by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XVII
RESCUING THE GARRISON OF ATHENS
"I tell you what it is, Mr. Beveridge," the governor said when thelatter went up to call as usual upon his arrival at Corfu, "I quitebegin to dread the appearance of that smart schooner of yours; duringthe last five weeks you have added a thousand mouths to my anxieties.What we are to do with all these poor creatures I have not theslightest idea. We can't go on feeding them for ever; and what withthe voluntary fugitives and those brought over to us, there are atpresent some forty or fifty thousand strangers in the islands, and ofthese something like half are absolutely dependent on us for the meansof living."
"It is a very difficult problem," Mr. Beveridge said. "Of course, whenthe war is over the great proportion of them will return to theirhomes in Greece; but the fugitives from the Turkish islands andmainland are in a different position. Doubtless, when peace is made,there will be some arrangement by which those families which have menamong them can also return to their homes without being molested; butthose consisting only of women and children could not do so. Some ofthe women and girls can find employment in Greek families, and Isuppose the rest will finally become absorbed as servants in the townson the Adriatic."
"I see nothing else for it, Mr. Beveridge; unless you choose tocontinue your good work, and transport them in batches across theAtlantic. I believe there is a great dearth of women in Canada and theUnited States."
"You will have to set up schools and teach them English first, sir,"Mr. Beveridge laughed, "or they would not be welcomed there. When theycan all speak our language I will think over your suggestion."
"Do you think that Greece ever will be free, Mr. Beveridge?"
"I think so. Certainly I think so. These terrible massacres on bothsides seem to render it absolutely impossible that they should returnto their former relations. The Turks have not yet made their greateffort, and I believe that when they do they will reconquer Greece.But I do not think they will hold it. The hatred between the races isnow so bitter that they can never live together in peace; and Ibelieve that the Greeks will continue their resistance so long thatEurope at last will come to their assistance, and insist upon afrontier line being drawn. This terrible affair of Chios, dreadful asit is, will tend to that. The Christian feeling of Europe will becomemore and more excited until, if the governments hold back, the peoplewill force them forward, and England and France at least will, ifnecessary, intervene by force. I believe that they would do so nowwere it not for jealousy of Russia. It is Russia who fomented thisrevolution for her own purposes, and it is solely the fear that shewill reap the whole benefit of their action that causes England andFrance to look on this struggle with folded arms."
"I fancy you are right, and that that will be the end of it," thegovernor said. "I need not say how earnestly I wish the time wouldcome. I can assure you I have a very anxious time of it. What withproviding for all these people, what with preventing breaches ofneutrality by the Greeks, and what with the calumnies and complaintsthat the Greeks scatter broadcast against us, I can assure you that mytask is not an enviable one."
"I can quite imagine that. The Greeks make it very hard for theirwell-wishers to assist them; indeed, if they were bent upon bringingobloquy upon their name they could hardly act otherwise than they aredoing. The one man they have hitherto produced who goes his wayregardless of intrigue and faction, fighting bravely for the country,is Constantine Kanaris, who has destroyed two Turkish ships with hisown hand. A hundred of such men as he is, and Greece would haveachieved her independence without foreign assistance; and yet, evenin his own ship, he is unable to maintain even a shadow of what weshould consider discipline. He himself acknowledged as much to me atPsara."
"I hear you took him off after he had burned the Turkish war-vessel."
"Yes; we were lying off the port and saw it. I am glad we were notnearer, for it was a terrible business. It is a barbarous waraltogether."
"Then why do you mix yourself up in it, Mr. Beveridge?"
"My mother was a Greek, and I have always lived in Greek thoughtrather than in English. I desire not only the independence but theregeneration of the Greeks. They have lost all the virtues of theirancestors save their intelligence; but once free they will, I hope andtrust, recover their lost virtues and become, if not a greatpeople--which they can hardly do, their numbers being comparatively sofew--at least a worthy one."
"I hope they may. They certainly have enthusiastic friends. Only aweek or two since, a young fellow named Hastings, a lieutenant of ournavy, came out. He has a fortune of some seven or eight thousandpounds, which he intends to devote to buying and fitting out a shipfor their service. There are scores of English and French officerskicking their heels at Corinth, vainly asking for employment. And Ihear they are organizing a corps, composed entirely of foreignofficers, who will fight as private soldiers without pay, simply forthe purpose of endeavouring to shame the Greeks into a feeling ofpatriotism.
