The Portland daily press., 1873-08-30

his highness' dspleasure. Curiosity, hoWey-
er, doubtless prevailed over every other feel,
of the princes mind; and, turning TO tne
yonng man, he said:
81 am little accustomed to wait. VIII uo
so, however, if thou canst amuse me untl ene
propitious hour arriues."
''Would your hghness like to see some
feats of juggling?" asked Mehaile, drawing
his sabre from his scabbard.
No, no, exclaimed the Sultan, making the
circle of slaves close in about him. Leave
thy armsH's c.,,
"Stories that lull an Arab to sleep under
his tentl No! must have something new.
OF all known games, there is but one I care
for. used to play it formerly; but now there
is not person in the place who understands
the chess board
The juggler smiled, and taking an ebony
box from a velvet bag, he presented it to the
Sultan whose wish he understood.
The stern countenance of the Sultan re-
laxed at the sight, and the board was placed
on the bowed back of a slave. Before COM
mencing the game the Sultan said:
1--WE are about 20 play. So far good! But
should'st thou lose, what would gain?'
''Since your highness does me the honor Of
playing against me, will stake all that l pos
sess-this scimetar and my liberty. But what
if win?" added the young man coolly, as he
folded his arms.
"Should'st thou win l will give thee a
slave.D
For free man? The stake is not equal"
"I would add my finest courser."
81 do not need him. My feet are swifter
than those of any Arabian steed."
.'What woulast thou, then?'
81 have fancy, Sublime Signior. Until
this day have been nothing but wanderers
IL, 4 oe
complain of this l should be ungratefu, for
this simple garb has ever seen me tree and
happy. |, however renounce it! l become
your slavel My mirth shall be for you alone!
| will sing for you Indian songs; and, above
all, l will divine for none but you! In return
will ask but one thing. 1t is ST win, to
allow me to wear your royal mantle for ten
minutes to sit upon the divan surrounded by
slaves, and to place upon my head that dread
ed turban, whose fame has reached to the
ends Of the earth.'
The proposition of Mahalle was received
with burst of laughter by the Sultan.
''Thou wouldst sit upon the seat oICaliphs
Dost thou not feel the weight of this turban
upon thy silly head? A fine figure then thou
thou wouldst make under the pelisse of OF
toman! / should like to see the giving audi
ence to the vizers and pashas!'
''It is in your highness' power to afford
| yourself this pleasure.
"Wel.," exclaimed Mustapha, 81 will agree
to the stake. A jugger upon the throne !!
| Such sight as the East never saw"
The game was short. Though he played
! with skill, the Sultan was check-mated. 1t
was fairly done. and he pleasantly prepared
| to fulfil his engagement.
| Mustapha looseEed his grdle, took off his
| pelisse, ard laid down his turban, while a
| slave assisted to invest Mahae in the royal
| garments. These preparations being COM
| peted, the Sultan dressed only in loose silk
en- trowsers and richly embroidered vest, ap-
preached clock, and, placed his finger on
the dial plate.
"When the hand shall mark the hour of
eight" said he, 81 shall have paid my wa
ger, and then l will appoint you my astrolo-
| GER"
The juggler ascended the divan, and, hay
| ing plaCet his scimetar at his side he ordered
the door to be thrown open that the waiting
courtiers might be admitted. The apartment,
which the dim light Of evening rendered OBJ
scure, was Immediately filled with muftis and
ulemas, agas of ianizaries and pashas. great
| officers ofthe Porte, and foreign ambassadors.
He next ordered new relay of guards to re-
lieve these on duty, and then the withdrawal
of all the personal attendants. 1t was the
work ofa moment. As the fresh soldiers
were walking in, sign from Mehalle caused
the flambeaux to he lighted, " hen, in the
dazzling food of illumination, he stood erect,
received the homage of the assembly, aud,
! fixing more firmly on his head the scarlet
feathered turban, the emblem OF power, he
| cried, in a commanding tone.
Let the standard be raised on st. Sophia.
The people will salute it from afar at the
fires of BeraimP'
AT these words an officer stepped forth TO
execute the orders; Mustapha, who had been
| sitting aside at first amused and then alarm
| ed, arose to prevent him.
s'Haggi Mohammedr' thundered the ad
| interim Sultan, obey!
The aga bowed aud retired. Mehalle add
| ed: ''Let the imaums repair to the mosque
and offer up petitions for the new Sultan +!
Cadilisquier, have the tomb OF Mustapha
opened in Scutarip' The Sultan tried to
smile. 'sKeepers of the treasury" contin-
| ued Mehalle, distribute among the poor o!
Stamboul the hoardings of the late Sultan p
Enough, buffoonr' exclaimed Mustapha,
in an agitated voice, on seeing how readily
his servants obeyed these strange orders.
81 still command replied Mehalle, with
calm self-possession ''the clock h's not yet
struck the hour of eight. Art thou, then,
so impatient to know the fate that awaits
thee ?"
The cotrtiers were at a loss to understand
| the mysterious scene. They looked with ter
ror on this bold young man, invested with
the insignia of power, and the Bostangi was
astonished at seeing his master t-emble be-
fore a strolling juggler.
'sMustapha," continued the diviner, II am
about to tell thee the time of thy death, foI
the evening star has risen. Maufti, please
advance"
The President of the OunleJd came forward
The diviner proceeded; '.You who read ever!
day the book of our Prophet and explain il
to the people, tell me how avaIice and usury
drunkenness and murder, perfidy and cruelty
should be punished?'
The Maufti replied, in low, grave tone
''By the Koran, any one of these crimes i;
deserving of death''
1.Thou nearest, Mustapha? 1t is the Proph-
ct who condemns thee" AS he said this he
beckoned to the mutes. Mustapha tried tC
rush to the diyan, but was seized by the
slaves, who had learned to recognize the SYM
boil of power which Mehalle wore, and the
cord was passed around his neck.
'Thy hour has comel I am the son oi
SolymaD, who fell fifteen years ago, in this
very place, pierced with wounds from thy
sword: Tnou hast counted the heads OF
every member of my family. Thou hast con.
founded the son of thy master with the child
OF slave. l am the evening star. l am Sui
tan Amurathr' p
As he spoke the young prince made steT
forward. His lofty brow, his features, voice
manner, and commanding dignity of person
inspired a deep emotion in the assembly
After moment the cry went up, 'Long liv,
AmurathP' and at the same time the body OF
Mustapha fell lfeless on the marble floor.
The clock had struck eight. Before tht
hour hand had once again passed round the
dial, largess had been profusely scattered
among the populace of Stamboul, oaths o
allegiance taken by officers of State, and tht
proclamation, ''His highness our very mag
nficent lord and master, Sultan Abdul Azi2
Amurath. has ascended the throneP' trump
eted by the crier hefnre the nnsnrle Of ST