The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-24

| PICSCHSC VI GilooS SSOulSCS VI OAOSOo) NAA~
brigands But oh I! what a metamor-
phosis Where were the natty green
jackets with silver buttons, the plumed
hats, and the tout ensemble of the brigands
of my youth, of the operas and the picture
books Three ragged, disreputable-look-
ing figures, clad in greasy sheep-skins and
dirty clothes, unkempt, unshaven, took the
place of those tinseled heroes. With stern
gestures and muttered threats they ordered
us to follow them. My first thought was
resistance; but when [ showed the slight
est sign, the three bell-mouthed muskets
were bent toward me, and | felt that the
odds were too many and determining to
await events, grimly submitted to be led
down the mountain by unsavory guides.
At last, after winding through ravines
and hollows, across glens and over noun
tain paths innumerable, this unpleasant
journey ended by our guides calling halt
as we gained the summit of an eminence
surrounded by trees and rocks, forming an
extraordinary natural fortress. Beneath
our feet, in deep ravine, with seemingly
but one outlet, and excellently sheltered by
overhanging foliage, was the camp Of the
brigands; and here we found the rest OF
the shaggy rufians- the exception of
one who stood sentinel-enj their 81
esta with indolent content.
A shrill whistle soon brought the rascals
to their feet; and, rushing up to meet us,
they displayed dozen of as unfavorable
specimens of the human race as could well
be found Selling our asses by their bri-
dies, they relieved our captors, and led us
down the ravine; and having roughly as
sisted us to dismount, brought us into the
presence of the chief of the band.
"Bravo, lads excellent, excellent y he
shouted as his sparkling eye bent upon us
in delight; and after cursory examina-
ton, we were conducted amid excited
gesticulations of the brigands and without
undue ceremony, into dark cavern with
in the ravine.
''Shiver my maintops!' exclaimed a
voice as | CROPPED my way in; "they might
give us sea-room, the vagabonds, and not
land us in this lubberly creek and now
they are showing more craft in to anchor !"
"Haul in, Jack, old chum !" answered
another 1--WE must make the best of bad
job, mate"
To say that my heart lcaped to my
mouth at hearing such unexpected words,
and finding myself in company of my own
countrymen, would no more than describe
the cheering sensation that thrilled through
me.
"What cheer mates?' l cried in the
darkness Answering exclamations OF
astonishment greeted my words and in a
few minutes our stories were told; and l
learned that my new-found friends were
the captain and supercargo of ship then
lying in the port of the Piraus, who, seek
ing like object, had met with similar
fate to my own.
"And now," said Captain Jack Jen-
kins, chow are we to get out of this scrape!
If | had Tim and Joe and Black Tom
each with a cutlass and a barking-iron
here, we'd soon make passage, I'd war
rant p
'sThat's all very well, said Will John
son, the supercargo; but we haven't. Ii
I'd but the opportunity given me, Id
guarantee"
Whatever the supercargo was about tt
say was cut short by the advent of two
shock heads at the little opening of oul
prison, and two harsh voices calling us-a'
nv guide, Themistocles, informed us-tC
partake of feast for we learned after
ward that the chief, in commemoration o.
having made such good haul, had decid
ed to allow us, his prisoners, to partake ot
the general festivity. But as a prelimi
nary, we had to undergo an examination a
to our capability of paying the anticipated
ransoms. First, we were relieved of oul
watches and rings, the captain using Ian
guage rather strong for translation Of thes'
pages, to the great amusement of his tor
mentors who, with similar gesticulation
to his, endeavored to initiate the sound O
the captains words, which of course onl..
added to his wrath and their hilarity.
.sYou uncombed, dirty faced vagabonds!
he shouted, eff had few of you aboard
the Annie Martin, I'd twist your ugl.
heads over the yardarm in the twinklins
of jify
Of course they only laughed the loude1
at his impotent rage and [ thought i
quite as well that they did not understand
the language in which he gave it vent.
The operation of stripping us Of ou
valuables gave me an opportunity to OBJ
serve the appearance of my companions
Captain Jenkins was the beau-ideal of al
English seaman. In age about thirty-fve
of large and robust built, face broad
manly and bearded, and limbs such al
would delight sculptor to copy. Hi
height was nearly six feet; and he had al
air of command about him which wa
doubtless bred of his occupation. Th'
supercargo, Will johnson, was perhaps ter
years younger; nearly as tall as his friend
strong and active; and take us altogethe
for am of no mean statue myself-w'
were three men who, under any circum
stonces would be no disgrace to oul