"Where are you thinking of sailing now? If you have no fixed plans, Ishould advise you to go round to Athens. They say the Turkish garrisonis at the last extremity. I have had a message from the consulatethere, asking me to send a British ship of war round to insist uponthe conditions of surrender being observed; but unfortunately theinsane rage for retrenchment at home has so diminished the strength ofour fleet that we haven't a single ship in these waters at a timelike this. I hear that the French consul has also sent urgently askingfor ships of war. At any rate, your influence might do something."
"I fear not," Mr. Beveridge said gravely. "However, my men and gunsmight have some weight, and at any rate I will go round at once and domy best. If possible, I am even more anxious to save Turks frommassacre by Greeks, than Greeks from massacre by Turks."
"I can understand that," the governor said cordially. "Well, I wishyou every good fortune, Mr. Beveridge; but I say honestly that I donot wish to see your saucy schooner again unless she comes in withempty decks. Give them a turn at Malta next time, my dear sir, and Ishall feel really grateful towards you."
Four days after leaving Corfu the schooner dropped anchor in the portof Athens. Learning from the first boat that put off to them that thecapitulation of the Turks was to be signed on the following morning,Mr. Beveridge determined to land at once, in order that he might seeas many of the leading officials as possible, and urge upon them thenecessity of preventing any repetition of the breaches of faith whichhad brought such disgrace to the Greek name.
"I shall take Zaimes with me," he said to Martyn, "and should I seeany signs of an intention upon the part of the populace to commence amassacre of the Turks I will send him off instantly. In that case,Captain Martyn, you will at once land the whole of the crew fullyarmed, with the exception, say, of five men, and march them to theBritish consulate in Athens. You know where it is. Take a Greek flagwith you, for two reasons; in the first place, if you were to gowithout it the Greeks would spread the report that the crew of anEnglish ship of war had landed; and in the second place, it mayquieten and appease the mob if they see that we are in the service ofGreece."
"Very well, sir, I will carry out your instructions. I don't thinkthat rascally mob will venture to interfere with us."
"I hope not, Martyn; but at any rate we must risk that. Any othermessage I may have to send off to you I shall send by an ordinarymessenger; but if you are wanted, I shall trust no one but Zaimes."
Late in the evening a Greek came off with a letter. All would, Mr.Beveridge hoped, be well. The Turks had agreed to surrender theirarms, and the Greeks had bound themselves to convey them to Asia Minorin neutral ships. By the terms of capitulation the Turks were to beallowed to retain one-half of their money and jewels, and one-half oftheir movable property.
"I have every hope that the treaty will be respected," Mr. Beveridgewrote. "I am happy to say that the Bishop of Athens, who is a man ofhigh character, and President of the Areopagus, has insisted upon allthe civil and military authorities taking a most solemn oath toobserve stri
ctly the terms of capitulation, and so far to redeem thegood faith of the nation, which has been so deeply stained by theviolation of so many previous treaties."
The next morning the Mussulmans marched out from the Acropolis. Out ofthe 1150 remaining only 180 were men capable of bearing arms, sostoutly and obstinately had they defended the place, yielding onlywhen the last drop of water in the cisterns was exhausted. They werehoused in some extensive buildings in the town. Three days passedquietly. Two ephors, who had been ordered by the Greek government tohasten the embarkation of the Turks, took no steps whatever to do so.On the morning of the fourth day, Horace, who had been twice on shoreto see his father, saw a boat rowing off to the ship. He turned aglass upon it and exclaimed:
"There is Zaimes on board that boat, Captain Martyn. I am sure myfather would not send him on board unless there is trouble in thetown."
Martyn did not wait for the boat to arrive, but instantly mustered andarmed the crew, and the boats were in the water by the time Zaimesarrived alongside. He handed a note to Martyn; it contained only thewords:
"Land instantly, they are murdering the Turks."
With a hearty execration upon the Greeks, Martyn ordered the men totake their places in the boats, and gave his final orders to Tarleton,who was to remain in charge.
