Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
CHAPTER XIX.

7, red and the little army had already
fallen in Several horses. saddled and
br.Gied. stood by the village fountain. One.
a young end sleek charger. was impatient
" paving the earth and another was drink
irr. Kos.akes WAS sitting at table, giving
some orders to his second in command, the
veteran with the scar A sword attached
to a leather belt kept company on the
cloth with a pile Of eggs, loaf of bread
AID a lot Of steaming coffee.
Bon jour- cried the captain gayly.
spr.nging to his feet, he esp;ed the
American. How have you slept, and how
is the foot?'
u got a little sleep. despite the pain. but
the foot seems no better. l am getting
very anxious to see that doctor of yours"
Tomorrow 1 promise you without fail.
And now for some breakfast, as We must
be off
The captain and his lieutenant ran to
the American, who put an arm about the
neck of each and hoped to the table,
gI0an ng ostentatiOusly- After the hurried
breakfast. Panayota was summoned She
came forth. pale as death. beautiful,
living statue of despair. and mounted with
out assistance. kostakes offered to help
her but she repulsed him with loathing.
and climbed into her saddle as a refuge
from his attentions There were dark cir
cIes under her swollen eyelidS. AS she
looked about her as though in hopeless
search for the missing dear one. her fea-
lures trembled on the verge of tears. Groan-
irg:
Zach. my Godr' she cIasped her hands
t'gh,Iy In her lap and stared into vacancy.
Her beautiful hair was disheveled and her
f1rg white cuffs were wrinkled and soiled.
The Chiva1ry in Curtis nature prompted
him to speak and comfort her. although
the words sounded hollow and false to his
own ear
Take comfort he said. your father
fe aliy Ms no
caDed.''
she smiled sadly.
You do not know the Turks" she re-
Did not tell you. my darling?" cried
Kos.akes eagerly. "Of course, he has es-
caned.'
She did rot even look at him. but muir
INJURED:
Murderer, perjurerr'
Kcstakes shrugged his shoulders. who
would say, See and turning to Curtis,
cried:
But monsieur speaks Greek famously,'
"Only few words and those with much
difficulty
''Mais non. On the contrary. find your
Greek very perfect. And allons,''
They pushed briSkIy up the narrow street
through a scene Of utter desolation. The
whirlwind of war had struck the town and
wrecked Il. As they turned q corner
long-lesged. half-grOwn fowl broke for
cover and stiIted away, balancing its haste
with awkward half-hedged wings. They
core Unexpectedly upon little Orthodox
church and putrid ndor assailed Curtis
rosrrila Their path led them around to
tie f-0rt door.
MY Cod he gasped. "oh. hell" and
leaning over his horses name. gave vent
to a spasm Of retching disgust sight
had met his eyes that was destined 10
thrill him with sickness and horror to the
latest day OF his life. as often as the black
plan'om of its recollection should arise
in his mind. The village priest, an old
Rray-bearded man. had died about a month
before and had been buried in his robes.
There was the body, hanging to its own
church door. Ike the skin Of a great black
tat. Nails had been driven through the
clothing at the shoulders and the weight
Of The carcass. sinking down into the loose
garment, had left II pulled up above the
head into the semhlance of joints in a
vampires wings. The viscous flesh had
parted and fallen in flap from one cheek
bono disclosing N-shaped opening Of Jaw
studded with infrequent yellow teeth The
eyes had slipped from their sockets and
hung al the end Of their lnnsened cords
The poor old head. streaming with hoary
hair aud whisker. lay broken-necked upon
on" shoulder. 1t was a sight obscene I'M
lin able. fan astically Observation-Disclosures
" filthy
From a bonfire Of bones. haIf-decaved
corpSes and sacred eiknus-the last named
gathered from the houses and the church.
Disgusting odor arose and filled the air
The TURKS broke forth in derisive laughter
as their eyes fell upon the horrid spectacle
My rascals have eluded my vigilance
! see" observed Kostakes. and have been
having a little fun in their own way
Different nations have different ideas
ah"ut t"Ee," Pasped Curtis through his
handkerchief "Oh Godr'
Emerging from the town. they picked
their way through a large patch of freshly
f"ifed olive trees. The sound Of the noe
f''rrai chopping was now explained. About
II o'clock they stopped for dinner in a
SmaH' deserted hamlet. During the pro-
sreSs ~ he meal a wounded Bashi Baznuk
F.'H INTO the town and uD to the table
Wher" Curtis and Kostakes were sitting
Inc man wore red turhan, which gave TO
MS palEd face a tint similar To that of the
Hnderstd" 81 toads'ool. His soft shirt
rad saSged into little bagful of blood
thaf drlpped out like whey from the sack
81 cottage cheese, upon his yellow sash
AMI blue hreeches. He said n few words
With Mouth wide cp"u. as though his nm
der jaw had suddenly grown heavy. and
then, Keeling. was caught by two soldiers
draEged from the saddle and carried into
hut
~ must ask you to excuse me- said
K1StakcS rising for several bours M,
Rashi Raznuks whom / left with Ger
tain commissions 70 execute are getting
m. worst OF 1t at Reveni. about an hours
march from here, How nifty Bashi Ba-
z"urkS can find any difficulty with a little
place Ike Reveni is more than | can un-
derS'and But shall soon put a new face
on analrs when | arrive"
God help the poor people" prays Cur
It's inaudibly
II shau leave three Of my men behind
10 look after your wants and those OF the
y"urg lady I shall explain to the one 1
leave with You that nv IS your servant
that he must bring You anything you ask
for He speaks Greek so you Will be able
To get along with him"
Five minutes afterwarI Eosiakes was
riding away NJ the head OF his troop He
TUNED once in the saddle and waved his
fsni "a curtis The American picked I'M
his hat from the table and swung it in M
air
''Au revoir. Kostakc<" he cried. The
devil cnnf1uHd ypi and YOUR whole crew OF
CUt'hr0afs-I wonder If this begcar spcakg
F~al'sh2"
II- glanced suspiaiausIy al the tall. SAL
l"w-fared Turk who stood short distance
away. l"auinC upon his rrusEet
No. J guess not He'd give sHIa.. sign il
Two other Turks. with rnus,,e.s OF Shoul-