A WOMAN’S SHREWDNESS AND PLUCK.

Evening Star, Issue 3129, 28 February 1873, Page 2

A WOMAN’S SHREWDNESS AND PLUCK.

The London Daily Telegraph of the 22nd October, says: -A story comes from Athens about Greek brigandage, very refreshing to honest people, and suggests whether woman might not govern Greece better than its men. One of the curses of modern Hellas, as erervbody knows, is the unexterpated guild of brigands, who infest the land, defying the Government, suppressing commerce, demoralising the peasantry, and robbing and murdering strangers and rich natives. One of these unhanged villains lately captured the youthful son of a widowed woman of property, well known upon the bo der. The usual message was sent down from the hills ; the brigand chief must have one thousand drachmas by a certain day, or the life of the boy—he was only twelve years old—would pay the forfeit. As usual, too the last hope which a mother couli cherish in such a frightful position, was the chance of Government help The wretchedly weak Administrations which play at “in and out” in Athens, still allow these scoundrels to hold the roads and passes of the country, and the poor woman had to trust to her own courage and wits. Neither was wanting; there was’ some true old Odysseau bl od in her, and she hit upon a plan for saving botn her child and her drachmas. She had a brother, a young fellow of perfect pluck, though his cheeks were as smooth as the Delian Apollo’s, and him she dressed up carefully as a Greek girl. Haying appointed to meet the robberchief at a certain spot, she took up two hundred drachmas and a present of cakes and fruit, the “Greek girl” going with her as a “ guide,” On reaching the place they found the scoundrel waiting, with the captive lad bound hand and foot beside him. The woman first ascertained, by cunning questions, that he was really alone, and then offered with many supplications, her money and the present of cakes and fruit. The villain took the latter, and munched while he counted out thediachmas; then, with a fierce oath, he said it was far too little—that she must go back and send enough to make a thousand, or the head of the lad would be sent down to her without delay. W bile the woman clung supplicating to his knees, the “ Greek girl” suddenly flung a grip of iron round the robber's arms, and, as the fellow was thus pinioned, the outraged mother drew a loaded pistol and shot him dead. The pair lest no time in liberating the lad, nor did they forget to cut off and wrap m a cloth the head of the •‘chief and as a reward of three thousand drachmas had been set upon this precious article, they made quite an excellent day’s business of it, on arriving safe aud sound at their own village.