190 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



plice of the bath-keeper, and of his possessing friends so 

 unprincipled and powerful, that my only chance of 

 obtaining justice was by taking the law into my own 

 hands ; adding coolly, that there might be danger in 

 sparing him, but with my position, and supported by 

 the friends I had secured, there was not the slightest 

 in stabbing him on the spot. He attempted to speak, 

 but I drew my handgiar, which was the signal for 

 Demetri to unsheathe his yataghan, and lay his 

 powerful hand on Alecco's shoulder. The villain 

 was no coward ; he looked calmly first at one, then 

 at the other, as if calculating the chances of an at- 

 tempt to escape ; he saw it was hopeless, and without 

 uttering a word, he took the portrait from his breast. 

 His caution awakened mine ; before receiving it, I 

 returned my handgiar, and cocked one of my pistols ; 

 then I examined the diamonds to see if he had pur- 

 loined any. When I had secured the long-sought 

 treasure, we called the custom-house officer, and sat 

 down to drink coffee and smoke together. I kept 

 Alecco in my presence until Demetri had secured a 

 boat, nor would I allow him to take leave before our 

 sails were spread with a fair wind for Hydra. 



My intention was to have proceeded, without loss 

 of time, to Smyrna. Circumstances detained me for 

 many days at Hydra ; and one night as I returned 

 to the monastery where I lived, from the house of 

 Jacomaki Tombazi, an attack was made on me by 