"Get all the guns loaded with ball, Mr. Tarleton. For aught I know wemay have to fight our way down to the beach. Fire the first shot overtheir heads. If that does not frighten them, plump the others intothem."
The three boats pushed off, the doctor taking his place by the side ofHorace, who was in command of one of them.
"Have you got your instruments, doctor?" Horace asked smiling.
"I have got these instruments," Macfarlane said, tapping the butts ofa heavy pair of pistols. "Just for once I am going as a combatant. Ithought there was a limit to everything, but there really doesn't seemto be any limit to the faithlessness of the Greeks. I should like verymuch to help to give them a little lesson as to the sanctity of anoath."
The sailors marched in a compact body from the port to the town. Theyhad been told the errand upon which they had come, and from the paceat which they marched, and the expression of angry determination ontheir faces, it was evident that they entered thoroughly into thebusiness. They were met at the entrance to the town by Mr. Beveridge.
"It is of no use going to the British consulate," he said; "there areno English officials there, the place is simply in charge of a Greek,who dare not, if he would, move in the matter. The Turks are takingrefuge in the French, Austrian, and Dutch consulates. It is more thandoubtful whether the flags will be respected. You had better place sayeight men at each, with orders to defend the places till the last ifthe mob attacks them; while with the rest of the men you can endeavourto escort the fugitive Turks to the consulates. Don't let the men usetheir arms till the last extremity, Martyn."
"Very well, sir. Where will you be?"
"I will go to the French consulate and aid them there in pacifying themob. My son had better go to one of the others. Harangue them from thewindows, Horace; point out to them that they are disgracing Greece inthe eyes of all Europe, and implore them not to bring Austria on theirbacks by insulting her flag. At the same time see that all the lowershutters are barred, and be ready to sally out with your men to bringin any fugitives who may approach."
"Mr. Miller, do you take eight men to the Dutch consulate," Martynsaid, "and follow the instructions Mr. Beveridge has given to hisson."
"Zaimes shall go with you, Mr. Miller."
"Thank you, Mr. Beveridge; if he will do the haranguing I will lookafter the fighting if there is any to be done."
The three parties, each of eight men, at once started for theconsulates. Martyn waited till they had gone, and then turned to theremainder. "Boatswain, you take ten men and go one way, I will goanother way with the rest. You heard Mr. Beveridge's instructions,that the men were not to use their arms unless absolutely attacked. Atthe same time, if you come upon any of the Greeks engaged in murderingwomen and children you will remember there are no orders against yourusing your hands, and that there are windows as well as doors by whicha Greek can be made to leave a house."
"Ay, ay, sir!" Tom Burdett replied with a grin; "we will be as gentlewith them as possible."
Martyn had provided several small Greek flags which had been fastenedto boat-hooks, and each party, taking one of these, proceeded on itsway. They had gone but a little distance when shrieks and cries wereheard, and, bursting into the houses from which they proceeded, thesailors came upon Greeks engaged in the diabolical work of torturingwomen and children. With a cheer they fell upon them, striking rightand left with their fists, and levelling the astonished Greeks to theground. Then the Turks were placed safely in their midst, and with afew hearty kicks at the prostrate ruffians they marched out. The scenewas repeated again and again; the punishment inflicted upon the Greeksbeing more and more severe each time.
When some twenty fugitives had been collected they were marchedthrough a yelling rabble to one or other of the consulates, to which alarge number of fugitives had made their way when the massacre began.Several times the leaders of both bands had to call upon their men topresent arms, the mob falling back and flying the moment they did so.After a time the two bands joined, Martyn considering it imprudent toventure out among the enraged populace in smaller force. The aspect ofthe crowd became more and more threatening, but it still confineditself to execrations and curses, being overawed by the determinedattitude of the men with their muskets, cutlasses, and pistols, andwith the apparent fact that the sailors were only prevented from usingtheir arms by the exertions of the two officers, for the doctor keptclose by Martyn's side. At two o'clock the boom of a cannon was heardfrom the port; again and again it sounded at regular intervals.
"That is a ship of war saluting," Martyn said.
