The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-12

afraid OF their knives. The leader spoke
English fairly we'll, and l have always
felt grateful to him on that account.
All leaders of Greek brigands should
learn three or four languages before
proceeding to business, as 1t is a great
help toward an understanding about
identity, money matters and so forth.
1t was the leader who had kicked me,
which l have always taken as a 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-" l replied. "As near as l can
make out from this short range you
are b%rigands."
II am Bobetto," he said as 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"
Nov, about this lord business. Let
you take nae for?"
"An English lord, my lord. l have
been expecting you for several days.
The name l 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 for an English lord, who do you
make this other chap to be?"
"Your companion, sir. His name I
heard, but cannot give 1t. He will also
be held for ransom"
Then we started of to the west. The
particular retreat of this band was
half way up a mountain, and consisted
Of two brush huts and a fire in front
of them. We were in no ann i'll
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, Bobetto brought
out stationery and commanded me to
write to the English minister at
Athens and obtain the sum of $4,000.
Both Gillian and l burst out laughing
at this demand. and after a little /
said to the leader:
VI Wadl " pay SAS AOO1 III III
matter? AS l told you before, we are
Americans, and poor men at that. We
can raise about $500 apiece, but not
another cent, and if you take that we
shall have to turn brigands and com
pete with o in business"
"You may be Americans, but you are
my lord just the same,'' replied b.
bette.
But there are no titles in America.
If should write to the American min
lister. he would take it as a joke. You
haven't got a soft snap in this thing,
old fellow. Had you got hold of Rock
%efeller, Gould or Vanderbilt you might
have made a raise and bought a garlic
factory, but we are almost down to
hardpan. Sorry for you, but you can't
always hit it, even in the brigand bust
ness"
"But you must write" persisted the
wooden headed rascal. "You must
write to the American minister that if
he does not send US $1,000 by our
messenger your ears will be sent him in
a PACKAGE
I read the letter to Bobetto after it
WIS written, and he vas perfectly sat-
listed that it would fetch the cash in
reply. 1t was sent off by a messenger,
who would be gone at least ten days,
and Their we went into retirement
1t is the rule with all brigands who
have a prisoner on hand to lie low and
take no chances. l thought it well to
prepare this gang for a disappointment,
and when the messenger had departed
l told them that he would only have
the journey for nothing.
st cannot be for nothing" grimly re-
piled Bobe1to as he brought out a knife
, and felt OF its edges. IF no money
comes, b Your ears go to Athens! If
they fail to bring it, then we will send
on your heads!i
Sentinels were posted on the hills
} around to prevent a surprise, and we
had nothing to do but loaf about. Bo-
< bette thought he knew the game Of
! poker, and it was for us to undeceive
him. In three days Gillian and l had
won every cent he had. We offered to
put up 5000 against ears, but the
t brigand assured us with great dignity
l that it wasn't regular. About once a
day 1 thought it my duty to inform
Bobetto that we were moneyless Amer
leans and that there was nothing in it
for him, and he always replied to me
with a lift of the eyebrows n a shrug
Of the shoulders and the words:
= "Time will tell, my lord; time will
tell. 1t has happened that I have had
J, to send ears and head to Athens be-
q fore"
! For the first five days Of our captivi-
j ty we We're closely guarded, and there
could be no thought of escape. Then,
] as we appeared to make ourselves at
l home, the vigilance Of the brigands
vas relaxed. While only four had been
concerned in our capture, there were
really six in the band. One Of them
n had a broken leg, and the other Vas
acting as a nurse. Two senttnels were
t always stationed at points half a mile
4 awav ap1 oooociopo11v q briuoDH foil