The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-23

1T of the "yurks" point his gun in OF
it direction. Every second we expecte
1t to hear the report of thirty or fort
d Martins, and to receive a shower c
l. bullets in our very faces, for hardl
e two hundred yards separated us fro1
o the police. We were kept in thi
e state Of suspense for a considerabl
It time; and our minds were only re
g lieved from anxiety toward evening
d when our would-be rescuers left tn
s gorge. Why their search was nc
t prosecuted more effectually remains
= mystery; but had it been successful
4 | do not think we could possibly hav
| escaped.
1 Little more now remains to be said
e When darkness came on we lost M
r time in starting for Courou Tepe, :
? hill overlooking Bournabat, which W.
reached about dawn on Friday. There
the chief and one of his acolytes
engaged in very violent dispute as
to the prudence Of choosing day
generally considered unlucky, for
occupying a position in such close
proximity to the village. The former,
however, overruled the objections of
his subordinate, and we therefore
remained all day in some brushwood,
which completely concealed us from
the. sight Of any passer-by. In the
evening we despatched letter to our
relations, appointing rendezvous for
that very night, and one of the brig
ands was entrusted with the care of
forwarding it to Bournabat.
On receipt of the note, our friends
lost no time in communicating with
us, and provisions and clothing,
which we sadly needed, were immedi-
ately despatched by trusty messenger.
The opportunity was also utilized for
coming to an understanding with our
captors concerning the payment of
ransom. About midnight the
messenger took his departure, and we
lay down to sleep, wrapped in the
cloaks we had received; the brigands
left everything at our entire disposal.
although we had half expected thew
would appropriate several articles for
their own use. l cannot but ac-
knowledge that so far we had no
cause of complaint against our captors.
who, with the exception Of one of
their number. proved, under the most
tying circumstances on several
occasions, that they were not deficient
in courtesy, and even kindness.
We spent Saturday on the same
spot, and anticipating release that
evening, We waited impatiently for
the shades of night; for it was only
when favored by darkness that the
brigands ventured to move. Some
two hours before midnight we started
for the appointed rendezvous, and our
spirits rose rapidly as we approached
our destination. On entering the bed
OF torrent we were left to the care
OF threee brigands, while the chief, his
and a third man. went to
meet our friends or their messengers.
After waiting anxiously for some time
we heard footsteps approaching, and
soon distinguished in the gloom the
'he figures of the chief with his COM
rades, accompanied by two other per-
IONS, whose hands we shortly grasped
n welcome shake.
The terms of our release were the
occasion of some delay, as the brigands /
would not for a long time reduce the {
um of the ransom they had at first
demanded, namely, $4,000; but argu-
nents and threats induced them at
ength to accept e750 as the price Of 3
ur release. Another difficulty, how
yer, then arose; for our captors, wish
ng to ensure their escape, stipulated I
hat we should keep in company with .
hem all night, and only obtain our o O
liberty on the following morning.
Again vehement protests were raised
gainst such a condition; but the bri- "
ands proved inhexible in their deter p
and only consented to our t,
Immediate release on receiving our
lords Of honor to give no informa-
on to the police until dawn. r |,
At half-past one o'clack on Sunday =
forming we reached Bouruabat, and
nus ended what hope may prove our
lst adventure with brigands, whereof n
have given true account in these :, ,
ages. ri