The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-29
The Courier
BY F. A. Mitchell

Damien was a courier In the Balkan
states while the people In Macedonia
we're preparing for the revolution
against the Turks In 1905 His work
was to carry messages between the
towns, In each of which was a revOlu-
u0nary committee. Macedonia was
full of Turkish soldiers and Turkish
robbers, both Of whom oppressed the
Christians. The soldiers patrolled 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 at times carried his mes
cages on foot. lighting 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
neetness to escape from the askars.
or Turkish soldiers. who. should they
capture him. would torture. then put
him to death. But Damien always
carried q tiny bottle Of poison to en-
able him to escape the torture.
Often would Damien ride into vii
lage 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.
gnnizers 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 to 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 20 many occasions.
"Peter." he said. you must make
the effort Of your life. Never would
. capture Of dispatches with which
have been intrusted result 30 disas.
trously to 30 many Of our friends a.
now"
Peter may not have understood what
each word meant, but be knew BY his
masters tone that q supreme effort
must bs made. He heard the tread Of
horsemen making for the road in ad-
vance of him 40 well a. that Of those
behind. Gathering his legs under him,
he made q spring that was followed
BY another and another in quick sue
cession. He succeeded In passing the
point where the advance Turks enter.
ID the road several hundred yards
ahead Of him. The pursuers sent
shots after him. but did not hit either
him or bis horse.
Peter, as usual. carried his master
away from his enemies. but there wers
other parties out looking for Damien.
who had been Informed upon BY Po-
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 q deld. II was now quite dark. and
hs could not b seen beyond a very
short distance, and bis horses tread
was not likely to be heard on the soft
ground.
There are many irr1gatins bitches In
that country, and Peter stumbled into
one of them that was covered with
long gr,sa. He went down. He tried
to rise, but could not Damien got on
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
hs do-leavs Peter and get away on
footf II seemed the only thing to do.
But he would not leave him to die In
pain, He would Kill him. but not BY q
bullet for that would be heard By the
TurkA While hs was planning be
hard tie Turns about him searching
for lin. He vas safrounded-
Damj0 knsw mt h had .ca1ied his