Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-28
CHAPTER XVI.

1t did not require trained eye 10 see
that the Greeks had defended themselves
stubbornly and had inflicted much more IN
Jury than they had suffered. Curtis count
ed twenty-five dead Turks in the deflie-
The continual dread that his horse should
step on them kept him in state of nerv-
business But the animal evidently was
possessed Of as keen sensibilities as MS
temporary master. for he avoided the
corpses with tie most patent aversion Al
a turn in the pass, behind a jutting rock
Law two Turks. Curtis fancted this must
have been the place where Michali had re-
ceived his wound. 1t was evident that
wer-organized and desperate stand had
been made here. because in the narrowest
part of the pass only few yards distant.
lay seven Turks in heap. CHANGING back
at the two dead Greeks, under the impress
sion that he recognized one of them the
American beheld sight at once noble and
disgusting. lie priest. lingering and lean
ing toward his slain compatriots. was max
ing the sign of the cross with solemn ges-
lures. the while he cried in tones sorrowful
and defiant:
Il am the resurrection and the life: he
that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live; and whatsoever loveth and
believeth in me shall never die
Panayota. her glorious eyes streaming
with tears both her white hands clasped
to her bosom, was looking to heaven and
silently praying. Curtis felt his soul up
lifted. The narrow walls OF the raNlne
changed to the dim aisle of a cathedral, he
seemed to hear grand organ pealing forth
a funeral march
Death is swallowed up in victory. oh,
death. where thy sting? Oh. grave.
where is thy victory
When he opened his eyes he found HIM
self in hell Two or three Turks, grinning
with diab0lical haze and derision. were
splitting a the dead Cretans. The soldier
Immediately behind Papas-Malecko was
jabbing him in the back viciously with the
butt Of HIS musket. while another touched
him playfully between the shoulders with
the poin- of bayonet. The priest shrunk
from the steel with a gasp of pain. but
turned back as he stumbled along, chant
ing:
s'Thanks be to God which giveth Us the
victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
A little further on they came upon
sight which made Curtis reel in his sad
dIe-the bodies of the seven peasant girls
who had leaped over the cliff Four lay
together in a heap. OF the remaining
three one had fallen face down upon a
rock. and her long hair. shaken loose. rip
pied ear-hward from the white nape of her
neck. Another was sleeping the last sleep
peacefully. her head upon her outstretched
arm, a smile upon her lips; and still a
third Law upon her back. This one seemed
10 nave suffered. Tor there was a look OF
terror in the staring eyes. and stream
of scarlet blood had CONCEALED upon the
ashen cheek Again the priest lifted his
voice:
Il am he resurrection and the life" but
the solemn chant was this time interrupted
by a shrek from Panayota. Curtis, who
had reS7lutely turned his face from the
scene Of fascinating horror. looked quickly
back at the sound. A slender young girl
had arson upon her elbow from the heap of
four and was stretching her hand implor-
ingIv toward the priest. The hand was
brown ard chubby but the arm from which
the flowing sleeve had slipued away WIS
very white and shapely. She was dying
even then. but the blessed words Of her
mothers faith and her mothers tongue had
PIERCED her Swo0niDg ears. and she had
The priests heue1ictiOn. A Turkish soldier
thrus- her through the neck with his bay
"ref. and her he1d dropped softly upon the
bosom IF dead fellow.
'Tiut this is barbsrnuS" cried Curtis.
THe civilized world shall know of this.
FarharOUs. ] say. MULTIPLICATION an off
cer2 \ gentleman? BAH
Put monsieur Is to" violent and hasty.''
reulied kps-akes- irregularities happen in
all armies The man shall be punished"
If he is to be shot" said the American
please put me In the firing squad, I'd like
nothing better than TO put a hole through
that vermin''
Emerging from the pass. they came to a
steep wooden ravine, and their path lay
through an aisle Of tall pine trees The
feet Of the soldiers made no noise ON the
carpet Of fallen pines. They found four
more dead Turks and picked UP two that
were wounded After about an hour of
forced marching the ravine spread out into
q beautiful Sunlit valley wherpon the peu-
plnwef ground Law In patches Of rich brown
fFrra-""tt1 and black loan. The vines were
just putting forth their pale green sprouts
The lab"rers had been surprised in the act
of heaping COnical mounds about the roots
fUf an occasional diSCa rf1a
tokenei haSty fight Poppies lifted every
where their slender-stemrned scarlet Faak
ers-$uch glasses In shape "a are fit to hold
the vintage Of the Rhine. The little stones
were set thick with candelabra of the
ghnstly asphodel whose clusters Of male
p!nkish. waxen flowers seemed indeed 70 he
I,ng 20 regions where the dear sun is but a
memory scattering fruit trees in the full
revel and glory Of their snowy bloom called
70 each other with perfume. 1t was
somewhat after noon now. but they stopped
nrl'htr 70 eat nor rest. Curtis foot began
!" pain him fearfully but ne made no str
In The midst Of such desolation he felt main
to be trivial thing. The vines were here.
trees We're in bloom bllt where w. ~
laughing children, the wives and maidens
with wine and bread for the midday feast ,
once they passed shock-headed boy Of
fourteen. or possibly younger Wing dsad -,
vineyard. with his rnattock beside b,,,
and later in the day they came upon Nov
IN the unfinished furrow. One OF the oYen
va N'ai' anu the other beast bad
struggled to his feet and stood natie1,i, i IA
soc me body OF his mate. Entangled in
the harness. he was unable to get away
on, 1nt moved his head slowly from side to side
IKE IKE pendulum, snoring occasionally m
p4'w the nozlne blood from his nostr,ls
AFTER that their path led for vav
through a field of half-grown wbaat
around nearly every shoot the sweet Wild
pa pa, had twined its graceful spiral braveIv
nfting the pretty blue of the fowars a,,o,lS
the pale green of the grain. When the wind
able silk iiNe 'hdhse-
reward sunset they came Within seef,c
instance OF white village on a mountaIn
ns' vast olive orchard Surrounded n
ana dozen or more dark green cynr.ss
b trees pointed heavenward among The
VOLTA, monsieur" cried Kostakes c,iIv
There we shall rest tonight and snail And
time TO eat Are you hungry"
CHAPTER XVII
An air of indescrfbable sadness hang,
over a deserted town Any ono ubo b,.