Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1912 — Page 2

A FAIR WOMAN AND A WILD PLOTi REAL STORIES FROM THE LIFE OF A MASTER ADVENTURER

by CAPTAIN GEORGE B. BOYNTON

copr/w&r #y TMr/MWMr ccwhm (Editor’s Note—Capt. George B. Boynton died a few month* ago In Brooklyn. Ho served, all told, under eighteen flags and his life has furnished much material for fiction. This is a story of some of his adventure* told by himself for the first time.) M g|EAR the close of 1889 I was seised B with a freak of fancy to visit |BB Cairo, the ancient capital of the '-w tings of Egypt—those glorious old marauding monarchs who made despotism a fine art, and graft a l religion. A Under my British name of ttfCMTA George MacFarlane I stopped at Shepheards’ Hotel, then the home of all pilgrims, and gave myself up to the enjoyment of new scenes. It was at the height of the tourist season, following the Christmas holidays, and there was an abundance of company, made of cultured Europeans and a few Americans of gentle birth, for that was before Cairo was overrun with the overrich. The time was delightfully whiled away for a month before anything .happened to Indicate the reason for my being there, but within less than half of that time I had renewed acquaintance with the man who was really the key to the situation, though I did not suspect it at the time.

He and I had been strangely thrown together feome years before under which provoked rather an Intimate knowledge of each other, and when we met on the street one day the recognition was Instant and mutual. He did not inquire into my business, but simply asked what name I was travel- , ing under, in order that he might not embarrass me. He stood in close and confidential relation to Tewflk Pasha, the Khe- ... dive, and on that account - - .—it- is best that there should be no hint, even now, as to his name. As I was enjoying my after-dinner cigar one evening In a quiet corner of the garden in front of the hotel I was approached by three women peddlers, ap-

parently of the fellah class. They wore the common blue kimona-like garment, held together seemingly by luck, and their small black veils were thrown over their heads, leaving their faces bare and thus placing them outside the pale of Egyptian respectability. I was about to walk away to avoid their pestering when my eyes met those bf the one who was In the lead, and instantly I was attracted in place of being repelled. Her sparkling eyes, turned full on me and ignoring all else, told me as plainly as words could have done that she had some message for me, an<L suspecting that the moment for _ which I had been waiting for weeks had arrived, I walked slowly toward her, as though In a mood to barter. As we met, seemingly somewhat disconcerted by my steady gaze of profound and unconcealed admiration, she drew her uncouth veil across her face and held out her hands, like one trained to tourist trade, that I might examine her wonderful rings. Those hands could never have known work, they were so soft and small; and arms more perfectly rounded were never modeled in marble by a master. Plainly this woman was not of the servant class, to which her companions as clearly belonged. . One of her hands was half closed, and as she laid it in mine It opened and a small piece of folded paper fell into my palm. Long accustomed to ways out of the ordinary, I gave no sign beyond an Involuntary start which she felt, but no one else noticed, and proceeded, with much deliberation, to select a ring which I purchased as a souvenir of our first meeting. Not a word passed between us except as to the price of the ring, over which there was no haggling. s The women who were with her made a pretense of showing me their wares, but it was only a s>ow for the benefit of any inquisitive persons who might be watching and, without urging me to buy, they passed on. Curious as to the contents of the communication which had come to me so strangely, but fearful of being watched by I knew not whom, it was some time before I went to my room to read the note by the light of a tallow candle. The mysterious missive read: “You are Captain Boynton. Are you willing to undertake a difficult and perhaps dangerous mission? Answer tomorrow night through the channel by which you receive this.” Here was a romantic promise of something -new and real In the way of excitement, for I . could imagine nothing stereotyped growing out sos such an unusual beginning, and I rejoiced. . Inasmuch as the only man In Cairo who knew ime as Captain Boynton, and who was acquainted with my favorite occupation, was a confidant of the Khedive, it naturally occurred to me that the oily Tewflk Pasha was mixed up In it some way, and I suspected that it involved Another secret movement against British rule ■in Egypt The latter suspicion was soon verified, and there never has been any doubt in Imy own mind that I was equally correct In the conjecture as to the participation, or at least (the silent approval, ef,Tewfik. L. The next evening, before going down to dln<ner, I wrote my reply: \ H “Yes, provided ft Is something a gentleman . *can do, and lam well paid for lt v But I will conduct no negotiations in this way. I must f|see the people I am doing business with." After dinner I retired to the same out-of-the- ' way corner of the garden In which I had been - toned th* night before to await developments, was not long, but it seemed hours

