Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-02

Lively story of Adventure.
From Chambers's Journal

II lO!h NHaAb'4n ouulHhI.I
1t was on suth morning as we fog
nurtured islanders seldom witness at home
that l stood upon the deck of the good
steamer Coumoundouros, watching the
nearing shores of the Pirmus. which, as
all the world knows, or should know, is
the port of the classic city of Athens.
The beautiful unclouded sky the bright
outline of the snn-bathed coast tile air
laden with the scent of the distant Hy-
mettus the far cminence with the grand
old Acropolis standing out white and bold
i'll the clear atmosphere and close at
hand the mouldering tomb Of Themisto-
cles-all combined to arouse such poetic
fancies in my mind, that l forgot for the
moment the prosaic business upon which
l had come. The screaming engine of the
busy little railway which carries the trav-
eller from the Pirnus to Athens, soon
reminded me. however, that l was ac-
credited with mission from London
Greek firm and was very soon whirling
over the sacred ground.
Where history gives TO every rood page"
We passed the monuments of those
doughty champions of the War of hide
pendence, ksraiskakis and Miaulis, and
many other objects Of interest ; and after
ride Of three OF four miles, / found
myself at my destination.
After the first few days | certainly had
very pleasant time of it, the few hours
walk each day acting only as stimulus
to my varied pleasures ; and having ex-
amined the Acropolis, and lunched by the
fallen pillar of Jupiter, seated myself in
the ruins OF Pnyx-whence Demosthenes
acclaimed. and Pericles evolved his plans
I looked around like Alexander, for
more worlds to conquer l thereupon
consulted my genial but unwashed host,
Kyrie Antonio Pericles Pappademetraco-
poulos-who, although Plato was to him q
text book, and the sayings of Socrates as
familiar as the story OF Tommy and Har-
ry to an English schoolboy, was always
as dirty as q sTeep-upon the propriety
OF betaking myself where
''The mountains look OH Marathon
And Marathon looks On the sea-
For one might as well go to Egypt with
out visiting the Pyramids, or to Rome
without entering ST. Peters, as to "do'
Greece and leave Marathon unexplored
and when my host tried to dissuade me
by assuring me that Greek gentleman +
val b'tll TNI-h ~ ipi ny
the brigands to his obstinate relatives, to
hurry the negotiations for his ransom, il
So reused my blood, that vowed would
go if ! returned as close cropped as al
English terrier SO away we started
myself and Themistocles, the son of my
host, n sallow unshaven youth, dirter
than his father mounted upon two high.
spirited donkeys, with our revolvers well
,,r,p,p1 n,,l ,,o1l
ed.
"Adios Kyrien' shoutodmy long-nnmed
host MS We cantered of.
"Nover fear, l replied, waving my re.
yolver defantly, and feeling that l should
be greatly disappointed if the rascals
did not show themselves.
On We went, enjoying the scenery and
holding a hybrid conversation--he il
broken English, and l in sadly mutilate6
Greek-until in the excitement of the
ride, and the glorious panorama con
stantly unfolding itself to our view, / en-
tirely forgot that there were such beings
as brigandsin existence.
''Now," said to Themistocles, after Il
ride Of some hours, during which my ap.
petite had become unpleasantly sharpen
ed, "let us look about for spot where
we chl DlNOuuc III Comfort.
We soon found delightful place, shell
tered all round, save where through (
small opening we obtained view Of O
charming landscape, Dismounting, and
allowing our animals to refresh them
selves on the grass, we soon made havoc
of the good things we had brought.
was lying upon my back smoking a cigar
cite after meal, gazing drcamily at the
blue armament and being too lazy t.
rise, had called upon Themistocles to pas
the bottle.
HAS the fellow gone to sleep Q
thought |, still indisposed to turn my
head. "Themistocles !"
But Themistocles heard Inc not an(
when raised myself upon my elbow,
saw him standing, as if struck dumb ant
motionless with fear, standing upon til,
opening. Instinctively | loaped up ant
clutched my revolver f; but before l tool
step, the cause of 1hemistocles fear be
came apparent /; and three slmggy forms
behind three blunderbusses aimed direc
at me made me fully aware that was il
the presence of those scourges of Greece
the brignnds But, oh, what metamor
phosis Where were the natty greer
jackets with silver buttons, the plumeG
hats. and the tout ensemble Of the brig
ands of my youth, Of the operas and the
picture-books? Three ragged, disrepu
table looking figures, clad III greasy sheep,
skins and dirty clothes, unkempt, un.
shaven, took the place OF those tDselled