The King of the Mountains

d to stir a step. The brigands threatened to carry her in their arms; she declared that she would not let them carry her. But her daughter talked her into a more tractab

rtunes were reduced to the payment of a ransom; yet was it not probable that we might be delivered without it? How could one imagine that Hadgi-Stavros would be able to hold us with impunity, at five leagues from the capital, from the court, from the Greek army, from her Britannic Majesty's battalion, at an English station. Thus reasoned Mary-Ann. As for me-I, involuntarily, thought of those two little daughters whom Mistra went to seek, and I was sad. I feared that Mrs. Simons, in her obstinate patriotism, only exposed her daughter to some great danger,

nd then hummed a sort of tune. Those

hour of hostilities, peace was declared. These inhospitable monsters were the advance sentinels of the King of the Mountains. They scent the soldiers as a contrabandist's dog scents a custom-house officer. But that is not all, and their zea

ned to meet us, bread and cheese in hand. The Chief furnished his band with food: the men received, every day, a ration of bread, oil, wine, cheese, caviare, piment (wine mixed with honey and spices), bitter olives, and meat when their religion permitted. Gourmands who wish for mallows and other green food, can pick these dainties on the mountains. Brigands, as some other classes of people, rarely light a fire for their repasts; they eat their food cold, and their vegetables uncooked. I noticed that everyone was religiously observing the law of abstinence. We were on the eve of the celebration of the Ascension, and these good people, of whom the most innocent had at least the life of one man on his conscience, wo

e spirit of the Greeks, told them that we represented a different race, and one, to a certain degree, superior. Victorious barbarians render a secret homage to a conquered civilized people. Many of these men saw for the first time, the European dress. These walked around us, as the inhabitants of the new world around Columbus' Spaniards. They furtively felt m

de of six hours, hunger, emotion, surprise, had worn out this delicate creature. Imagine this young girl, brought up delicately, accustomed to walk on carpets, or upon the velvety turf of parks. Her shoes were already nearly off her feet, worn out by the roughness of the path, and the bushes had torn her dress. Only the evening before she had taken tea in the

tion of the blood. The fleas of the brigands, of which I can show some specimens in my Entomological collection, are very much larger, stronger and more agile than their city cousins; the open country air possesses virtue so powerful! I soon perceived that they were not content with their lot, and that they found more to their taste, the fine skin of a young German than the

end myself; I heroically hid my

, I demanded to be taken before the King. This recalled our guides to their duty. They

imons, "I can seat mys

iberate step, in the direction in which the crowd conducted us. The o

were neither tables, chairs nor furniture of any sort. Hadgi-Stavros was seated, tailor-fashion, upon

wore at his belt a tobacco bag, embroidered with gold and fine pearls, and a pair of silver tongs, used for taking out c

aining reeds, a knife and an inkstand. Some tin cylinders, like those in which soldiers keep their papers, served as a pl

net. The expression of his face was calm and reflective. A pair of small, clear blue eyes, and a square-cut chin denoted an inflexible will. His face was long, and the many long wrinkles added to its length. Every fold in his forehead seemed to break in the middle and diverge toward the meeting of his eyebrows; two wide and deep furrows descended to t

ers which must have taken twenty metres of cotton stuff, and large boots of Russia leather, solid yet supple. The only richness about his costume, was a belt decked with gold and precious stones, wor

his letters, his fingers to tell off the beads of his rosary. It was one of those beautiful milk-white ambe

e, what had brought us to him, and said, with a gravity

Mrs. Simons, "I

hout the aid of an interpreter. We sat down on the ground. Fifteen or twenty brigands crouched around us, and the King, who had no secrets to hide, dictated family letters as well as those pertaining to business. The leader of the

own his nose, he dictated

ear C

or which thou hast asked; but my money must profit by it. The set of 'Walter Scott,' has arrived at Piraeus, also the 'Robinson,' and all the other English books thou hast said that thou didst wish to read; have our friends in the Rue d'Hèrmes get them from the Custom-House for thee. Thou wilt receive, at the same time, the bracelet which thou desirest, and that steel machine for puffing out thy skirts. If the piano from Vienna is not as good as thou toldest me, and it seems necessary that thou shouldst have another, thou shalt have it. I shall do one or two villages, after the sales of the harvest, and the Devil will be against me, if I cannot find enough money for a pretty piano. I think, as thou dost, that thou must learn music. Use thy Sundays in the way I have told thee, and profit by the kindness of our friends. Thou must learn to

nd whispered: "Is he dictating

dame; he is writin

ing our

no, a crinoline,

time. Will he invit

servant with

ied my cup like a veritable gourmand of the Orient. The pot of sweets was a rose sorbet, and received only a small share of our attention, as we were forced to eat it with one spoon. Delicate eaters are unfortunate when in this country of primitive simplici

