The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-11-14

waters--as in other instances observed by me
had evidently extinguished the fire and the
lava Of the crater and converted it into a lake.
The splash of the stone was Immediately fol-
lowed by a rumbling sound, which reminded
me of the Pantheon at Paris.
I remountsd my dromedaty; and commence
ed to descend the path, when suddenly a bril-
liant light shot across it some distance in ad-
vance, the source of which, owing to the spiral
nature of the path, could not perceive till 4
had taken another turn. Strong minded
enough, however, to reject the idea, that the
flames of the Internal region had got SO high
up, IsupPesea, Cor moment, THAT one Of our
ohouafs had ventured on the mountain, when.
on turning an angle of the path, L saw before
me seven or eight men, with none of whom L
could claim acquaintance. Each Of them was
armed with gun, ricEly carved and damask-i
ened; their garb consisted of red sommada
bound round the head, yellow fouta girt over
the hips, and falling to the middle of the thigh,
and a leathern girdle, worked with silver and
garnished with two pistols and cineter.-
They were fine looking fellows in EVERY Sense
of the term-handsome intelligent faces, and
figures of perfect mold; but although there was
nothing menacing in their looks, their sudden
appearance certainly discounted me little,
though l put as good face on the matter as l
could: 7,a.-,.e ...f, ~ -.
sWhere are you going, my friend p asked
one of them, who appeared to be the chief,
addressing me.
/ sDoMn ffom3 lassr.el Cbeitan to join, my
companions below replied |.
Know you not that he who has been to the
top of the mountain never gets to the bottom
| Of it again% Continued the speaker. n ;fi 30
$50 have been told -. ."! 10 ..
fWhy did you come up then r
Because could see no just reason why an
inofensive traveller might not return safe and
sound, after having explored the mountain. -a
But it is the residence of genius, who does
not choose to have his retreat intruded on by
strangers r.--r-r e., e-,--z - - - -
Ifa genius said I. she could have no ne,
ccssity to maintain armed men for his defense;
his will ought to be sufficient to discomfit his
enemies l believe in no such power save that
of Allah, my master aud yours. "'"oii"i 5tH
| your words are those of wisdonl,' rejoined
hc-'let not your actions belle them and you
may yet escape the consequences of your i'm
| prudence. Wait here while consult the ge-
nius, but attempt not to fly, or death shall
smite you before you have made ten PAGES
| down the mountain slope, and with these
! he disappeared into the cavern, followed by his
band. ''- lit s1aias
| Before could determine what course to
take he re-appeared with his followers and said
approaching the: 'o
| 'Go, and may Allah protect thee! !-to
| which benediction responded: His blessing
be upon thee and thine ~ and, although pas
sesscd with emotions which others would prob
! ably have experienced under similar crcum-
stances, l rode quietly away, like a man who
saw nothing strange in the adventure, and
urging my droncdary to trot as soon as
arrived at the base of the mountain, soon
| Joined the caravan, the bells of which 1 heard
| tinkling in the distance i-..eT' ;'e -se ;saT-
/ They were frightened when they saw me.
coming, but rode up to the reis and travelled
alongside of him in silehce for some tine un
til, finding his curiosity did not lead him to
question me, 1 broke the ice BY saying well
| here | am .'i't" t74-1Atf ts1H af5j +lsw
| 'For that you should return thanks to hea-
ven,' said the reis. f' -iH-a'.t .al Isis
Some are due to my boldness, perhaps, re-
Joined 1; would you like to hear my adven-
| ture p fa1 -L-.. + ;-srH sae
sRelate if you WILL answered he; tbut AL.
lah be my witness that have not asked you
| I could see by his manner that he longed
to hear it, but he was afraid of causing some
new calamity BY asking. Telling him to be
of good heart, therefore, I reeounted to him
all that had passed but he only shook his
head when had finished. .f@sa sa,iiaagr
4'Do you doubt the truth of what have told
you p asked p n.f-a 5tt 10 ao..ais
| Far be it from me to do you such I'M Justice,
answered the reis; 1but one thing is certain,
yoti opee your safe return either to Allah or
| the Devil. For my own part am willing ito
belie!e it is to Allah e7 @gaa.'aUH az
sChance had something to do with it, Sidi,
the chance that took me to the Kassr-el-C Chic
tan at a time when those whe dwell there dar-
/ ed not injure one no travelled with carriage
so strong as ours. Seeing the determination
with which one traveller ascended their noun
tain, they supposed that the others, too, had
come to explore Its mysteries, and were ready
to rush to the assistance of the one who first
went up, or to avenge his tleathlh2aoJ sd' is
you do not believe then, that Kassr-el
Cheitan is haunted by evil spirits p -T.Fris
Il believe it to be haunted by band of rob-
bers, who dwell there undisturbed, thanks to
the superstition that prevents people from ex-
ploring their fastness. That caravans passing
here escape their rapine, is owing to the fact
that, lest their den might be discovered, they
carry their maurauding into distant regions.
Here s-ey have their headquarters, however,
where they conceal their prisoners ana booty,
relying for security on the bad reputation OF
the mountain. .toy IL syGd So sol. I
: tsAnd what do they subsist upon.Y asked the
reis; sioT oil te.i 5ia,aiise sw bsyi,asr s.a.g
'On the plumber Of the carayan.lii~ stel2
4 But he only shook his head saying: You
! explain the matter TO suit -ynurselfs ucQ a.
i Il explain it according to the dictates of
common sense replied l; treeoilect Che grea,
? cistern on the top of the mountain q circum-
4 stance which, in inself, renders it an eligible
place Of abode, and one which you can readily
turn to your own advantage by divulging
what i have discovered, driving their pretend
ed demons from their stronghold, and estab-
1 fishing, in case of necessity, new, halting
place here, where caravans can take in water
and, enjoy repose.o .e9lsz3 spcbes1p,s .s.e,
5's TO that water may. Allah protect me from
ever having recourceH exclaimed the rcis, tffof
z. the devil dwells in the mountain, and the cis-
4 tern is guarded by a dragon, which devoufs all
4 Hho dare to approach it.'5iai l.s7s 70 bgiB !.
r. Those were beliefs of. which found it i'm
possible to disabuse the. feis, who further de-
sSribed the dragon as huge monster, having
Il L. 4 u