The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

ter was written on my Dack Nnne L
kneeled before the lady. supporting myself
on hands and knees. 1 forgot to say that
the bulk OF the conversation was carried
on in the sign language, which everybody
living in these parts understands TO some
extent at least.
The harambascha carried the letter TO
our nearest friend-he hadn't far to go
and as soon as we heard that it was safely
delivered we broke camp again. This con-
tinuOus state Of unrest is one Of the draw
backs of the life of a Noble of the Noun
tains. AS long as an affair is unsettled we
must live in cur s%tirrups. for traitors are
everywhere and the chief must exercise
the greatest caution.
WANDERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS.
Since our first night station we have
changed quarters some twenty-five times,
often moving in a circuit and in the morn
ing returning TO the abode abandoned the
night before. This makes il very hard on
the prisoner, but the old woman. Miss
Stone, Of whom 1 saw much, continued all
along to make the best of il. She is filling
us with admiration for her sex, particularly
those who previously participated in an af-
fair of this kind, where women were taken.
l remember a Vienna girl that accident
placed in our hands for safe-keeping some
three or four months ago. When ransomed,
after ten days. she was a wreck. She had
cried and worried herself half TO death.
Once 1 was concerned in the capture of a
German merchant, a Hebrew. This fellow
was the greatest coward 1 ever saw and
amused us hugely oy his antics, though
he knew full well that he would not be
harmed. We had taken from him several
drafts on Buda-Pesth banks, promising 10
send him home the moment the paper was
cashed. Yet he kept up an everlasting
howl, deploring his fate and that of his
wife and children and cousins and aunts
and who not?
Most of our moves are now made at night.
and of course, whenever possible. rainy or
dark nights are selected, but however dark
or stormy the night, we dare not carry Ian
terms, to the great distress of the captives,
who don't understand, or won't understand,
that our animals are absolutely f~ootsure
and that the guides know every inch of the
road as they do their pocket.
Still, constantly on the move as We are,
Miss Stone had nevertheless some kind Of
a roof over her head whenever we could
permit her to sleep, which was usually in
day time. The Mobiles know many caves in
these mountains, where one may find rest
and recreation, though it is sometimes
necessary to dislOdge a bear or some other
animal first. Aside from our comrades.
guards, messengers and spies we haven't
met a single human being in the wilderness
and up to now have never even caught
sight of the troops alleged to be after US.
The women are made comfortable on horse
back during all our wanderings, and If they
get particularly nervous on crossing a high
ridge or fording a rivulet, rushing from the
mountain side, we sometimes take them by
the shoulder and legs and carry them
across.
PROVISIONS.
Most of the caves are provisioned before
hand. There is usually dried meat and
flour for several days, but the food we eat
doesn't agree with everybody's stomach.
[ am told tina the women complain es-
peciaIly of our black bread. Well. it is the
best we have. Dried goats meat is like
wise a staple unknown on the table of city
folk and therefore not enjoyed by them.
The women experiencing much difficulty on
account of the change of food, the chief or
dered the chicken thieves TO bring in deli
cacies. such as lamb, fresh cheese and but
ter. The women got the best part Of the
contraband every time and were very CRATE
full. 1 wonder whether they know that they
were eating stolen goods.
What astonishes us most is their refusal
to drink wine. The chief told them people
could not live without wine in these parts
and endure cold and fatigue of all sorts,
but his words were spoken TO the wind.
One of the Heyducs, who has lived in Buda-
Pesth, says their religion forbids them to
taste wine. I thought the American relig-
ion differed in that way from that of Mus
sulmans.
Miss Stone has been told TO write letters
TO her friends in Sofia and other places at
different times and is most hopeful that the
ransom will be paid. How could it be other
wise when so religious and so rich a nation
as the American is appealed to by so good
"A lady, who came TO our country to spread
the American gospel?
When by the grace Of God. our Lord. we
receive the money the Mobiles Of the Noun
tains will be able to retire TO their homes
and devote themselves to their families and
to peaceful pursuits. We reckon that the
money will suffice to keep the chief and all
of us for five years. May God grant it.
Amen.
INote.-It will be noticed that the writer
speaks sometimes of Miss Stone alone and
again refers to her as well as to her com
panion. The latter. some reports say, is
dead. but whether the bandits fashion Of
writing is due 10 that or to the fact that
Miss Stones companion is not regarded as
q principal we cannot say.-EditOr.l