The crowd fell away rapidly, many of them hurrying down to the port,and Martyn, taking advantage of it, was able to bring in a good manymore fugitives to the consulates, the sailors from within rushing outwhen they approached, and clearing the way through the crowd with thevigorous use of their elbows and sometimes of their fists.
"We shall have help up soon," Mr. Beveridge said, the first timeMartyn brought in a party of fugitives after the guns fired.
An hour later a strong party of French sailors and marines with loadedmuskets and fixed bayonets marched up to the French consulate from twoFrench vessels, a corvette and a schooner, which had come from Syra inresponse to the consul's earnest appeals for assistance. They placedin their midst three hundred and twenty-five Turkish fugitives whohad found refuge there, escorted them down to the port, and placedthem on board their ships. On the way they were surrounded by amenacing crowd of Greek soldiers and by a great mob, yelling,shouting, and brandishing their arms; but their valour went nofurther, and the fugitives were taken off in safety. The sailors ofthe _Misericordia_ were now divided between the Austrian and Dutchconsulates, and their appearance at the windows with loaded musketsintimidated the mob from making an attack. During the night the bishopand some of the better class exerted themselves to the utmost incalming the passions of the mob; and they themselves in the morningaccompanied the crew of the _Misericordia_, who, guarding thefugitives, were allowed to proceed down to the port and embark onboard the schooner without molestation from the people. Some sevenhundred and fifty persons were saved by the French and the crew of theschooner. Four hundred were massacred in cold blood by the Greeks.
The French vessels had sailed away during the night, and the questionarose what was to be done with the rescued Turks. Of these there weresome forty soldiers, ten or twelve Turks of superior rank, militaryand civil officials; the rest were women and children. Two or three ofthe Turks spoke Italian, and four or five of them Greek. Mr. Beveridgeheld a consultation with these, and it was finally agreed that theyshould be landed at the Isle of Tenedos close to the mouth of theDardanelles, as from thence they would have no difficulty in maki
ngtheir way to Constantinople.
"If there are no ships of war in the port we will hoist the white flagand sail straight in; but if there are, we must land you in the boatssomewhere on the island. We have been in action with your ships of warand would at once be recognized, and the white flag would not berespected."
"We owe you our lives, sir, and the lives of all these women andchildren," a bimbashi or major of the Turkish garrison, a finesoldierly-looking man, said earnestly; "for had it not been for youand your brave crew even the flags of the consulates would not havesufficed to protect us. Assuredly my countrymen would never fire atyou when engaged in such a work of mercy."
"They might not in cold blood," Mr. Beveridge said; "but we have justbeen saving Chiot prisoners as cruelly treated, and for every Turk whohas been massacred in Athens, well-nigh a hundred Chiots have beenmurdered. I do not defend them for breaking their pledged faith toyou, but one cannot be surprised at their savage thirst forvengeance."
Martyn had got up the anchor and set sail on the schooner directly thefugitives were on board, and as soon as he learned that Tenedos wastheir destination her course was laid north. Then came the work, towhich they were now becoming accustomed, of stowing away theunfortunate passengers. The screened partition was allotted to thewomen and children of the officers and officials, most of whosehusbands had fallen during the siege, and the rest of the women andchildren were stowed down on the main-deck, while the male passengersstayed on deck, where the women remained for the most part during theday. Those who had been rescued from the hands of the Greeks had beenplundered of everything; but those who had at the first alarm fled tothe consulates had carried with them jewels and money. The women ofthe upper class were all closely veiled, but the rest made but littleattempt to conceal their faces, and all evinced the deepest gratitudeto the crew of the schooner; murmuring their thanks whenever anofficer or sailor passed near them, and trying to seize their handsand press them to their foreheads.
The fugitives of the upper class, both men and women, were morerestrained, but there was no mistaking the expression with which theireyes followed their protectors. Many of the women and children wereworn out with the sufferings they had sustained during the last daysof the siege, and some of the soldiers were so weak as to be scarceable to stand. The doctor attended to many of the children, while theGreeks and the ship's cook were kept busy all day in preparingnourishing soups. The next day they were off Tenedos. No Turkish shipof war was lying near the town. A boat was lowered, and Miller,accompanied by Horace as interpreter, took his place in her with oneof the Turkish officers. A white flag was hoisted in her stern, andsix men rowed her ashore.
