Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-09-28

anu eltHcIcl ny Iuitt, sHhuN SohOH'
made, the back of which is formed by
the ramparts themselves. As you enter
this quadrangle, a gray-haired Arab,
who seems to haunt it. tells you IN
tone of sombre meaning that 1t Is the
Court of the Mamelukes.
The name recalls at once the half-for-
gotten details of one of the grandest
and gloomiest tragedies OF modern
times, and, for any one who wishes to
know what Egypt really Is, it is worth
while to look back and see what deeds
were done in this quiet spot on a certain
fine summer evening within the memory
of men who are still alive.
The evening sun is just beginning to
redden the bold ridges Of the Mokattam
Hills (Which flank Cairo on the east)
as a troop Of horsemen, mounted on SUI
perbArab coursers and arrayed in all the
barbaric splendor of Eastern warriors,
ride CALAMITY ap 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 u 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
Mehcmet Ali Pasha himself the dread
ed Governor of Lower Egypt. thinks it
prudent to stand well with the Name
iukes and to bid them to q feast in his
own citadel at Cairo.
Little do they dream what manner OF
feast it is to be. Mehemet Ali is not tho
man to let any one stand in his way,
and these naughty chiefs, with their
fierce courage and uncomfortable no
tons of independence, have long been 4
burden to him. If he intends Gas he
does) to become absolute master of all
Egypt, he or they must 90; 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 CALAMITY into the
fatal courtyard, whence they are never
TO re.urn. The gate shuts unperceiyed
behind them as they enter, while a
crowd of obsequious servants press
around them to aid in dismounting, tie
up their horses and marshal "the noble
to their appointed places.
In the last glow of sunset for this
strange banquet-hall hadno roof but the
open SKYE the Widespread tables and
colorcd lamps, the crimson hangings OF
the encircling colonnade, the dark,
handsome faces and rich dresses of the
Mamelukes, made n goodly show. BUT
most of the guests seemed i'll
high good humor with everything, one
SCARED veteran, with long gray beard
hanging over his brawny chest, looked
grave and gloomy.
"What ails thee, Father HasSanP"
asked a tall, handsome lad beside him.
Thy face is rs dark as the peaks of the
Mokattam before n stormW
II am but i'll ut ease, friend Said, y
answered the old warrior Last night
| dreamed that wild hare ran past
me, and thou knowest what that fore
bodes.n
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 lIassan.
"Mehemet Ali Pasha loves us not, and
here, in his own stronghold, who knows
what he may do?H
Hal think'st thou that the Pasha
means treachery?n cried the young
chief, with fierce CLEAN in his large
black eyes and significant clutch of
his ieweled sword hilt, "lf it be so, let
him beware! for he who beats the thick
ct for an antelope may chance to rouse
Il lion! But this is idle talk-he dares
notnN
"UIe darcs mott echoed three or four
of the others, with a diSdainful laugh;
and the feast began.
Long and merrily did they revcl; but
Just as the mirth was at its height, n
shrill whistle, sharp and ominous AS the
scream of vulture, pierced the still
night mir. Instantly the hangings OF
the colonnade fell, and from behind the
pillars. with flash and roar like the
outburst of thunderstorm, n deadly
volley 'of musketry came crashing
among the jewellers.
In a moment all was confusion. The
betrayed Mamelukes sprang to then
feet and grasped their swords and dag
gers; butwhat could these avail agains
the mercicss bullets that hailed upor
them without ceasing? Down they
went, man on man, and among the frs
that fell was poor old Hassan, who's,
gloomy prophecy was but too truly full
filled.
Yet even in this deadly peril, tn,
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 wa
only one chance left. As the bowling
murderers closed in to finish theirwork
Said spurrcd his horse and darted lik,
an arrow through the doorway leading
from the colounade to the rampant tina
oycrhung the precipice.
An eNulting yell broke from the enc
mics rs they rushed after him, thinking