The Shasta courier., 1871-07-08
THE GREEK MAIDEN.


At the commencement of the massacre
upon the island of Scio, Ellen, beauti-
full girl of Callemasia, fed with her faith
er's family to the mountains, where they
lay concealed beneath rock surrounded
with shrubbery. They supported them
selves with grass and snails which they
collected. After two weeks their con6ne-
meut and spare diet began to prey upon
Their health. They at length vcntured to
go abroad, aud procure some more substan-
ii Il uourshment They had not proceed.
ed far before they were surprised by party
of Turks in ambush The father and
mother Of Ellen were Immediately killed
in her arms She and her sister were
spared for their beauty, but as the hostile
band was too numerous, they could not
agree to whose lot the captives should fall.
Her sister was cut in pieces, but Ellen her.
self was retained alive by the B uloukbas
or chieftain, who gave to each of his men
two dollars to pi ievent further disturbance.
Ellen was led by the Bouloukbas tn a
konah in the city Of Scio where she was
obliged to perform the duties of a slave
| Her master was so brutal that she medi-
tated a scheme to regain hel freedom
| One night she left his residence and fed
to the English Consulate, the doors of
which were closed. Not succeeding in
gaining admittance, she climed into one Of
the orange trees in the garden and remain
ed till morning, when the Boulouk bas, her
MASTER summoned his gang and started in
pursuit of her He calpe to the English
Consul aud asked permission to Sc rch his
garden for fugi i've The request was
granted. He soon discovered Ellen, and
! compelled her to descend to the ground -
He then seized her by the beautiful, long,
dark hair and dragged her around the gar
den. The Consul had power to prevent
this disgraceful proceeding, had he listen
ed to the voice of injured innoc' nee. But
he al owed the Turk to drag her away as
she cried, oh God, is there no man on
earth to pity US ?" Those words made
strong impression upon the mind and heart
of an English officer present He deter
mined immediately to purchfse her
He proceeded 10 the konah of the Bou-
loukbas and offered TWO t ousand pastres
for the Greek captive; but the master de-
cline parting with her for any snm what
ever, and declared that she should always
live with him. Ernest-so the English
nj was called-wer taway, deeply wound
ed in his feelings, and began to imagine
som method to obtain possession Of the
beauty. At last he determined to make
one final effort to obtain the object of his
wishes He called upon the Boulouk bas
and increased his offer to FIVE thousand
plastres.
7 he Turk, observing his love for Ellen,
was fattered with prospect of still great
cr sum, aud ordered her to present herself
to the sight of her lover. Ernest knew
Greek, and immediately asked her If she
was willing to accept plan of escape to
unite herself with him for life Ellen re
piled that she hoped he would for mercy's
sake spare no effort to liberate her. At
the same time it was agreed between th, m
that they should leave the island that very
night.
Ernest promised to send her mans
dress, that she might assume it to avoid
the suspicion of the watch. The Turk,
who did not understand the import of the
conversation, was still obstinate in his re-
fusal to part with her, and Ernest, who
understood sufficiently we'll the Turkish
language, promised to come again, and
make some proposal which he hoped would
not be resisted by her unfeeling owner
They separated, and Ernest rejoiced in
the hope Of possessing one of the fairc st of
the fair lie bribed the servant of the
Boulnukbas. and by him forwarded to Ell
len the disguise which had been proposed.
At midnight he appeared under ter win
dow, an clasping her in his arms, placed
her upon the ground. They then fed to
the seashore, where they entered boat
which conducted them beyond the reach of
the urks.