Their movements had been watched, and a body of Turkish soldiers weredrawn up at the landing-place with several officials. The Turkishofficer mounted the steps and explained to the governor of the island,who was among those at the landing-stage, the purpose for which the_Misericordia_ had arrived at the port. There was a rapid conversationas the officer, frequently interrupted by exclamations of indignation,and questions from the Turks, narrated what had taken place. Then thegovernor and his officers ran forward, seized Miller and Horace by thehand, patted them on the shoulder with the liveliest demonstrations ofgratitude and friendship. The Turk who had come ashore with themtranslated to Horace, in Greek, the governor's earnest request thatthe owner of the ship and his officers would come ashore to visit him.
"The governor says that he himself would at once come off to visit theship and return his thanks, but that, as she is flying the Greek flag,he cannot do so, much as he desires it; but that if the flag werelowered, and a white flag substituted, he would come off instantly. Hehas heard of the fight between the Greek ship with an English crew andthe boats of the Turkish fleet, and of the many craft she has takenand destroyed, always sparing the crews and sending them ashore, andhe has great esteem for so brave an enemy; now he cannot view them butas friends after their noble rescue of so many of his countrymen andwomen and children."
Horace in reply said that he would give the governor's message to hisfather, and that the fugitives should at once be landed.
"Do you think that he really meant that he would come on board if wehoisted the white flag, Horace?"
"I think so, father. He and the officers with him certainly seemedthoroughly in earnest. What do you think, Martyn? There can be noobjection to our lowering the Greek flag, I should think, while actingas a neutral."
"I should think not," Martyn said, "and I should not care a snap ofthe fingers if there was. The Greek flag is all well enough, Mr.Beveridge, when we see an armed Turk of superior size in sight, but atother times I don't feel proud of it."
"We will lower it down then, Martyn."
The Greek flag was lowered from the peak and a white one run up. Thenthe work of debarkation commenced, the Turks insisting upon shakinghands with Mr. Beveridge and the officers, thanking them in the mostfervent way, and calling down the blessing of Allah upon them; whilethe women, many of them weeping, threw themselves on their knees andpoured out their thanks, some of them holding up their infants to gazeon the faces of those to whom they owed their lives. The sailors camein for their share of thanks, and were quite embarrassed by the warmthwith which they were greeted. Just as the first batch left the ship, alarge boat flying the Turkish flag was seen putting out from theshore, and in a few minutes the governor with seven or eight civil andmilitary officials came on board.
They brought with them a merchant who spoke English to act asinterpreter. Martyn drew up the whole of the crew who were not engagedin boat service as a guard of honour to receive them, while he, withMr. Beveridge, met the governor as he mounted the gangway. Thegovernor, who was a tall and dignified Turk, expressed to them hiswarmest thanks in the name of the Sultan for the rescue of so many ofhis subjects from the fury of the populace of Athens. Mr. Beveridge,through the interpreter, explained to the pasha that, although anEnglishman he had Greek blood in his veins, and had therefore joinedthem in their attempt to achieve independence, and was prepared tofight on their side but that, as an Englishman, he revolted againstthe barbarity with which the war was carried on by both combatants;that his vessel was named the _Misericordia_, and that while he hadsaved a great number of Christian fugitives on the one side, he wasequally ready and pleased at being able to render the same service toMussulman fugitives on the other side.
THE GOVERNOR COMES ON BOARD]
"Your errand is a noble and merciful one," the Turk said, "and musthave the approval of Allah as well as of the God of the Christians. Wehave heard of your terrible vessel, how she destroyed a frigate offCyprus, beat off the boats of our fleet at Chios, and played havocamong the shipping from Smyrna. We knew her when we saw her, for wehad heard of her white sails and tall masts; but we had heard too thatno prisoner was injured by you. I never thought to set foot on thedeck of the ship that had become the dread of the traders of Smyrnaand other ports, but I am glad to do so since those who sail her,although our enemies in battle, have proved themselves indeed ourfriends in the time of distress."
