The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-10-17

Menemet ALI Pasha himself, the dread
ed Governor Of Lower Egypt, thinks it
prudent to stand we'll with the Mame-
lukes AMI to bid them to feast in bis
own citadel at Cairo.
Little do they dream what manner OF
feat 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 notions Of
independence, have long been burden
to BIN. II he intends Gas he does to
become absolute master of all Egy pt, be
or they must go; and be has already
made up his mind which of the two it
shall be.
In all their pride and splendor the
doomed men fharch gallantly into the
fatal courtyard whence they are never
to return. The gate shuts unperceived
behind them as they enter, whilea 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 flor this
strange bauquet-hsll had no roof but
the open skv) the Widespread tables and
colored lamps, the crimson hangings of
the encircling colonnade, the dark, hand.
some faces and rich dresses OF the Man.
elukes, made goodly show. But al
though most of the guests seemed in
high good humor with everything, one
SCARED veteran, With a long gray beard
hanging over bis brawny chest, looked
ominously grave and gloomy.
"What ails thee, Father Hassan 7''
asked tall, handsome lad beside him.
"Thy face is as dark IS the peaks of the
Kokattam before storm p
81 am but i'll at ease, friend Said,s
answered the old warrior. "Last night
dreamed that wild hare ran past uie,
and thou knowest what that forebodes "
Evidently Said did know, by the sud-
den cIouding 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 stronghold, who knows what
he may do" 90
"Ha! think'st thou that the Pasha
means treachery7 ?" cried tue young chief,
with fierce CLEAN in his large black
eyes and significant clu,ch OF his jew
eled sword hilt. "If it be SO, let him
beware for he who heats the thicket for
an antelope may chance to rouse lion!
But this is idle talk-he dares not!'
"He dsres not" echoed three or fouf
Of the Others, with disdainful laugh.
and the feast began.
Long and merrily did they revel ;but
just as their mirth was at its height, d
shrill whistle, sharp and ominous as the
scream of a vulture, pierced the still
night air. Instantly the hangings of
the colonnade fell, and from behind the
pillars, with fash and roar like the
outburst Of thunder storm, a deadly
volley of musketry came crashing
among the revelers.
In moment all was confusion. The
betrayed Mamelukes sprang to their feet
and grasped their swords and daggers I;
but what 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
prophesy was but too truly fulfilled.
Yet even in this deadly peril, tine
brave young Said did not lose his pres.
ence OF mind. At the first alarm he
had sprung to his horse aud united it,
but 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 door way leading
from the colonnade to the rampant that
overhung the precipice
An exulting veil broke from his ene-
mics as they rushed after him, thinking
that now they had him fast. hemmed In
as he was between their leveled weapons
and the fearful gulf beyond. But. they
little knew Said. the Mameluke. One
defiant shout, one headlong bound for.
ward into the empty air, and horse and
man vanished into the fathduless depth
of blackness below.
Even the savage soldiers turned away
in horror from the sight. of that desper.
ate leap, little dreaming that theirlprey
had escaped them after all. Yet so it
was. The horse was killed. but the
daring rider escaped with o broken limb
to die long years afterward in distant
land, unon a far nobler battlefield
David Ker, in Oar Continent