Barley an

endish

on

et 15,000 livres for my house in the Strand (it was valued at that in 1852), you may buy for me, in the Vieille-Montagne, an equal amount. Send to the firm, Rhalli Brothers, 100 guineas; it is my subscription for the Hellenic School at Liverpool. I have seriously pondered the proposition which you have done me the honor to submit to me, and, after many reflections, I have decided to persist in my line of conduct and transact business strictly on a ca

i-Sta

prie

us?" Mary-A

le, His Majesty is i

I thought that was

her, associated with a

he firm of B

nkers of the same

t I am a

t the firm transacted bu

, all over

live in Cave

re there. Our hous

o listen to the next. This old man's

s curious document was addressed to M. Georges Micrommati, Officer of Ordinance,

ations of the National Compan

d Expenditu

e King, Ap

i

hostile, at least ill-disposed, that the regular practice of an eminently national institution must be carried on. Piraeus is occupied by the military; the Turkish frontier is watched with a zealousness without precedent in history, and this restricts our activity to a very narrow circle, and confines our zeal to impassable limits. Within these narrow boundaries, our resources are still more reduced by the general penury, the scarcity of money, and the small crops. The olive trees have not y

sed an important branch of our revenue, are totally lacking. Two young Americans, stopped upon the road to Pentelicus, lost us their ransom. The French

ries and commerce. Your funds, confided to my keeping, have been made profitable, not as much so as I could wish, but better than a

t sum of 50,000 francs, has increased to 120,000 b

May 1, 1855, to April 30,

es as

churches and mo

the legal tax of 10 p

-

,1

po

80 men at 650 fran

, arms,

had become impassable and where ther

atching the

for o

some journ

es of the judicial and ad

-

l 13

rom the gross receipts, t

utes, the above is ap

in the Bank

nging to A

holder

33 c. per

s in reserve funds, and you will have a total of 408 francs,

what the future will be, when our country and our operations

believed that an old man of his age could have possessed so remarkable a memory. He appended his seal to the three letters; it was his way of si

icers who had returned with their detachments, from the day's duty. Each man seated himself in front of him, saluted him by laying his right hand on his

l brought up, and his talents had advanced him. But his chief and his soldiers held him in no great esteem. He was suspected of keeping for his own profit a part of the spoils. Now

the man from Corfu:

ravine of Cirondelles, upon the road to Thebes.

are the

on muskets, which would not serv

d! T

day; I stopped

w m

and forty-t

u hast b

and francs," n

s per head!

. They were

, then, sold

sold, othe

n to count the amount. The receipts were from thirty to forty Mexican piastres, some handfuls of Austrian zwanzigs and

o jewels?" a

N

re no wom

hing worth b

that on t

rin

ol

I do not k

idst tho

it two m

wouldst know whether it was g

. The ring was immediately locked

y mixing knavery with it. If I had only Ionians in my band, I would be obliged to place turnstiles in the

lf-opened with a pleasant smile, showed a magnificent set of teeth; I was greatly taken with him, and I said to myself that if he had been led astray by evil associa

to him: "What hast

ning, with my six men; it is the

el

his relatives, his farmers, and his t

el

dlord; I bought twenty-five bundles o

el

ses are of wood or osier, and we set fire to seven places at once.