When this had been translated, Mr. Beveridge invited the governor andhis companions into the cabin, where coffee and chibouks were served;then they were conducted round the ship. The governor conversed forsome little time with two or three of the principal Turks from Athens,and learned the full details of the surrender and the subsequentevents as he watched the debarkation of the fugitives; and then, afterobtaining a promise from Mr. Beveridge that he and his officers wouldcome on shore at sunset to dine with him, he entered his boat and wasrowed back.
At sunset Mr. Beveridge and all the officers, with the exception ofTarleton, who remained in charge of the ship, went ashore. They werereceived at the landing-place by a guard of honour of Turkish soldiersin charge of one of the principal officers of the governor, and wereconducted to his house through a crowd of people cheering andshouting.
The governor received them at his door. The dinner was served inTurkish fashion, all sitting on cushi
ons round a table raised about afoot from the floor. A band of music played without, and a greatnumber of dishes, of most of which Horace could only guess at theingredients, were served; and after the meal, which was of greatlength, was concluded, slaves brought round ewers of water, in whichall dipped their fingers, wiping them on embroidered towels. A varietyof sweetmeats were then handed round, followed by coffee. Three orfour interpreters had stood behind the guests, who were all placedbetween Turks, and thus conversation was rendered possible. At teno'clock they took their leave with many cordial expressions on bothsides, and were again escorted by a party of soldiers to their boats.
"There is no gainsaying," Macfarlane said as they rowed off, "thatthere seems to be a good deal livelier feeling of gratitude among theTurks than there is among the Greeks. We have come all the way outfrom England to fight for the Greeks; we have sunk a Turkish ship,beaten off their boats with very heavy loss, and rescued nearly threethousand women and children from their hands, and yet there isn't aGreek official who has said as much as thank you. They seem toconsider that it is quite sufficient reward for us to have been ofservice to so great a people as they are. Upon the other hand, hereare these Turks, though we have done them a great deal of damage,putting aside all enmity and treating us like gentlemen because wehave saved a ship-load of their people. He was a very fine old heathenthat governor."
"The Turks, too, were a deal more grateful than any of the Greeks havebeen, except that batch from Cyprus," Horace said.
"They were in better heart for being thankful, Horace," Mr. Beveridgereplied. "We have taken them back to their native land, and they willsoon rejoin their friends and families; whereas the Chiots were goinginto exile and had lost everything that was dear to them, and the lotbefore them was, as the doctor pointed out, little if anything betterthan that we had saved them from. Still, I will do them the justice tosay that the Turks were really grateful to us; and though we are notworking for the purpose of obtaining gratitude, it is pleasant to seethat people do feel that one has done something for them."
"I suppose you won't get up sail until morning, Martyn?" Mr. Beveridgesaid as they went down into the cabin.
"Yes, sir, if you have no objections I shall get up the anchor as soonas we are on board. You see we are not many miles from the mouth ofthe Dardanelles, and with a good glass they could make out our coloursfrom the mainland; and if word were sent to their admiral that a Greekcraft is at anchor here, he might send two or three ships out tocapture us. I don't give the Turks credit for such enterprise, but itis just as well not to run any risk. What is to be our course next,Mr. Beveridge?"
"There is likely to be a regular battle in a short time between theGreek army and the Turks. Indeed the Greeks will have to fight if theyreally mean to gain their independence. Dramali Pasha has some twentythousand men collected on the banks of the Spercheus. Of these theysay eight thousand are cavalry drawn from the Mussulman clans ofMacedonia and Thrace, and he may move forward any day to reconquer theMorea and relieve Nauplia. If he is suffered to do this there isvirtually an end of the war. I have not a shadow of faith in any ofthe Greek leaders, or in the Areopagus, but I still do believe in thevast bulk of the people. The Morea consists almost wholly of hilly andbroken country, just the ground where an armed peasantry, knowingevery pass and place of advantage, ought to be able to render thepassage of a regular army with their wagons and baggage well-nighimpossible.