ping for an hour or more. Her jewels were much richer than those she had worn the previous evening, and as I studied their barbaric beauty I softly pressed her childish hands as the only means of conveying something of the Impression she had made on me, for I did not know the extent to which the other women were In our secret or could be trusted. Her only response was one quick glance, which I interpreted as a mixture of pleasure, 'surprise and interrogation; the one distinctly pleasant thing about it was that it contained nothing of indignation or hostility. There wasno .sign.of.either,lalla. orher two. friends the next evening, though I watched for them closely. On the second afternoon I received a call from my old friend, who undoubtedly had vouched for me to the people who had opened up the exceedingly Interesting correspondence. It was apparently a casual visit, but Its purpose was revealed when, in the course of a general conversation regarding the country and its ways, along which he had cleverly piloted me, he said: “These Egyptians are a remarkable people. I have lived among them long enough to know them and to admire, particularly, their sublime religious faith and their exalted sense of honor. With their enemies, and with the travelers on whom they prey, they are tricky and evasive to the last degree, but in their dealings with people whom they know and trust they are the most honorable men In the world. I don’t know whether you expect to have any dealings with them, but If you do, you can trust them absolutely.” With that opening I was on the point of speaking to him about the note I had received and answered, but before I could say a word he had started off on another subject, leaving me to understand that he knew all about the matter but did not wish to talk of it, and that he had taken that method, learned from the diplomats, of endorsing the people with whom he had put me in communication. I took my accustomed seat in the garden that evening, Impatient for further unfoldlngs. I had not been waiting long when lalla and her two companions appeared and came straight toward me, but without any sign of recognition. As she passed closely beside me, walking slowly, lalla whispered, almost in my ear : "Follqw me at ten o’clock!" A few. minutes before ten I descended into the street to-wait for them, so It could not be seen from the hotel that I was following them. Promptly on the hour lalla and her attendants came down the steps and set off toward Old Cairo. They ted me alrnnst the full length of the Mnowhka, turned Into one of the narrow side streets, then Into another and another until they stopped at last in front of a door at the side of one of the little shops. When I was within perhaps fifty feet of them lalla entered the door, after looking back at me, while her four companions walked rdpldly on down the street. I pushed open the door, which was Immediately closed by a servant who dropped a bar across It, and found lalla waiting for me in a dimly lighted hallway. She led me nearly to the end of the long hall, opened a door and motioned to me to enter, and closed the door from the outside. I found myself In a large which, after my eyes had become accustomed to the half-light, I saw was magnificently furnished. A fine-looking old Arab, with gray hair and beard, was seated Ohan ottoman, smoking a bubble-pipe. His bearing wm majestic, and for the purpose of

before the same three women came up the short flight of steps running down to the street. As on the night before, it was left to lalla to barter with me. I again took both of her hands in mine, to examine her jewelry, and as I did so I slipped into one of them the tightly " folded note which I had been grip-

