The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-05-10

-''>'A@S
carving it away. At last Muley re-
lieved us from this dilemma. He sent a
slave on shore with bucket, which he
directed him to fill with sand. When
the messenger came back with it the
magician pronounced some mysterious
words, and sprinkled the earth over the
head of the dead man. The latter in
stantly opened his eyes, sighed deeply,
and blood issued from the wound in his
forehead. We then easily drew forth
the nail, and the wounded man fell back
into the arms of a slave.
Who brought me hither?" inquired
the captain, suddenly rallyiDg. Muley
pointed to me, and l approached the
sufferer. ct thank thee, stranger" he
said; thou hast spared me ages of pro-
tracted misery. For fifty years my soul
has been condemned to reanimate my
body each night, and to roam with its
mortal companion about the limitless
expanse of the ocean; but, now that my
head has touched the earth, / may
henceforth sleep in peace with my
fathers" l entreated him to relate by
what means 80 horrible destiny had
fallen upon him, and, Muley having
directed some strong waters to be poured
down his throat, he WAS able to comply
with our wishes.
FIFTY years ago. he commenced, 81
was man of rank and influence, dwell.
ing in Algiers, when love of gain prompt
ed me to turn pirate and to fit out YES
sci. l had continued this desperate pro-
fession for some time, when at Zante, |
shipped dervise, who begged free
passage. My crew and myself, far from
respecting the piety of this good man,
sneered at his devotions, and in his re-
ligious zeal he reproacned me for the life
of rapine which l led. This was one
night after ] had been drinking deeply
with my pilot. Inharned with wine, and
incensed beyond all bounds that der
wise should have presumed to rebuke
me, / rushed upon him and buried my
dagger in the body of the holy man. In
his expiring agony he invoked male
diction both upon me and my crew, and
he told me we should neither live nor die
in peace, until our heads had touched
land. He then gave up the ghost, and
we flung his remains in to the sea, laugh
ing at the dreadful prophecy, which,
however, commenced its accomplishment
on that very night. Some of the men
mutinied, and conflict ensued, in which
both parties fought with equal fury.
My supporters were overcome, and | was
nailed to the mast; but the vessel was
soon converted into vast tomb, as the
rebels died of their wounds. My eyes
closed, my breath ceased, and the shadow
of death fell over me; alas! it was only
a trance that enchanted nay senses. The
next night at the return of the hour al
which we had cast the dervise into the
sea- |, as we'll as all my companions, re-
sumed our mortal existence, but were
always incapable of either saying or do
ing anything other than we had said o.
done on the night of the murder. Thu
we have drifted about the ocean for fifty
years without being able to live or die
for we could not reach the shore. Otter
frantic with despair, we found hope still
in the storm and tempest, which in it
rage might dash us on some rocky shore
and permit us 70 touch the earth ant
find repose for our troubled souls
Nothing succeeded with us; but now, q
last, | am about to lay down forever tn
burden of this worlds life. Once again
thanks to thee, my unknown benefactor
if thou seekest treasures, take my vesse
and its rich cargo as testimony of M
gratitude"
The captain here lowered his hea
and expired without struggle. Lik
his crew, he crumbled into dust, whic
, we gathered into an urn. that it Nigh
receive the rights of sepulture. W
then sent for mechanics from the city
,, who put the vessel in sailing condition
.. After having made profitable barter {
,, the stores l engaged crew OF sailor
. and, having literally rewarded Mule
= for his services, Ibrahim and embarke
: for our native land. | took a eircui
! GUS route, touching at various islant
. and countries, where we disposed Of OF
! cargo. The prophet blessed my unde
taking. At the expiration of nil
{ months / returned to Balsora, havin
y doubled the riches the captain had b
queathed to me.
My first care after arriving at hon
:, . was to divide with Ibrahim the veal
l had, by his assistance, become SUI
o denly and so singularly possessed o
Z but, having no other connections, fro
: the length of time he had been in Il
service of our family, he desired still
Z continue to live with me and presi'
= over my household, declining to ha'
anything whatever to do with none
affairs beyond what his simple wishes I
/ quired, and thus he lived and died wi
II me faithful servant and the best
y friends.
a Ny fellow citizens were astonished
my wealth and prosperity, and fanci
q | must have discovered the valley of di
4 monds into which the famous navigate
\ Sinbad the Sailor, was cast. | did n
- undeceive them, and from that time t
young men of Balsora, after reachi
q eighteen years of age, are sent into t
: world to make their fortunes after 4
e example. l have lived happily al
g peacefully. Every five years | make
pilgrimage to the holy tomb of Mecca
a return thanks to Allah for his mere
II 7 to me, and to supplicate him to recei
.. the souls of the pirate captain and
- rebellious crew into the perfect bliss
- Paradise, for heavy, indeed, must be t
;s sin which so severe penance would
10 60 far to expatiate.
~ At the conclusion of this narrati
~ - the solemn smokers looked around
e. each other and pulled harder than e0
~ al their ornamental pipes. Taciturn
- for some time prevailed, but the eyes
-, each at length rested on the impertl
= able countenance of the relatOr. AS
~ him no vascillating muscle betrayed
! smallest intimation that his tale
~ been fabricated for the occasion to {
~ guise the real secret of the means
-, n9 which he had acquired his great rich
-, His correct and respectable life shelte