el

ed out, shouting. The men came running with their leather buckets to

el

otten by his parents, and who cried like a little raven fallen fro

el

s well-executed. We then started for the camp; we supped and slept about half-w

lis will not discourse ag

passed, as politely as the first

a part, was named Sophocles. At the moment when he began his report, I felt the blood congeal in my veins. I supplicated Mrs. Simons not to risk an i

he drew from his belt forty Austrian ducats, which made a sum o

; the rest was taken from these nobles. Thou didst tell

s, they must not be molested. How can we live in safety, if we have enemies at our

ppeared into the woods, without giving me time to speak

st thou s

in a sack with his cat; and I do not know what the cat did, but he began

padre will incite all

to open the sack, and the cat ough

l, all of you: I do not wish anyone to t

f deference to us seemed a favorable augury. Mrs. Simons prepared to question him herself. As for me, perceiving too well what she was capable of saying, a

seem to be in great anger. Have you any compl

have arrested, dragged me through the dirt,

without education. Believe me, my dear Madame, it is

hwoman fro

that ladies of your country do not like to run over rocks, and I regret that you were not allowed to walk your own gait. I know that people of your nation carry

the best soci

back your money

ured

g-case is your

my daug

belongs to your daught

y ri

s belong to Mon

a German. Since I am English

e you twenty thous

or

re you rich enough to have th

more th

ète, tell them to prepare dinner for these ladies. Ma

m th

ch you have been treated. You have, w

e English

so know some mercha

t Athens, knows many

cles, come here. Ask p

between his teeth, I know not

llion or more; they have been received by the English Ambassador;

ried Mrs. Simons.

d these ladies with all th

Mrs. Sim

ted them her

rpose?" murm

one should salute them with respect, one should bring them to the camp with deference, one should guard them circumspectly, and one should

, and I said to him fiercely: "Thou canst keep what thy men have taken from me, because it is all that thou wilt get from me. I am poor, my father has nothing, my b

was heard, but the Kin

ur, her brother, and you may even leave to-day. If, however, you need to remain a day or two in the mountains, I will offer my hos

counsels would not be useless to Mary-Ann's mother. The good woman was in a state of excitement which might urge her to do something rash. If, perchance, she determined to refuse to pay the ransom! Before England could come to her aid, she would have ample time to draw dire calamity upon her charming head. I must not leave her until I had an opportunity to relate the history of Mistra's little d

I accept thy hospitality

t is

wilt retu

be it: and th

t is

me of what us

e plants wh

search for plant

not a merchant

s a beautiful thing. Our ancestors were wise men. Our grandchildren will be, p

eat

ves the

etim

ys them

oug

little ribbon

siona

ties dispute as to

rue in G

n their death as a

ured

leasure. Then you have no complain

s through their liberality that

l at their

es

well-ed

a do

ighest grade

N

are there in the cit

not as many doctors in Ham

ll return to Hamburg, Monsieur, doctor; what would they say down be

y that it was

tudies. Why not put that silver watch back in your pocket? It is yours, and I respect savants too much to rob them. But your country is rich enough to pay for her glory. Happy

sheltered by gray rocks. Beautiful grass formed the carpet; some clumps of privet and laurels served as hangings and hid the rocky walls. A beautiful blue arch was above our heads; birds flew back and forth in the azure vault. In a corner of our dining-hall, a limpid stream, clear as crystal, silently swept along in its course, spreading over its banks, and falling in a silvery sheet down the side of the mountain. From this side, the view illimitably ext

pread out its large sides next to a red copper cup, roughly chiseled. An ewe's-milk cheese reposed upon the cloth which had pressed it, and which still bore its imprint. Five or six appetizing lettuces promised us a delicious salad, but there were no condiments with which to dress them. T

his poniard and distributed it freely, praying us not to lack for anything. Mrs. Simons, without losing one stroke of her teeth, s

sure

does not know th

. At Corfu, I have associated with ma

lf with patience, because he will wait a long time for th

would wait for them until the

t paid it the 15th

be obliged to cut off your he

her a cup full; but scarcely had it touched her lips, before she cried out with fear. The poor child imagined that the

t re

of resin was not added, to prevent it from spoiling. The mixt

mes," he smilingly said, "that the King would not be foolish enough to poison such valuable people as you are." He added, turning to me: "You, M. le

will think of it in eight days,

whom,

Engl

it f

the p

e that luck. In the meantime, I wi

st for a be

heep were kept there during the winter, and the odor still remains. I will get two ten

or a wait

plain, and stop the first peasant-woman who pa

toilet appurtenances, soap, a mirror

we would be forced to go to Athens. But one will do the b

ty us!" Mar

us, and who sang while traveling about in order to keep in practice. He saluted us cordially, placed upon the

his bees, to sell his goods, to collect the revenues of the convent, and to live at peace with the whole world. His intelligence was limited; his science, nothing; his conduct as innocent as that of a well-regulated machine. I do not believe that he was

f a roe resembles lamb's meat. One would have said that the bees had distilled in an invisible alembic all the perfumes of the moun

