Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-12-14

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and gloomiest tragedies Of modern
times. and. for any one who wishes to
know what Egypt really is, il Is worth
while 10 look back and see what deeds
were done In this quiet spot on certain
fine summer evening within the memory
of men who are still alive.
I'D
The evening sun is Just beginning to
redden the bold ridges Of the Mokattam
Hills (Which flank Cairo on the east)
as troop of horsemen, mounted on su.
perbArsb coursers and arrayed in all the
barbaric splendor OF Eastern warriors,
ride gallantly up the winding path lead
ing to the gate Of the citadel. All are
stout and stalwart men. armed to the
teeth, and seemingly quite ready to use
their weapons at a moments notice
against either friend or foe.
These are the famous Egyptian Nam.
elukes, the hereditary aristocracy of the
land. who once faced the best soldiers
of Bonaparte himself beneath the shad.
ow of the Pyramids, and from whose
ranks came the renowned Sultans that
formerly ruled all Egypt from the sea
to the cataracts of the Nile. Proudly
do they file in through the gloomy old
gateway, rejoicing to think that even
Mehemet Ali Pasha himself, the dread
ed Governor Of Lower Egypt. thinks it
prudent to stand well with the Name.
lukes and to bid them to a feast in his
own citadel at Cairo.
Little do they dream what manner c:
feast it is to be. Mehemet Ali is not the
man to let any one stand in his way,
and these naughty chiefs, with their
fierce courage and uncomfortable no
tions of independence, have long been q
burden to him. If he intends Gas he
does) to become absolute master of oil
Egypt, he or they must go; and he has
already made up his mind which of the
two it shall be.
In all their pride and splendor the
doomed men march gallantly into the
fatal courtyard, whence they are never
to return. The gate shuts unperceived
behind them rs they enter, while Il
crowd of obsequious servants press
around them to aid in dismounting, tie
up their horses and marshal "the noble
Chiefs to their appointed places.
In the last glow of sunset Gor this
strange banquet-hall hadno roof but the
open sky) the Widespread tables and
colored lamps, the crimson hangings Of
the encircling colonnade, the dark,
handsome faces and rich dresses of the
Mameukes. made a goodly show. But,
although most of the guests seemed in
high good humor with everything, one
SCARED veteran, with long gray beard
hanging over his brawny chest, looked
ominously grave and gloomy.
"What ails thee, Father Hassan?"
asked tall, handsome lad beside him.
"Thy face is as dark as the peaks of the
Mokattam before storm!'
II am but i'll at ease, friend Said,"
answered the old warrior. 'Last night
l dreamed that a wild hare ran past
me, and thou knowest what that fore
BODIES"
Evidently Said did know, by the sud-
den clouding Of his bright young face.
"Well said the wise man, that an en-
emy's gifts bring evil" pursued Hassan.
''Mehemet Ali Pasha loves us not, and
here, in his own stronghold, who knows
what he may doe"
"Ha! think'st thou that the Pasha
means treachery?' cried the young
chief, with fierce CLEAN in his large
black eyes and significant clutch Of
his jeweled sword hilt. "If it be so, let
him beware! for he who beats the thick
ct for an antelope may chance to rouse
lion! But this is idle talk-he dares
mott"
He dares not" echoed three or four
of the others, with disdainful laugh;
and the feast began.
Long and merrily did they revel; but
just as the mirth was at its height, a
shrill whistle, sharp and ominous as the
scream of vulture, pierced the still
night air. Instantly the hangings oi
the colonnade fell, and from behind the
pillars, with flash and roar like the
outburst of thunderstorm, deadly
volley of musketry came crashing
among the revelers.
In a moment all was confusion. The
betrayed Mamelukes sprang to theil
feet and grasped their swords and dag.
gers; butwhat could these avail against
the merciless bullets that hailed upon
them without ceasingp Down they
went, man on man, and among the first
that fell. was poor old Hassan, whose
gloomy prophecy was but too, truly full
filled.
Yet even in this deadly peril, the
brave young Said did not lose his pres
ence Of mind. AT the first alarm he hac
sprung to his horse and united it, bu
the outer gate was shut There was
only one chance left. As the bowling
murderers closed in to finish their work
Said spurred his horse and darted like
an arrow through the doorway leading
from the eolonnade to the rampant tha
overhung the precipice.
An exulting yell broke from the enc
mics as they rushed after him, thinking
that now they had him fast, hemmed IL
as he was between their leveled weap
ons and the fearful gulf beyond. Blu
they little knew Said, the Mameluke. :
One defiant shout, one headlong boune
forward into the empty air, and horse
and man vanished into the fathomles!
depth of blackness below.
Even the savage soldier turned away
in horror from the sight of that desper
ate leap, little dreaming that their prey
had escaped them after all. Yes so i
was. The horse was killed, but the dar
ing rider escaped with broken limb tx
die long years after in distant land
upon far .nobler battlefield Davit
Ker in Our Continent.
A 0hild's Value Of o Cent.
To child cent is the embodiment