Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-13
sIRBAD IN ENGLAND.
OF Bottled Lightning.
WILLIAM GILBERT.

ming, arrived at the enclosure, he
found it already filed with all inter-
ested and intelligent audience. This,
at first, pleased him much, but upon
looking round his pleasure was some
what modified, as he perceived among
them his enemy, Achmet, wearing on
his countenamce sullen and vindic-
tive scowl. Hassan, determining, if
possible, to make friends with him,
advanced towards him, and ad-
dressed him in friendly manner.
sit gives me great pleasure TO see
YOU here, o Achmet! for l was
afraid l might have offended you the
last time you were present"
con, dear, no !" said Achmet. spite
fully. 81 have too much self-respect
to feel any personal offense at mere
story-teller, no matter how talented
he may be-" .
81 trust lis not indisposition then
that has kept you away" said Hasssn.
"Oh, no :" replied Achmet. 81
have never been better in my life
than since last saw you. kept away
solely from the annoyance felt at
having such trivial and Impossible
tales as those you have narrated
palmed on me. Others possessed OF.
greater simplicity than me may be-
lieve YOU as much as they please 4; l.
on the contrary, have sufficient ability
and experience to estimate you at
your true value"
eff YOU hold me in such contempt,
then" said Hassan, "why are you
here tonight"
because from what have heard,
[ Judge that the tale you narrated
Yesterday evening exceeded i'll mon
strous inprobab,lity anything You
hitherto had the impudence to utter.
[ came this evening as | hear you
have promised to narrate all adven-
ture even more improbable than the
ono you toli yesterday. l should
have thought that to have been tue
summit OF impudence, as far as lying
was concerned; but my curiosity has
| been aroused at the idea that you
could surpass it,"
Hassan's good nature gave way un-
der this insult.
"Yuu may apply any opprobrious
name you please TO my narrative OF
Yesterday. For all that, l maintain
every word 1 uttered was not only
within the range of probability, but
perfectly true. Nay, more, will this
evening, in the course of my nara
tive, relate wonders even more sur
prising, and which, in their turn,
shall be indlsputable facts"
"Might AK" said Achmet, with
sueer. .swhat those wonderful facts
may be Z"
"Merely," said Hassan, in an indif
f.remt tone, "that went out in the
fields with kite, and seeing thun
der-cloud come over my head,
amused myself by catching a fl sh o.
lightning and bottling it, so as to bt
able to keep it handy Till l should
find use for it."
"Impudent wretch 70 exclaimed
Achmet "such Il statement passe'
the bounds of haman patience. Ny
brothers," he continued, addressin.
the audience, chow is it possible tina
you can sit quietly 0y and hear suct
outrageous lmprobabilities offered al
stern facts? Why, it's all insult t.
your common sense, and if you hat
half my spirit you would fall on tn
wretch and drive him out of the city
am sorry to say the Cadi is indis
posed, SO that it will be impossible t.
bring the subject under his notice u
present, but will do SO at the frs
opportunity"
Here Achmet paused for few mo
ments, to see whether the audienc
would take any steps In the matter
Finding, however,, that their curiOs
liiy was greater than the oGense
any that they had received, he rap
idly turned round, aud left the ell
closure. Mustapha saw, however, o
at least thought he saw, that Act
NETS words had not been withou
certain effect on the audience, au
by way of smoothing anything Ink
ill-feeling which might arise,
said
81 think it very possible Achme
may have misunderstood our frien
Has SAN. The wonderful feat he in
agined he performed was done b
the Euchanter, not by himself, and a
Enchanters have indisputably tn
power of doing things impossible
ordinary nortals, we have no rigt
10 doubt his word"
81 mean to say" said Hassan, cain
ly and clearly, "that although L acte
under the Instructions of tho FL
chauter. l caught the flash of ligh
ming and bottled it myself so !,
there be no mistake about the ma
ter"
Poor Mustapha, finding he had dol
no good, retrcated to his old spot
the door, and Hassan taking his q
custoined place, commenced his na
rative-
"The day after the adventure r.
lated last evening, l returned Wit
his lordship to Lomdon. On our q
rival we found letter from IsA
awaiting us. In it he expressed gre
gratitude to his lordship for the kin
ness he had shown to his family. /
l. had already commenced preparation
ee he said, Tor their departure, haVll
r found a tenant for tho cottage, wi
as agreed to pay them literally for Il
IL furniture, as we'll as for the veget
e, bles and flowers in the garden. Til
e hoped therefore at the end of Il
y week to arrive in London. where tb
w would profit bv his lordsbip's XII,
70. offer, and take uD their abode in /
ny palace till the departure of the shi
T. Nothing worthy of notice pass
II. during the week, and, on the appoii
70 ed day the widow and her family u
!, rived in London. Their first wi
IL was to visit the ship in which tn
mt were 10 reside for So many moutl
re Feeling great curiosity to know
III what uauucrthcv would be proyid
e. for. | asked his loruship's permissi
nd to accompany them.
ge srrhis he readily auread In and