The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-12
AN ADVENTURE IN EGYPT,
A TRAVELLERS STORY,

Some years ago was travelling thro'
Egypt on tour of pleasure and cusios-
| ity. 1 had two companions intimate
| friend and his sister. The latter was
| then eighteen, and possessed all the
charms and romance of that delightful
age. / could dwell upon her attractions
her beauty of person and refinement
of mind-her graceful step and merry
wit-her enthusiasm, courage, fortitude,
patience, and many other virtues and
accomplishmeDts-were it not for the
simple fact that she is at this present
moment my wife.
At Cairo we chartered Nile-boat and
crew, to convey ourselves and baggage
to the ruins of Thebes and intermediate
points of interest and on clear, beau
tiful day we embarked and set sail, with
fair up river breeze. Our little vessel
was worked by twelve ordinary boatmen,
commanded by rails, or captain, who
was himself under the charge of a jana-
sa7.y, and with all of whom, not being
able to speak their language, we could
only communicate through our drago-
man, or interpreter, who was likewise
to serve us in the capacity ofsservant and
guide. e
Although we had done our best in Sc
lecting our boat and crew, yet more
dirty, ferocious, piratical-looking set of
fellows 1 never saw collected into the
same compass; and if our intended yoy-
age laid across the Mediterranean, in
stead of up the Nile, I certainly should
have refused 20 embark.
For several days, however, as we pro-
gressed slowly up the river-by sails
when the wind was favorable, and by
oars and towing when nothing
occurred to excite any serious appre-
hension. HItZ ~A EEs
AT length, on reaching dreary part
of the rivera region rather abounding
in crocodiies than human beings-it set
into rain, with low clouds and thick
fog, which almost changed the day into
night and the night into Egyptian dark
ness indeed. Long before sundown we
were compelled to tie up to the bank /;
and whether by accident or design, the
boat was run up into the mouth of a
| wooded creek, at point the furtherest
from human habitation.
"How is this ?" I said to the Drago-
man, ''why do we not stop to some vii
Iage ?"
'"There is none near" he replied,
lowering his eye before my fixed, pene-
trating gaze, 'sand the rails says he fears
to keep upon the river in this fog, and
the mud of the shore is SO deep and soft
it is impossible for his men to tow the
boat; besides, your honor will bear in
in mind it is now nearly dark.
"All of which excuses are doubtless
very good" reioined I, turning away as
if satisfied with the explanation.
My friend and L occupied q small cabin
near the stern, and my friends sister
another just forward of and adjoining
ours-the rest of the men, including the
dragonaan and iaaizary, having the
remainder OF the boat at their disposal
As 1 turned from the interpreter, I went
down into the after cabin, where I found
| my friend getting ready for a game of
| apartment.
George" said I, in low tone, stI do
not wish to alarm you unnecessarily, but
the truth is I do not like the appearance
of things just at present."
"Why, how now, Frank ?' he said
quickly, turning slightly pale. "What
new discovery
''Only this, that the villains, as be-
lieve the whole of them to be, have run
us ashore in just the worst place in the
world for us to get assistance in case
they should take fancy to cut. our
! throats." ~. - ~ SO 49, --s-
''Oh, my God and Helen here with
usl' he exclaimed in horror. 'sFor
myself merely, Frank, I should not care
so much /; but the thought that, if they
should overpower us. she might be re-
served for fate thousand times more
horrible than death, quite unnerves me. "
eff we are to die by the hands of these
| wretches, she must die first by ours,
George r.
'tI understand you"
"But you cannot know the agony this
terrible thought cost nae - said 1.
"I can guess it from my own, Frank,
for know we both love her. But per-
haps we are mistaken as to the designs
| of these fellows, who may be more hon.
est than they look"
"God grant it %
s'You know we have suspected them
from the first, and have watched them
closely for several days, without discov-
ering anything to confirm our suspicion. +"
ssTrue. George but you should re-
member they have never had an oppor-
tunity like the present just now I
questioned Azem. concerning our stop
ding in this out-of- the-way place, and /
did not like his hang dog look as he as
sured me in reply that it was necessary
to quit the river at once as the banks
were too muddy for the men to tow. ]
| affected to be satisfied for If harm is
medidated, it viii be best for us not to
let them think we suspect them till we
are ready to strike in turn,-but as
! know they might have landed us at some
small village instead of here, 4 cannot