"In such a country the Turkish cavalry would be of little use, andthere are only the infantry to cope with. The artillery would probablyhave to be left behind altogether. If ever an effort is to be made bythe Greeks it must be made now. I propose therefore, Martyn, to saildown to Nauplia and to land there. The Turks, of course, still commandthe harbour with their guns, but the Greek vessels land supplies andammunition for the besiegers, so there can be no difficulty aboutthat. We have still a good many thousand muskets in the hold, andammunition for them. I shall see what spirit prevails among thepeasantry, shall issue arms to all who need them, and help with moneyif required. The peasantry will not want it, but the patriotism oftheir primates and captains may be a good deal strengthened by alittle judicious expenditure of money. The Morea is the key of thewhole position, and the present will be the critical moment of therevolution. If the Turks succeed, Greece is at their feet; if theTurkish army is defeated, Greece may conquer. Now, therefore, is thetime for me to do my utmost to aid them."
"Very well, sir; then I will lay her course to-morrow morning for thesouth-eastern point of Euboea."
On the voyage down Mr. Beveridge discussed with the others the coursethat he intended to take. He had quite determined himself to leave thecoast and go into the interior, where, if the Turkish army was to bechecked, the decisive battle must be fought. It was decided thatHorace and the two Greeks should accompany him. The question most atissue was whether he should take with him any portion of the crew ofthe schooner; he himself was somewhat averse to this.
"I need hardly say, Martyn, that I have no intention whatever ofmixing myself up in any fighting that may take place. I go simply torouse the enthusiasm as much as possible of the peasantry, and to getthe small local leaders to stir. If I can do nothing I shall simplycome back to the schooner again. If the Greeks dispute the passage ofthe Turks I shall, if I can, take up my position where I can see whattakes place, and if the Greeks are beaten, retire across the hills.What good then would it be for me to take any of the sailors with me?You may want them all on board, for it is possible, indeed it isprobable, that the Turkish fleet will come round to Nauplia withsupplies for the Turkish army when it arrives there."
"Well, sir, I shouldn't require the whole crew to get up sail and makeoff if I see them coming, and I do think that it would be very muchbetter for you to have some men with you. In the first place, yourhaving a guard of that sort would add to your importance in the eyesof the Greeks, and give more weight to your counsels. In the secondplace, if you are going to take arms and money on shore you willcertainly require a guard for them, or run the risk of getting yourthroat cut. And lastly, if there should be a fight, and the Greeks getbeaten, if you have fifteen or twenty men with you your chance ofgetting off safely would be very largely increased, for they couldbeat off any small party of horsemen that happened to overtake you.What do you think, Horace?"
"I certainly think so too. After what we have seen of the Greeks,father, I do think it would be better in every way to have a party ofsailors with us. If it were known that you were going about the hillswith a considerable sum of money you might be safe enough among thepeasants, but I should say there were any number of these miserableprimates and captains who would think nothing of cutting our throatsto get it."
Mr. Beveridge gave way at once, and it was arranged that a party offifteen men, under the command of Miller, should land from theschooner and accompany him.
"Don't you think, Mr. Beveridge," Macfarlane said, "that it would beas well for you to take your medical attendant with you?"
Mr. Beveridge smiled. "I have scarcely regarded you hitherto, doctor,in the light of my medical attendant, but as the attendant of theship's company, and I don't think that Horace or I, or any of thelanding party, are likely to take any fever among the hills of theMorea."
"I hope not, sir, but you see there may be some preliminary skirmishesbefore the regular battle you expect will take place, and I don'tsuppose the Greeks will have any surgeons accustomed to gunshot woundsor capable of amputations among them, and therefore, you see, I mightbe of some service."
"In addition to which, doctor," Martyn laughed, "you think you wouldlike a ramble on shore a bit."
"Well, what do you think, Martyn?" Mr. Beveridge said; "it is for youto decide. The doctor may be, as he says, useful on shore; but thenagain his services may be required on board."
"We are not likely to do any fighting, sir, and if he will mix up agallon or two of jalap, and such other medicines as he thinks might beuseful for ordinary ailments on board, I daresay Tarleton wil
l see totheir being administered as required."
"Oh, yes, I will see to that," Tarleton said. "Make them as nasty asyou can, doctor, so that I sha'n't have any unnecessary applicationsfor them."
And so it was settled that Dr. Macfarlane should form one of thelanding party.