The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-11
THE BENNINGTON BANNER FRIDAY SEPTEMBER II, 1891


am to break my word of honor to the
governor of the prison.
"'That isn't it, he made reply. L
have plan of my own which will pro-
coed in words to make clear to you
"What happened next would be long
to relate, effendi." But l noticed that
the fellah's eyes twinkled as he spoke,
like one passes over of set purpose an
now is that the whole night through the
good governor lay awake, wondering
whether or not / would come home in
time, and blaming himself in his heart
for having given such leave to mere con-
demned criminal. Still, effendi, though
l am but poor, am man of honor. As
the clock struck six in the prison court
next morning knocked at the governors
window with the appointed signal, and
the governor rose and let me into my cell,
and praised me for my honor, and was
well pleased to see me. L knew, Athan-
asio,' he said, roping his mustache once
more, you were man to be trusted
cat o'clock they took me out into
the courtyard. The executioner was
there already, great black Nubian, with
very sharp cimeter.
81 knelt down and bent my head. l
feared, after all, no respite was coming.
The executioner stood forth and raised
the cimeter in his hand. 1 almost
thought 1 heard it swish through the air;
l saw the bright CLEAN Of the blade as it
descended. But just it that moment, az
the executioner delayed, loud commo-
ton arose in the outer court. 1 raised
my head and listened. We heard voice
cry: In Allahs name, let me in. There
must be no executionn The gates
opened wide, and into the inner court
yard there rode with long strides great
white mule, and on its back, scarcely
able to sit up, sorry figure.
"He was wrapped around in bandages,
and swathed from head to foot like a
man sore wounded. His face was bruised
and his limbs swollen. But he upheld
one hand in solemn warning, and in a
load voice again he cried to the execu-
toner, In Allah's name, Hassan, let
there be no execution
1.-THE lockers on, to right and left,
raised a mighty cry and called out with
one voice, the Sheikh! The Sheikh!
Who can have thus disfigured him?
"But the Sheikh himself came forward
in great pain, like one whose bones ache,
and, dismounting from the mule, spoke
aloud to the governor. In Allah's name,
he said, trembling, let this man go; he
is innocent. l swore to him falsely,
though l believed it to be true. For see,
last night, about II o'clock, the self same
dog who broke into my house before en-
tered my room with violence through the
open window. He carried in his hands
the self same stick as last time, and had
his face covered, as ever, with linen
cloth. And knew by his figure and his
voice he was the very same dog that had
previously beaten me. But before |
could cry aloud to rouse the house, the
infidel had fallen upon me once more,
and thwacked me, as you see, within an
inch of my life, and covered me with
bruises, and then bid me take care how
| accused innocent people like Athanasio
of hurting me. And after that he
jumped through the open window and
went away once more. And | was great
ly afraid, fearing the wrath of Allah, if
let this man Athanasio be killed in his
stead, though he is but an infidel. And
l rose and saddled my mule very early,
and rode straight into Assiout, to tell
you and the Cadi had bourne false wit
ness, and to save myself from the guilt
of an innocent soul on my shoulders.
"Then all the people around cried out,
with one voice, "A miracle! miracle!
And the Sheikh stood trembling beside,
with faintness and with terror.
''But the governor drew me few
PAGES apart.
"'Athanasio, you rascal, he said, half
laughing, 1T is you that have done this
thing! 1t is you that have assaulted
him! You got out on your word of
honor on purpose to play this scurvy
trick upon us!
'Effendi,' 1 made answer, bowling
low, life is sweet; he beat me, unjustly,
first, and he would have taken my Laila
from me. Moreover, swear to you, by
st. George and the mother of God, when
| left the prison last night 1 really be-
lieved my father was dying
'The governor laughed again. Well
you can go, you rogue he said. The
Cadi will soon come around to deliver
you. But advise you to make yourself
scarce as fast as you can, for sooner or
later this trick of yours may be discov-
cred. l can't tell upon you or | would
lose my place. But you may be found
out, for all that. Go at once up the
river
THAT is my hut that you see yonder,
effendi, where Laila and | live. The
Sheikh is dead, and the English are now
our real lords in Egypt. "-Grdnt Allen in
Strand Magazine.