin.
Observing that it had attracted nay attcn-
ton, the governor, who had worn an anx-
ious countenances throughout our visit,
notwithstanding bis cordiality, remarked
that he had lost the key to it, or he would
be pleased to show me the contents, which
he also valued as being the pasha's gift.
He then handed the saddle to an attend
ant, and, making sign for my compan-
ion to follow with our dragoman, he link
ed my arm in his, and after glanc:ng at
my face, as though to read in it the pro-
liability Of being trustworthy, and appa-
rently concluding that l was, confded to
me that he had been robbed.
After pausing to note the effect produ-
ced by this announcement he said, >
About week ago my brother, who re-
sides at Stamboul, sent to me smalliron
safe, curiously bound with Damascene
steel, and studded with brass. Tt was a
gift long promised me, and priced it as
my very beard. | showed it to many
persons, but opened it before few, lest
they should so envy the contents as to
steal it from me-"
" And what did the box contain so
precious, that you SO carefully guarded
it?" l asked. fvs 49,.
"That which 1 most valued" he re-
Piled, was a signet ring set with the most
beautiful opal ever beheld. There were
also jewels of countless value; some Of
them l presented to my haren, but far
more than L gave remained. There was
also the key to the saddle-pocket, at which
you were just now looking. What was
my CONSERVATION to find this morning
that it was gone; stolen from beneath my
head while l slept! And now," he con-
tinued, dropping his voice still lower, 81
want you, who are famed for your shrewd-
ness, (alluding to an occurrence in Cairo)
to discover the thief; if you try and fail
- But l know you will succeed; if
you do succeed, one-third of the jewels
you are the means of restoring to me shall
be your own."
He paused as we reached his palace,
and entered. l determined to undertake
the recovery for him; the reward would
enable US to continue our wanderings for
at least another year in my dearly loved
East. aabxrT
81 consent" said I, when we were
again seated, "to try my powers, to have
returned to you the treasure you have
lost"
Achmet rubbed his hands with delight,
and already congratulating himself on his
success, babe me ask anything of him |
needed. ~
=" / want" / replied, "a permit to GO
anywhere I please through your town,
aad to enter any house through your do