King, who was taking a siesta in his office, the brigands came, one by one, to cultivate our acquaintance. One offered his services, another brought us something, still a third introduced himself without pretext and without embarrassment, as a man who felt himself at home. The more familiar besought me to relate our history; the more timid held back at first but insensibly drew nearer. Some, having satisfied themselves with looking at us, threw themselves d

e of a community of ideas. I even surprised a look between them which seemed to say: "The gendarmes will deliver us from the thieves

Are you not ashamed to crowd around a table, like parasitical dogs? You have no business here. We have no use for you; we do not want you here. Do you belie

roop of brigands, a troop armed with poniards and pistols, gave up to us the place, with lamb-like meekness, although kicking, taking short steps,

enough to separate the apartment into two divisions? I must have a little corner for my tent. Behind those tre

d something by this separation, but I would have lost sight of Mary-Ann. And, moreover, I had decided to sleep far from the fleas. The Corfuan approved of my proposition, which rendered hi

chase to my domestic game. But I had scarcely begun, before t

n ever, replied that she lacked everything. I formally asked for the exclusion of all useless visitors. The King established severe regulations, such as we had never followed. Discipline is a French word hard to translate in Greek. The King and his subjects retired at seven o'clock, and we were to be served then with supper. Four torches of resinous wood lighted the table. Their red and smoky light strangely colored Miss Simons' pale face. Her eyes seemed to flash, become dim, and rekindle again, like a revolving beacon-light. Her voice, weakened by fatigue, too

tent. At the same moment, I heard two feminine voices crying: "We are saved! The gendarmes!" I saw two or three indistinct

where are you runni

going to see if the gendarmes will

, guided by my voice, came u

r rejoicing. It is after midnight, almost morning; our companions go to drink wine, eat meat, dance the Romaique and burn powder. If you wish to

Mrs. Simons, "it

nd see," add

music. Occasional volleys of musketry were heard. Once, it came quite near us and I felt the whizzing of a ball, close to my ear. I begged the ladies to hasten forward, hoping that, near the King, we would be farther from danger. The King, seated on his everlasting carpet, presided with due solemnity over the diversions of his people. Around him were goat-skin bottles; the sheep were cut up and each man took a leg or shoulder and carried it about in his hands. The

usly excused himself

own European civilization; why should I take the trouble to travel so late in life? I would give much to be young and only fifty, again. I have ideas of reform which will never be executed; I see myself, like Alexander, without an heir worthy of me. I dream of a new organization of brigandage, without disorder, without turbulence, and without noise. But I have no one to second me. I ought to have the exact census of all the inhabitants of the kingdom, with an approximate statement of their wealth, personal and real. As for the strangers who land on our shor

and each traveler would give me only a fourth per cent on their principals, I would gain upon the quantity. Then brigandage would only be a tax on the circulation; a just tax, because it would be proportional; a normal tax, because it had always been collected since ancient times. We could simplify it, if necessary, by yearly subscriptions. In consideration of a sum, once paid, one could obtain safe conduct for the natives, and an indorsed pass-port for travelers. You

papers, that search is being made for me, say without hesitation that it is a parliamentary fiction; it is always known where I am. I fear neither Ministers, the Army, nor the Tribunals. The Ministers know that by a gesture I can change a Cabinet. The Army is on my side; it furnishes me with recruits, when I need them. I r

there is not one mother who would wish to have a son like Hadgi-Stavros. A day will come, when doctors, like you, will write my history, and when the isles of the Archipelago will dispute the honor of my birthplace. My portrait w

then, ever met a majestic rascal. This devil of a man, who might cut off my head at the end of a month, almost inspired me with respect. His grand face, as if carved

