Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-05-30

forms for us and send us food. We
keep cur ammunition and swords up
there"
At this there was an awful creaking
Of windlass, and slowly down the
mountain shaft came rope bearing on
the end Of it big wicker basket en-
closed with a net
Watch" said the woman.
AS the basket paused upon the edge
OF the rocky ledge one of the women
reached out and grabbed it. And then
came the most awful struggle | ever
beheld.
Out from the rock whence we had
emerged came three women dragging
Oliopoulou, who held back screaming
and begging mercy.
What are you going to do with
him?" l asked
Lower him to the plains" said the
leader. He will suffer no injury if he
keeps quiet"
Joined my entreaties with theirs to
Oliopoulou to keep still
This he did with resigned soiemnity,
and swiftly, without word, these wo-
men Of steel and patriotism forced him
into the basket, laced the net over him,
and dropping him over the side began
TO lower the basket.
The cliff is 400 feet from the monas-
terry to the plains" said the leader, but
the windlass is safe. For 400 years the
monks have used it as their only means
of communication with the outside
world"
When a Stranger visits them he must
be lifted by the windlass and lowered in
the same way. The monks have far
reaching glasses and can tell a spy by
his actions. Only last week they drop
ped ONE, who signalled to them, after
lifting him one hundred feet. The
Turks have Thessaly, but they cannot
take the monasteries on the peaks-nor
us, while we are protected by the
monks.
we live here" continued she, grow
ing fierce as she talked, Ito fight for
our country-anG for our honor. They
say the war is ended, but the women Of
Greece know what such peace means.
They will fight is long as Turk fingers
in Thessaly or menaces VClo. Our war
cry is 'Bouboulina.' the Greek heroine
of 1921, who burned fifteen Turkish
towns"
DO you attack the enemy?" l asked.
NO, we remain here to protect the
city. Only last week the women from
the hamlet of DreX came running to
the mountains pursued by band Of
Turks. They sought refuge in Hagaii,
ready to take their lives under the
shadow OF Hagios Barlaam.
But the monks saw them and sig
nailed to us. Down our secret staircase
we tumbled, and when the Turks came
upon the women they found them en-
sconced in a snug pass. with firearms
and knives.
Those same women are holding the
mass now. We will take you through
the rocky shaft and down to where they
stand. They are waiting, all armed, to
protect other women who may flee from
the Turks to die under Haglcs Bar
laam."
But what practice have you had to
fight such fOes@
we are trained warriors said she
proudly. even the deadly Turkish
thrust we know. With one blow from
the knife we can take off a mans
head"
Here she handed me curious butcher
knife that was alternately light and
heavy as lifted it.
THE back is loaded with quicksilver,
said she. which shifts to the point OF
the blade as you swing it, making II
heavy as lead in its force
Now" said she, I'VE are going TO
wall you up" and, smiling. she led me
into a room cut from the rock, where
pencil and pad lay handy. you are out
of the world" said she, yet 30 near
that for your dear country we will COM
municate with it for you, and serve you
as the women of Greece serve those
they love next to themselves and
Greece"
CONSTANCE MERRIFIELD.