Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-05-26
CAUGHT BY BANDITS.
fHE INCONVENIENCE or BEING MIS-
TAKEN FOR A LORD.
with Two Pairs of Ears and Posi-
bly, Two Lives at stake and No
Ransom In sight, the Captiyes De-
cided Ii Was Time For Business.
lCopyrlght. 1900, by g. 3. Lewis. ]

! cided IL Was Time For Business.
Copyright. 1900, by G. b. LewisI
| If an American wants to 20 abroad
on a cash capital Of 500, there is no
1 law to prevent, even if he is a news
paper man who has saved and econo-
mixed for six or seven years to get that
much wealth together. When / started
out with my friend Gillian, who was
an artist instead of journalist, aud
/ had $50 less capital as well, we took
| steerage passage on a steamer and
| planned to do Europe on foot and avoid
/ all extravagances. AS to how we got
along until we struck Greece and
certain event happened is of no great
/ consequence. We tramped here and
there, ate, slept and had a fairly good
! time.
! From Athens we went on tramp up
/ the country, viewing tombs and ruins
/ by the way, and after putting in two
! days at Marathon we started out one
morning for a hamlet called Histro-
| plus We were first met by about
dozen dogs Of all sizes, ages and colors,
and each one worse looking dog than
/ the one who came after. After we had
/ dubbed the pack off we were charged
down upon by nine children Of various
! sizes and ages, all of whom needed
/ soap and water They rallied around
/ us for small coin. and not getting any
! they fell back and gave four women a
/ chance We got rid of the latter to
encounter three men, one of whom
!
were dirty. ragged villains who did not
! hesitate to threaten us. and not a word
/ could we get out of them about the
ruins until we had come down with
/ backsheesh. Gillian started out after
/ n bit to do some sketching, while |
! found a place to take a nap, and the
! inhabitants of Histrophus finally got
out Of breath begging for coins and
/ trying to get us TO buy skeleton old
goat for 81 and went back to their flea
! infested huts.
At the end of two hours | was awak-
ened by some one giving me a smart
/ kick on the hip. and reused up to see
/ that we had been taken prisoners by
! four brigands. The fellows had come
down off the mountains. about four
miles away. having probably been no
/ tilted by messenger from the village.
| have many times read of the pictur-
esque Greek brigands, but the four
/ who gobbled us up that day must have
gone out of the picturesque business
some weeks previous. They We're a
ragged. ugly lot, no better than the
men of tie village, and we were far
more disguised with their breaths than
i afraid Of their knives. The leader spoke
/ English fairly well, and | have always
felt grateful to him on that account.
! All leaders of Greek brfgands should
/ learn three or four languages before
proceeding to business, as it is a great
help toward an understanding about
identity. money matters and so forth
1t was the leader who had kicked me-,
which have always taken as COM
pliment. and as | sat up he saluted me
and said:
"My lord, you will please consider
yourself a prisoner and come along
without resistance"
But don't make any mistake on
me-" | replied. "As near as l can
make out from this short range you
are brigands"
Il am Bobetto," he said rs he laid
his hand on his heart and bowed low
Excuse me that l never heard of
you before You are a brigand and in
it for money. and this is your band?'
my lord Is correct"
"Now. about this lord business. Let
us have an understanding. Who do
you take me for?'
"An English lord, my lord. have
been expecting you for several days.
The name | cannot pronounce. but |
know you to be the gentleman. Have
no fears for your safety, as it will be
a case of ransom"
'This is kind of you. If you take
me 70. an English lord, who do you
make this other chap to be|'
Your companion, sir. His name |
heard. but cannot give it. He will also
be held for ransom"
Then we started off to the west. The
particular retreat of this band was
half way up mountain, and consisted
of two brush huts and fire in front
!
used. They could have robbed us Of
our few dollars and personal property,
but they did not even search us for
weapons. AS soon as we had arrived
at the huts. however. Bobctto brought
out stationery and commanded me to
write to the English minister at
! Athens and obtain the sum of 100000.
Both Gillian and | burst out laughing
at this demand. and after a little |
said to the leader:
"Of what use to play the fool in this
matter? AS l told you before, we are
Americans. and poor men at that We
can raise about 5000 apiece, bat not
another cent. and if you take that we
shall have to turn brigands and COM
pete with you in business"
You may be Americans but you are
my lord just the same" replied Bo-
betto.