Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-06-07
6he Captain
Of the
Janizaries
BY JAMES NJ. LUDLOW
Cpynsha. 1885. BY Dodd. Mead q Co.
Cosynsh,. 1890. BY james N. Lsdsow
BY JAMES NJ. LUDLOW

ITO the well with him! Let the dogs
soul come into him.
He was borne along us helplessiy as
a leaf In the foamlng cataract.
ITO the well! To the well with the
poisonerr'
The cry grew louder and shrlller, the
multitude maddening under the intense
fury Of their mutual rage. as each coal
Is hotter when many glow with 1t In
the fire. Women mingled with soldiers,
shrieking their insane vengeance, until
the crowd surgcd with the victim
around the well. The planks were torn
of by strong hands. The horror Of the
deed they were about TO commit made
them pause. Each waited for his
neighbor to assume the desperate Office
of actually pcrpetrating what was In
all their hearts TO do.
At length three Of the more rcsolute
stepped forward us executioncrs Of the
popular will. The struggling form Of
Constantine was held erect that all
might see him.
But new apparition burst upon the
scene. Suddenly, as IL 1t had risen
from the well, form draped In white
stood upon the curb. Her long golden
hair foated In the strong wind. Her
face had an unearthly pallor from the
excitement and seemed to be lit with
the white heat Of her soul. Her eyes
gave back the flare of the torches us II
they CLEANED with celestial reproba.
tion.
THE Holy virgin! cried some.
The crowd surged back in ghostly
fear.
"Your own wicked hearts make you
fear me-" cried Morslnia. TT Is your
consciences that make you imagine a
simple girl to be n vengeful spirit and
shrink from this horrid murder to the
very brink of which your ignorance and
wretched superstition have led you.
Blessed Mary need not come from
heaven TO tell you that u mana man
for whom her Son Jesu died-should
not be made to die for the sake Of Il
dead dog. l, II child, can tell you that"
But the well is accurscd and the
people die" said monk, throwing
back his cowl and reaching out his
hand to seize her.
And such words from you. a priest
Of Jesu!' answered the woman, ward.
Ing him Off by the scathing scorn Of
her tones. did not Jcsu say, Come
unto me and drink. drink out Of my
veins as We do In holy sacramento =
VIII lie curse and kill, then. for drink.
Ing the water which you need because
a dog has fallen Into it,"
These words, following the awe
awakened by her unexpected appear
ance. stayed the rage Of the crowd for
a moment. But soon the murmur rose
again.
1T is just to take vengeance on n
murderer
The woman raised her hand as If In.
vokins the witness Of heaven to her
cause and exclaimed:
But l am not murderer. A curse
on him who Stays the innocent. will
be the sacrifice. ! fear not to drink
Of this well with my dying gasp. I'm.
@".o $50 Ahuhs VI uo SURF uS utuNcu
sees me shall die for himv'
A shudder Of horror ran through the
crowd as the light form of the young
woman raised itself to the very brink
Of the well. II seemed MS II n move
ment or cry would precipitate her
into the black abyss. The crowd was
paralyzed. The silence Of the dead fell
upon them as she leaned forward for
the awful plunge.
Those holding Constantine let go
their grip.
At this moment the commandant up.
peared.
II will Judge this case" he cried
Man, who are your"
II bear you orders from General Cas-.
triot," replied Constantine. handing
him document.
BY the light Of torch the officer
read:
In the event OF being unable to hold out,
signal and make a sally according to d.
rections to be given verbally by the bear
er CASTRIoT.
Turning to the crowd, the comman.
dant addressed them:
Brave men-Epirots and Dibrians-
we are being led into some mistake.
My message makes 1t evident that on
this mans life depends the life Of every
one Of u.s.
His voice was drowned by wild cries
that came from a distant part OF the
town. The cries were familiar enough
to all their ears, but they had hereto
fore heard them only from beneath the
walls without. They were the Turkish
cries Of assault. "Allah! Allah! Al
lab! Allnhr' rolled like hurricane
along the streets Of Sfetigrade. The
gates had been thrown open by some
Dibrian whom superstition and thirst
Svered brain had transformed into
traitor.
"Quickw cried Constantine. Fire
three powder flashes from the bastion
and follow me!''
Then he turned to Morsinia. Brave
girl" said he, grasping her hand and
drawing her toward the citadel.
ut is too later replied the comman-