Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-07-16
The Courier
By r. A. mitchell

states while the people In Macedonia
were preparing for the revolution
against the Turks in zoos His work
was to carry messages between the
towns. In each OF which was revolu-
tionary committee. Macedonia was
full of Turkish soldiers and Turkish
robbers. both of whom oppressed tho
christians. The soldiers patrolle1 the
country, while the robbers swooped
down on the farmers. appropriated
their provisions and animals and. what
called for their undying vengeance.
carried of their women
Damien AZ times carried bis mes
sages on foot fighting his way through
underbrush. over the mountains and
crossing the streams either by fording
or on an improvised raft But he was
usually expected to cover considerable
distances and at such times travelled
on horseback. His horse--his name
was Peter-had been obtained for him
from racing stock. since he needed
feetness TO escape from the askars,
or Turkish soldiers. who. should they
capture him. would torture, then put
him to death. But Damien always
carried a tiny bottle OF poison to en-
able him to escape the torture.
Often would Damien ride into VII
LACE and warn the inhabitants that
their oppressors were on the way to-
| ward them, which meant that they
must expect to be looted This would
give time for the Christians to hide ar
ticles of value and for the women to
climb into the mountains and hide.
But the great work done by the courier
was carrying the messages of the or
ganizers of the revolution and those Of
the revolutionary committees between
the towns.
! One evening Just before dark Da-
mien. loaded with messages that II
! captured would draw down on numer-
! Gus towns the wrath of the Turks-be-
ing evidence that they were plotting
/ rebellion-was riding along a road.
/ Suddenly his horse pricked up his ears.
turning them to the right Presently
| Damien heard the soft tread Of horses
/ hoofs on soft turf They were in ad-
| vance Of him. and he turned 10 go
| back. but as he did so he saw Turkish
! horsemen leaving the timber for the
! road behind him. He determined to
keep on. trusting to Peters speed. that
| had saved him on so many occasions.
Peter" he said. you must make
| the effort of your life. Never would
a capture of dispatches with which
! have been intrusted result so disas-
trously to so many Of our friends as
now"
Peter may not have understood what
each word meant, but he knew by his
masters tone that supreme effort
! must be made. He heard the tread OF
horsemen making for the road In nd
vance of him as well as that OF those
behind. Gathering his legs under him.
he made a spring that was followed
by another and another in quick sue
cession. He succeeded In passing the
point where the advance Turks enter
| ed the road several hundred yards
ahead OF him. The pursuers sent
shots after him. but did not hit either
him or his horse.
Peter. as usual. carried his master
away from his enemies, but there were
other parties out looking for Damien,
who had been informed upon by Pc
maks. Mahometan citizens of the coun-
try, who were ever ready to give the
Turkish soldiers information OF Chris
tian rebels. Fearing to meet others.
Damien turned of the road and enter
ed field II was now quite dark. and
be could not be seen beyond very
short distance, and his horses tread
was not likely to be heard on the soft
ground
There are man. irrigating bitches in
that country. and Peter stumbled into
one OF them that was covered with
long grass. He went down. He tried
TO rise, but could not Damien got of
his back and examined him One of
his fore legs was broken
That meant the death of the horse
and probably the death Of his master.
for now the courier could hear Turkish
cavalry all about him. What should
he do-leave Peter and get away on
foot? II seemed the only thing to do.
But he would not leave him 10 die in
pain. He would kill him, but not by
bullet. for that would be heard by the
Turks While he was planning he
heard the Turks about him searching
for him He was surrounded
Damien knew that he had carried his
last message His first thought was
for the dispatches he carried. He
could not burn them for the light they
4 ~
he lifted a stone under water in the
bottom of the ditch. thrust them I'M
der and let the stone fall on them.
Then he returned to his horse and put
his arms about him. holding Peters
head against his breast
''Peter. dear Peter" he said. I'VE
viii die together"
Taking the poison he always carried