easy identification he will be known here as Regal, though that was not his name. “I am glad to see you, Boynton Pasha,” was his greeting, in a deep, strong voice. He proved himself a man of action and advanced himself greatly in my esteem by giving no time to idle chdtter. “We know you well," he said, “through trustworthy information, as a soldier and a sailor, and we believe you are peculiarly well equipped for the work we wlsh vou to undertake. It is a sea-going expedition, Involving danger of disaster on one hand and the couse of liberty and a substantial reward on the other. Are you willing to attempt it?” “If you are open to reasonable terms and I am given full command of the expedition I will gladly undertake it,” I replied "If it furnishes real adventure I will be quite willing to accept that in part payment for my services.” Without further ceremony he let me Into the whole plot. At the bottom of it was the old cry of “Egypt for the Egyptians,” which is not yet dead and probably will not die. for centuries, if ever. It was Arabi Pasha who had made the last desperate fight under this slogan, and it was his release from exile that was sought by the plotters, in order that he could renew the war for native liberty. Through spies it had been learned that Arabi was eonfined at a point near the coast only a short distance from Colombo, the capitol of Ceylon. He was allowed considerable freedom, .withln /cer.taln. .prescribed Jimita, andwas-in the custody of only a gmall guard. Hls escape was regarded as impossible, and the idea that an attempt might be made to rescue him seemingly never entered the minds of those responsible for his safe-keeping. Yet that was precisely what I was asked to accomplish. I promptly assured the old patriot, whose, anxiety and excitement were shown in his blazing eyes, that I would cheerfully assume responsibility for Arabi’s rescue and his safe delivery at almost any point that might be designated. With a gesture which indicated that everything- was settled in his mind and that it was necessary for me only to name my terms to have them agreed to. Regal said he anticipated no difficulty on that point and suggested that I return the next afternoon of evening to meet his associates,, the inner circle of the revolutionary party. Regal was waiting for me and with him were five of his countrymen. It was urged by them and agreed that I should take no part In the actual rescue of Arabi, but remain on the ship to guard against any surprise by water and to be ready to steam westward as soon as the party returned. I was to stand in close to the shore just after dark, with all lights doused, and it was thought that Arabi wouldJbe safe on board long before sunrise so that we could be well clear of the land by daybreak. When I finally started back to my hotel lalla and her attendants were waiting for me in the alley, for It was not wide enough to be called a street They started on ahead, but we had gone only a few short blocks when her four' companions walked.briskly away and she waited for me in a deep shadow. “How did your business turn out?” she inquired anxiously, as I bowed low before her. Her voice, which I had been longing to hear, was soft and clear, as well became her, and her radiant beauty alone shone forth through the darkness ; —— '■ “Thanks to your cleverness," I replied, 'fit has turned out well.” “Then you are going to rescue my uncle!” she exclaimed delightedly. Her sparkling eyes flamed with Excitement and, as if to seal the compact, she extended her hand, which I first pressed and then kissed. Then I slipped it through my arm and started to walk, out of the shadow into the moonlight, and she accompanied me without protest W’e walked long and talked much, and some of it was Interesting. . V The next night I found my way alone to Regal’s abode and received.. the first payment of 20,000 pounds, in Paris exchange. There was a final conference, and I took my departure with many good wishes. lalla and her two women attendants were waiting for me, as had been arranged, and my love-making was resumed where I had 16ft off on the pre-

ceding night. lalla was more responsive than before, but when I urged her to go with me to. France or marry me at once In Cairo she would not listen. Finally she said: "After you have rescued my uncle I will go with you anywhere, but not until then will I think of marriage.” Nothing could move her from that decision. I arranged to meet her the-nsxt ntrht and th*, one following, and several others, which she accomplished by the popular method of bribing her attendants, but, though It was a joy to her to be told of my love, there was no way by which she could be induced to yield to it until ■ her uncle was free. , * . —‘ “I went to Marsellles and, after looking over several ships that were for sale, bought L’Hirondelle, a coasting steamer of 800 tons. At Suakln one of the great surprises of my life awaited me. We had scarcely tied up whn the man from whom I was to receive the warriors came aboard with a letter from Regal directing me to turn the ship over to him and discharge the crew. The agent could not understand the change of plan any more -than I could, and I could not even guess as to the cause, but he was there to obey orders, and there was nothing else for me to do. Feeling sure there would be a satisfactory explanation waiting for me at Cairo, I returned there, after paying off the crew and sending them back to Marseilles and London charge of Leigh and Wilson. . I was still more mystified when, on reaching Cairo, I was unable to find Regal, lalla or any one else connected with the undertaking, nor could I get the slightest trace of them. In the hope of seeing lalla again, and determined to secure some definite clue as to just what bad happened in my absence, I waited around for two weeks or more, until I encountered the old friend who, I knew, was responsible for my connection with the conspiracy. I did not dissemble, as I had before, but took him to my room, told him the riddle and asked him the answer. I did not expect him to admit anything- and was not disappointed. He said, iij, substance: “Of course I know nothing about the plot of which you have tpld me. If what you say is true, I should say that you have been making something of a fool of yourself over this lalla and that you have only yourself to blame for the. abrupt ending which seems to have been reached. These women are the greatest flirts , in the world. “You thought lalla was in love with you, but but she was only having a good time with you, and she has taken a lot of pride in telling her friends about your meetings, at their afternoon gatherings for the exchange of gossip. She had no idea of marrying you, an unbeliever, you can be sure. It may be she thought she was stimulating you to deeds of heroism, but, if she considered that at all, It was a secondary matter. “The men you were dealing with have the contempt of their race for all women. They can not understand how any man can become so enamored of a woman, no matter how beautiful, as fio let it interfere with his business. “They would argue that no man who could be relied on to carry out their plan would display such lack of judgment It Is possible that there may be some other reason for the sltuatioii In which you 'find yourself, but I doubt it The wisest course for you is to tell me how you can be reached, and leave Cairo, for ypy can gain nothing by staying here. It is known to many people that I know you, and if any one should want to get in communication with you I will be able to toll him how to do ft.” Possessing all the pride of a full-blooded man, I resented the calm assertion that I had “been ensnared by a flirt, but, in looking back at it now, I am willing to admit that probably my friend was right about it ;’ r Feeling that for once my destiny had played ft a bit low down on me, I crossed the Mediterranean and took a French liner’ for New York. Eleven years later Arabi was pardoned and returned to Egypt, but his Influence among his 7 own people was gone; the fact that he had accepted a pardon implied, to their astute minds, a secret agreement with their enemies and caused him to.be regarded as a tool of the British. But, the fires of freedom are still burning, and now and again signal-cmoke is seen rising over 1. lia. «

