Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-10-05

were figured out by the sparkling stalactities
and stalagmites; while upon the damp floor,
brambles interwove themselves among the
windings of the rock, around the moss-cov-
cred stems ofwhich horned vipers were wind
ing their gray coils, while swarms of other
reptiles twisted and twined along the ground.
From this cavern | at first saw no door of
exit, and was in hopes that my task was
nearly finished, when, suddenly, an immense
stone detached itself noiselessly from the
rocky wall, opening new passage before me,
and closing after me when had passed
through. -a s..
The passage into which now entered was
built in masonry, of large cut stones. Pro-
ceeding on my course, passed through sew
eral other galleries-some Of which were so
low that could not get through them with
out stooping-on either side of which l saw
the doors of dungeons deeply imbeddcd in
the thick walls. At length entered large
hall, which appeared to be the center of the
frightful network traversed by me, and the
sepulcher of the wretched strangers condemn
cd to perish of hunger in these caverns; for
the ground was covered with human skele-
tons and skulls, strewed upon deposit of
bones reduced to dust, indicating many gem
erations of victims A charnel house odor
pervaded this vault, through which the air
vibrated with dull, moaning sound. l ex-
perienced an oppressive sense of sadness as
regarded these miserable human relics-a
sadness which bears testimony to the SYM
pathy that unites man to man, for it arises
from our share in the sutferings of those who
have died before us.
fastening to leave this abode of horror, |
walked rapidly to the further end, where,
however, could find no trace of door, al
though tried the wall every where with the
hilt of my cimetar. ! decided, therefore, to
retrace my steps through the dismal charncl-
house and regain the gallery by which had
entered, but on arriving there l found the
entrance closed by door barred with iron,
and solid as the rock.
Then frightful idea occurred to me- l
suspected that the Nagib and his counselors,
either from being dissatisfied with my re-
plies to their questions, or from some other
reason, had left me to die in this charncl-
house, where so many wretched mortals had
already ended their days. Already fancicd
myself mouldering away among those horri-
bic skeletons, and falling on my knees, I was
about commencing myself to Heaven when a
door, which had not hitherto observed, ow-
ing to its being of the same color as the rock,
opened before me. This door, which was
near the one by which l had entered the
dungeon, led me to the foot of ricketty
staircase, the steps of which tottered be-
meath my feet. Entering by these into other
low, winding galleries similar to those thro'
which had already passed, found on every
side .he same traces of cruel barbarity; dun
geons built into the masonry of the walls
sepulchers so deep down that the most pierre
ing cries of wretched beings buried alive there
could never reach the upper air.
Suddenly thought heard smothored
sound as Of growls a few PAGES in advance,
when, on fastening in the direction from
which it came discovered, to my great Joy,
that was before the dens of the panthers-
for now it was death for death, which was
far preferable to being buried alive.
Laying down my lamp l advanced boldly
towards the den that had been described to
me, holding my cimetar in my right hand,
the key in my left. The instant opened
the door the panther drew back to the fur
ther side Of the den, crouching down in read.
mess for spring. l felt his pestlcnt breath
blowing upon me as he glared at me with his
flaming eyeballs, unsheathing his terrible
claws, and uttering a long, low growl. At
this moment raised my cmetar, and, draw
ing the door toward me with all my strength,
was about rushing into the den to attack the
panther before he could spring upon me,
when an immense iron plate shot came down
through grooves in the rock and fell between
me and the animal.
A brilliant light now shone all around, dis
playing to my view the Nagib, attended by
his suit.
t. 1t is written, o IIadU," said he, addres-
sing me, that you are not to die thus"
Then ascending from the dungeons, we re-
turned to the apartments of state, where each
took the place previously occupied by him.
"Allah be praised ~ said the Nagib, ad-
dressing me. $50 far you have come brave
ly through the trials; we are now going to
take counsel on the answers you have made
to us, and to decide your fate according to
the opinion of the majority with regard to
your words and actions"
Hereupon four slaves-the same by whom
l had been rubbed down-conducted me into
the ante-chambcr, where the guard kept
watch.
| Man is wonderfully made" had face,
with indifference the leap from Inc tower
the glaring eye-balls 81 the panther-but now
'''". lnlc.cuiate death no longer threatened
me, it was but with bad grace that I sub
mitted to be led to the further yexatous tests
in store for me.
| had been in the ante-chamber about half
an hour, when the clapping of hands was
heard, three times repeated. The guards
opened the door, and again foui d myself
face to face with my judges. At signal
from the Nagib, two of the guards entered
with cushion, on which lay huge cutlass
in sheath of gold, the hilt of it glistening
with precious stones. was then command
ed to kneel down-a command which I
promptly declined to obey, thinking that my
last moments were come. told them that
if my life was to be forfeited they must take
it as | stood. For moment no one stirred.
and | was in hopes that / had gone safely
through another test, when the Nagib again
signaled, and the four slaves, once more seiz-
ing upon me, placed me forcibly in kneel-
ing posture, in which they held me with iron
grasps, in spite of my efforts to rise Then
the Nagib, taking the cutlass off the cushion,
unsheathed it, and handed it to parsonage
who appeared to be the State cxccutioner,
who whirled it several times around my head
the broad blade flashing as it whizzed close
by. Selling me by the hair with his left
hand tho dcvno +l,ar, ha,>& -, :, L.