ingly a

Do not defend yourself; I can read faces, and you have loo

om. That you can take a hundred thousand francs from these ladies, who have them, is a very natural thing, and wha

ike to believe you. But those who have sent you here give you at least three or four thousand francs yearly. If they go to this expense, they have their reasons, becaus

for the Jardin des Plantes is voted every year by the Senate; its resources are limited; one

ou believe that I would take back what I have said? My words are la

ce, of cruelty without cause, and comparison without excuse, in order to end, foolishly, on the scaffold. I have said, before witnesses, that I must have fifteen thousand francs for your head. Arrange it to suit yourself; but, in some way or other, I must be paid. Listen: in 1854, I condemned two little girls who were the age of my dear Photini. They held out th

y; the seventh struck me on the forehead and glanced off. When the Turks came to pick up my body, I had disappeared in the smoke. You have, perhaps, a longer time to live than you think you have. Write to your friends in Hamburg. You have received an education; a doctor ought to have friends worth more than fifteen thousand francs. I really wish so. I do not hate you! you have never harmed me! your death would cause me no pleasure, and it

uriosity. The brigands, crouched before her, talked in loud tones, and praised her beauty in terms that it was well she di

made as if to take hold of her. At this sight, I was furious. I jumped at the miserable cur and I made of my ten fingers a cravat for him. He clapped his hands to his belt, and gropingly felt for the handle of the knife; but before he could find it, I saw him torn from my hands and thrown ten feet away, by the powerful ha

ll whizzed by us. The old Palikar did not deign to turn his head. He looked at me and smiled, and said in a low tone: "One must be indulgent; it is the day of the Ascension." Reaching the path, I profited by the stupidit

of freeing ourselves without impoverishing us. She threw me a glance of defiance, consulted her daughter, and at last, acquiesced. Hadgi-Stavros made easy our interview, by keeping the Corfuan n

casionally disturbed the silence of the night. Our neighbor, the nightingale, poured forth his song. I carefully crept along in the shadow of the trees, unt

Simons, "but be quick about i

ave to say to you is well worth an hour of sl

brother by 5 o'clock; my brother would see our Minister at dinner-time; orders ought to have been given a

are in collusion with each other. I suppose, strictly speaking, that some men may be sent to our aid; Hadgi-Stavros will see them coming and will drag us, by lonely paths, to another and more remote retreat. He k

peak of him! I have already divined that you are one of his friends, seeing how he put his hand on your shoulder, as if

his secretaries, the infallible means of freeing us gratis. Will you write to Monsieur, your brother,

f the Mountains? Many thanks, my dear Monsieur. It i

not scruple to cut off my head. But I will continue; in exchang

receipt it

k your 115,000 francs, without losi

has robbed us; our servant, hired by the day, who is not your friend, has thrown us into the hands of these thieves; we met a respectable monk, who shared the spoils with the brigands; all the men who were drinking up there a

o justify myself, think what you will of me. Only pe

he Mountains? He knows no more hidden paths? The ravines, the bushes, the rocks, are no longer his accomplices? Good-evening, Monsieur;

me, in Greek. I made a violent effort to move my right arm; it was like lead. I extended my left; it yielded easily, striking against the tent and causing something like a bouquet to fall. I rubbed my eyes, I rose on my elbow, I examined the flowers, fallen from above, and I recognized in the superb specimen, the boryana variabilis. It was certainly the flower! I touched the lobated leaves, its gamosepalous calyx, its corolla composed of five oblique petals, united at the base by a staminal filament, its ten stamens, its ovary with its five loculaments; I held in my hand the queen of malvaceae! But by what chance had I found it at the bottom of my tomb? and how send it so far to the Jardin des Plantes at Hamburg? At this moment, a lively pain drew my attention to my right arm. One would have said that it was the prey of a swarm of invisible little animals. I rubbed it with my left hand, and little by little, it became normal. I had lain with it under my head for many hours, and it had become numb. I lived then, since pain is one of the privileges of life. But, then, what did that funeral chant, which rang obstinately in my ears, mean? I raised myself. Our apartment was in the same state as on the evening before. Mrs. Simons and her daughter were sleeping profoundly. A huge bunch of flowers like mine hung from the upper part of their tent. It occurred to me that I had heard that the Greeks had a custom of decorating their dwellings on the night before the first of May. These bouquets and the boryana variabilis came, then, from the munificence of the King. The funeral chant haunted me, I could still hear it. I climbed the staircase which led to the King's cabinet, and saw a more curious spectacle than any that had astonished me the evening before. An altar was set up and