WAR REMINISCENCES

IN PURSUIT OF HOOD’S ARMY Member of Minnesota Regiment Gives Details Leading to Capture of Pointe Coupee Battery. - J ■' A sketch <of the incidents leading to the capture of the Pointe Coupee Battery at Nashville is given by Theodore G. Carter, captain, Co. K, 7th Minnesota, in the National Tribune as follows: “At Nashville the sth Minn, was on the left erf the Second Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Corps, front line, its left flank resting on the Granny White pike. The Pointe Coupee battery was in front of my company. On Dec. 15th we had charged and driven the enemy's forces from two forts or redoubts, without stopping to place guards over the guns, colors and other captured property. Our colonel, W. R. Marshall, was in command of the Third Brigade on the 16th, and

“Lay Down Your Arms and Surrender."

he was the only brigade commander who led his brigade in that charge of the S ixteenth Corps, and he was on horseback at that. A lane ran along the front of and below the high woodland upon which the Pointe Coupee battery was, and the Confederates took the inside fence rails and; placed them on top of the outer fence, with the ends resting on top of the fence and sloped towards us, the lower ends covered with dirt to keep them in place. They were laid close together, and it was difficult to climb them. A shell had knocked oflt a part of the obstruction. As I was looking towards the battery (it was pouring grape, canister and shrapnel at us all the time), I did not notice the movement of the reglment to the right; consequently when I saw It there was a break fin my company of some 75 or 100 yards. I told the remaining eight or ten boys that we would go to that gap and go over. The boys ’boosted’ me up, and as I gained the top I saw Col. Marshall come galloping down from the right. He rode out into the crowd of fleeing Confederates, calling out: ’Lay down your arms and surrender.’ I jumped down, and telling the boys to follow me, ran after the colonel, giving the same call. There were apparently thousands of them trying to get over the hills to the Franklin pike. Our left claimed,the capture of that battery, too, yet we had been in possession quite awhile before their line had fairly started.”

Sykes’ Dog and Hood’s Army.

After the battle of Nashville a friend asked President Lincoln ,if he expected any more trouble from Hood’s army. He replied: - "Well, no, Medlll; I think Hood’s army is about in the same fix of Bill Sykes’ dog, down in Sangamon county. Bill had a long, yellow dog that was: forever getting Into the neighbors* ! meat houses and chicken coops. They had tried to kill it a hundred times, but the dog was always tod smart tori them. Finally one of them, got a smalt bag and filled it up with powder, tying a piece of punk around the neck. When! he saw the dog coming he fired this’ punk, split open a hot biscuit and put, the bag In, then buttered it and threw it out. The dog swallowed it at a gulp. Pretty soon there was an explosion, and pieces of the dog fell all around. Bill Sykes came along, and,, seeing the scraps lying around, said: T guess that dog, as a dog, ain’t of much more account’ There may be fragments of Hood’s army aroubd, but I guess his army, as an army, ain’t of much more account”

Didn’t Worry Grant.

General Sherman used to say: “L know more tactics and strategy than Grant, and have just as good a mind and a better military training. But what the other fellow is doing, when Grant can’t see him doesn’t worry him a bit, while it worries me like thunder.”

What’s a Fortification?

A recruit being asked what constituted a fortification answered; AVell. I guess two twenty-ficatlons make a tonyf-cation.” . •