The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-12-01

the boards of our fathers"
| The younger brothers were con
tent with this proposition, for eacE
one thought he could surpass the
others in imagining a dream that
would appear to come from the
| Prophet But the eldest brother
mixed some of the poison he always
carried about his person in the even
ling meal of the other two, and saw
them die with fendish delight.
He now gathered together al
his treasures, mounted his camel
and rode away. The other camels
he left to their fate, and the bodies
of his murdered brothers to the vul
lures. His plan was to leave the
country as speedily as possible, an6
to make his way to some European
court, where he could dispose of the
''Moon of the Mountains" for a higl
price. On the road he sold his cam
ell, dressed himself as a beggar, anC
so, after many adventures and. grea-
fatigue, he reached Constantinople
where he took passage in a Dutch
ship for Amsterdam. Here, feeling
himself safe, he no longer made any
secret of his possessions, but, giving
himself out to be a ieweler, he Of
fered his most valuable stones for
sale to the Ambassadors of the prin-
cipal European courts.
The "Moon of the Mountains" and
the ''Eye of Allah" were not wholly
unknown in Europe. They had for
many years been in the possession
of the royal family of Persia, and it
was said that after the assassination
of Nadir Schah they, together with
other precious stones, were stolen by
common soldiers, who were ignor-
ant of their value. 1t was, there
fore, only necessary for Schafras to
state what he had to excite the in
terest of the amateurs.
But for a long time there was no
one who seemed inclined to enter in
to negotiations with him for the
purchase of the large diamond and
the wonderful sapphire. AS, how
ever, the Moslem was well supplied
with money, and had, besides, anum-
bcr of small stones that were easily
available, he waited patiently, feel
ing certain that sooner or later g
customer would present himself.
The first serious inquiry after the
price of the "Moon of the Noun
tains'' came from Catharine H. of
Russia. In St. Petersburg, where
they were always well informed with
regard to what transpired at the Per
sian court, they were most compe
tent to judge of the real value ofthe
stone.
The robber and murderer demand
ed 100000 rubles, a life annuity of
10000 rubles, and patent of nobil-
Catherine II. ordered one of her
ministers TO invite the pretended
diamond merchant to st. Peters
burg, that the court jeweler might
examine the diamond, and estimate
its value.
The minister ordered the court
ieweler to hold out to the Armenian
the hope that the Empress would sc-
cept his proposal, and in the mean
time to lead him into all sorts Of ex-
cesses and expenditures.
Schafras went to st. Petersburg
and soon fell into the trap that had
been set for him. Soon all his ready
money was gone, and, as he had
credit everywhere-it being known
that he had business with the court
it was not long before he was
cover head and ears in debt. This
was what the Minister wanted. By
the Russian law any foreigner may
be prevented from leaving the coun-
try so long as he is in debt. The
was that the Armenian
would at last be compelled to dis
pose of his diamond for whatever
price he could get for it.
''Tell him that Her Majesty has
decided not to accede to his exor-
bitant demands; and then, ifhe must
sell, pretend that you viii buy it on
your own account, and offer him one
quarter of what the stone is worth"
Such were the instructions of the
Minister = the court jeweler.
This message and the offer of the
jeweler opened Schafras' eyes. God
is good and Mahomet is his proph-
etr' he murmured. "These Chris
tian dogs want to cheat me out of
that for which 1 have periled my
soul. The fools have got me into
debt, and think now l shall be COM
PEELED to take any price they choose
to offer me; but they shall see that
a follower of the Prophet is match
for this whole nation Of rascals.
Schafras now very adroitly en-
couraged the belief that he would
soon be compelled to part with the
diamond for the price offered him,
while he secretly disposed of a por-
tion of his smaller jewels, paid his
debts, and left the country on board
an English vessel.
When they came to look for the
Moslem he was nowhere to be found.
which was very embrassing for the
Minister, as Catharine was greatly in
censed at the loss of the stone, and
that it should be obtained,
cost what it might.
For several years every effort Of
the Russian court to find Schafras
proved futile, but finally they sue
ceeded in tracking him to Smyrna.
They again invited him to st. Peters
burg, and made him every promise
to induce him to accept the invita-
ton. "Ask Her Majesty if she ex-
meets TO catch an old fox a second
time in the same trapp was the re-
nIv 'sTo save time and words, lis
ten to nv ultimatum. 1 demand a
patent of nobility and 100000 ru-
bles, which must be paid immediate