afterward, the altar had disappeared, the men had begun

ecommended myself to the courage and imagination of John Harris, who was not a man to leave a friend in trouble. "If any one can save me," I wrote to him, "it is you. I do not know how you can do it, but I hope in you with all my soul; you are such a hot-headed fellow! I do not count on your finding fifteen thousand francs ran

d richer than the Princess Ypsoff, of romantic memory. I had not yet been able to inspire her with love, for the lack of favorable circumstances; but I would find, perhaps, some occasion when I could render her some great service or show myself to her in my Uncle Rosenthaler's uniform. But I added with a feeling of unconquerable sadness: "Who knows but that I may die a bachelor? Then, it would

tear, and I believe that this mark of weakn

ritten a letter of eight pages, and she has not dropped a tear. Go and keep her company for a little while. She needs entertainment. Ah! if you were a man of my temper! I swear to you

N

have furnished you a fine opportunity to get a fortune. If you do not profit by it, you will

y life, to save those beautiful tresses from the clutches of Hadgi-Stavros. I conceived, while sitting there, a plan of escape, difficult but not impossible. Our apartment (so-called) had two exits, one upon the King's cabinet, or office; the other, over the precipice. To escape by the King's cabinet was absurd! It would be necessary to traverse the camp and pass the second line of defense, guarded by the dogs. There remained the precipice. In looking over into the abyss I saw that the rock, almost perpendicular, offered enough sinuous depression, with tufts of grass, with little saplings, and available shrubs of all kinds to permit one to descend without breaking one's neck. What would render flight dangerous on this side, was the cascade. The brook, which flowed through the place, formed, on the side of the mountain, a horribly glistening sheet. It would, moreover, be difficult to keep one's courage, while descending the side of the mountain safely, with a torrent of water pouring over one's head. But were there no means of turning the course of the stream? Perhaps. In examining more closely the place where we had slept, I saw that, without any doubt, the water had once traversed that spot. Our camping place was, then, only the dry

dent conspirators listen to an irritating agent. The younger woman, however, measured, without a tremor, the depth

lar meaning, seemed, without doubt, somewhat foolish, for she blushed and turned away her head. "Monsieur," she replied, "it

alf compliment in a voice so sweet and a look so sincere, that I was moved to the depths

put my own out to take it, when she suddenly withdrew i

r feet! t

will wash

hours. After

carry it to my lips, but she quickly withdrew it again.

il before any obstacle. I replied with a resolution which astonish

ll cry

l kill

arms to d

l, since I had almost kissed her hand. Judge then, Monsi

she said to me, "your second plan is better than your first, yes, infinitely better; I would never consent to pay a rans

ty deaths instead of one. At ten and a half, I will take up fifty square feet of turf, you can carry it to the edge of the brook, and I will construct the dam; total, one hour and a half. It will take till midnight. We will labor together to hasten the work, while the wind will dry off our path. One o'clock will co

d! a

iced my confusion. She said to me with more pity than spite: "My poor man, you see that romantic projects always fail at some point. Permit me to hold to my first idea of waiting for the gendarmerie. I am English, and I have a confirmed habit of placing my c

cries that it would have pierced a heart of marble, but they consoled her by telling her that they would not only release her in fifteen days, but that they would also pay her. She accepted her lot bravely and almost rejoiced at the misfortune which would increase her dowry. Happy country, where the wounds of the heart are cured with five fran

ent. The next day seemed to

could have had the range of mountains to add to my herbarium, under guard; but a certain feeling, I knew not what, held me near the ladies. During the night, I slept little; my plan of esc

nusual noise drew me towards the King's cabinet. My

fore had been piled on some wagon-frames. I divined that they contained the baggage and that our captors were preparing to leave camp. The Corfuan, Vasile, and Sophocles were contesting somet