The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-05-21

that a nod from me would make thee shorter
by the headF
81 do" answered the chief; "but thai
knowledge shall notrestrain my free speech
while vet / wear it. And thou" he added
tauntingly, as he fixed his eagle glance on
Coral, awhat reward is thy Moslem master
to give thee for sacrificing thy country?---
What sum is to gid the blackness Of thy
treachery2 What was the purchase of thy
perditionY
at is before me-" returned Coral, with a
sneer,-"eyen thy flesh, bone, and sinew
Twas for thee sold myself, that, | might
behold thy pride in the dust, and cxult ovet
thy degradaton.n
How! What injury have | ever doue
thee?r
"I will tell thee" said the traitor, hoarse-
ly:." thou hast thwarted my ambition,-m
voice in the council has succumbed TO thine
my achievements in the field have been
dmmed by the superior lustre of Mine.--
Thou has supplahted me in love too !
wooed Chetho,--she smiled on mel had
welded her, had not thy accursed form step
ped in between me and happiness. Thou
hast been pestilential shadow, darkening
my path through life,-blighting my most
cherished hopes,-defeating every plan Of
aggrandizement. For these causes l hate
and have betrayed thee" q
"Coward!n replied the chief, with a look
of disgust: hadst thou not sword2 Or,
il thou didst not dare meet me on equal
terms, hadst thou not the dastard's weapon,
IA dagger? Was there no way TO strike
me but through the bosom of thy country?''
"No!" said the malignant wretch, "for its
sacrifice, is one of the instruments of my re-
venge. Kill thee! No, no, do not thirst
for thy blood. would rather feed my hatred
on thy living ogony than thy dying pangs.-
| will make weapons of thy boasted virtues
to consummate my vengeance. Thou art a
patriot,-,hy native soil will shortly be- one
wide desolation. Thou art a worshipper of
Liberty, and toll shall be thy future
heritage. Thou art husband lie! thy a.
dored wife shall be-
Hold" shouted the chief, in a voice like
the roar which precedes the lions bound F;
and notwithstanding the immense weight of
his fetters, he sprang with one leap to the
side Of the scotIer, and at the same time
grasping in both hands the massive chain
which manacled his wrists, swung it with
Tremendous force at the head ofhis betrayer.
Coral instnctly stepped backward 10 avoid
the impending blow, and so narrowly did he
escape destruction, that his cap was swept
off by the end ofthe chain in its descent
4JOrU.U tiIss ssss1'-... iii l. -nrnaiod Giay
ella was overpowered and dragged from the
apartment The Pasha, who had been 81
lent spectator of the scene, and who could
not help admring the high bearing of the
prisoner, gave orders that he should be treat
ed with as much lenity as was compatible
with his safe keeping. Ali had fixed the fol-
lowing morning fora general attack, having
delayed the assault one day in expectation
of artillery from loninna. During the mean
time, the Greek leader was confined in a
hut near the fortress already described, un-
der the custody of the Vizier's personal
guard. 1t was little past midnight, when
Elmas and Basileus, the two soldiers men,
toned in the commencement of the narrative,
relieved two of their comrades in the duty
of guarding the captive. After pacing on
their post in front Of the hovel for some time
in silence, the elder abruptly exclaimed: sis
it not hard duty, Basileus, thus to block
up the prison door of man who once saved
my life? This Giavella, (as was about to
tell the when that spawn of Eblis, Coral, in
terrupted us,) preserved me when wounded
and incapable ofresistance, from the dagger
which Greek soldier had uphfted to .slay
me. "Wouldst thou" he said, arresting the
arm of his ceuntryman, "sacrifce man who
has this day saAed thy wife from destruction?
lsaw," continued my deliverer, "a Mosem
ruffian with his scymetar at her breast, when
this brave fellow struck him down with his
gun, and conducted her beyond the reach Of
his licentious comrades. Wilt thou slay
him now?" The Christians weapon drop
ped from his uplifted had,--he bound my
wounds with bis own scarf--bade God speed
me, and passed on. Now" added Elmas,
al show my gratitude by being the jailor Of
my rescuer Would he were ffee!n
"And why should he not be so?" said his
companion. 81 like not this war Of exter-
mination against brave men who only ask a
few naked rocks for possession, and now and
then a little ioragein the plains. My father
was Klepht,* and SO was my grandfather,
and it's repugnant to my conscience TO
draw my sword onany of Sihe profession, ~
"In other words" answered the old man,
smiling, "thy city education has not destroy
ed the hereditary propensity of the family
blood: it bath but slumbered, ,---and now
while shutting mountain air for the first time
in thy recollection, thou feelesta marvel-
Ious inclination 10 forswear honesty, and take
TO living by thy wits. Iii not so?"
81 know not that, replied Basileus, ,--"but
by Heaven! L feel strong interest for this