The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-03-01
In. Mule Driver
Of Rilo-Dagh q
AN IECIDENT OF A BALKAN
RESURRECTION

A LII through the gorge OF the Baren-t
~ Ia floated delicious odor. the
odor Of thousands OF roses borne by the
warm winds from the gardens and dis
tilleries of the Rilo-Dagh. a valley al
most as famous for its roses as the Wales
OF Kezanlik and Iran
In other years at the same season the
steep. perfumed slopes of the Turkish
Balkans we're the scene OF extraordi-
nary. animation. Along the numberless
paths winding In every direction. came
donkeys laden with baskets of flow
ers and looking as II adorned for fete
of roses. But to-day all the country
side was quiet and deserted.
Ten thousand Turks occupied the
Barenta from Rilo-Dagh as far as the
Shipka passes on the Bulgarian from
tier. and this time 1t seemed as II they
could not fail TO capture the famous ban
dit chief Boris Schkol, who with his
Macedonian followers. had been COM
pletely surrounded and cut of In his
mountain retreat.
II could be only question of hours at
the most And in order that not one of
the band should escape in disguise the
Turkish soldiers had orders to arrest
all travellers, whoever they might be and
journeying for whatever reason.
A man must. indeed. care little for his
life who would run the gamut OF cross
firing from the sentinels In ambush at
each corner OF the ravine. Neverthe-
less there was one traveller brave
enough. for a mule driver had Just APP
peared on the path which leads to the
Gabrov farm. situated half way up the
mountainslde.
He was a peasant of simple. peaceful
appearance, dressed in rags and with
bare feet and with rose stuck In the
crown of his tattered hat.
Thirty steps before him trotted lit
tie sllyery gray mule carrying two has
kets full to overflowing Of fading roses,
and fastened to the saddle was an enor-
nous Towering rose bush, whose soft
leaves rustled caressingly.
The driver, whose white hair was In
striking contrast with his youthful, al
most childish face, strobe along with an
easy step, glancing about indifferently
at the desolate countryside. Once or
twice at the sight of the charred ruins
OF what had formerly been a prosper
Gus farm. a pile of smoking timbers
from which arose the dreadful odor of
burned flesh. the old man turned away
his head and dark shadow crossed his
bright face.
Still walking at a discreet distance
from his donkey. the peasant had Just
ba Gttn mil NJ etc nd
bullet whistled by his ear.
THE music has struck up for the
dance" he murmured to himself, quite
undisturbed. "fhe Turks are going to
have a good time nowl"
But he trembled an instant and
turned slightly pale as the rosebush
which was fastened to the saddle
stirred as II by sudden wind. A
shower Of petals fell to the ground
while a rose, evenly severed from It's
stem. was carried 20 feet.
"The clumsy tools!" growled the
driver. hut his cheeks were white.
A score Of singing pellets Kissed by
him and the dust sprang up in little
spurts about his feet.
81 like that better" he remarked
thoughtfully, again repeating his enig-
matte phrase. THE clumsy foolsl
What an omelet II would make"
The Macedonian fastened to de.
scend the hill on the other side. A
few scattered shots passed above his
head, and the echoes caught and re-
peated the report.
The donkey halted, frightened. His
long ears wavered back and forth and
his delicate legs shook violently.
The driver ran TO him. embracing
him and patting his sleek neck
Come, come. Filberta. my little
white lamb, be quiet there is moth
Ing TO make you afraid now. Tn,
worst part is over. little more, anC
we will be among friends. the soldiers
OF Lieut.. Achmed. They are homes
people"
In fact after this the firing ceased
but the traveller was none the less OBJ
served and followed. From time Il
time a head with a red fez emerged
from Its hiding place, looked quickl!
and disappeared.
Inc Ddahi-bo1ouhS hho" tho hup
driver with the rose-decked hat for
poor devil, grower of roses an,
something of poet, an unmlstakabl!
oriental character With no other low
but his flowers, which were the fines
In Rilo-Dagh Several Of the Turkisl
officers, whose commissions he exc
cuted. had taken him under their pro
lection.
Presently soldier hailed the inoi
fensiye traveller 4.I.