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the summits ofthe dark； sacred mountains were covered with snow； and the highest；mount Parnassus； glowed longest in the red evening light。 The brookwhich rolled from it near our house； was also sacred。 How well I canremember every spot in that deep； sacred solitude！ A fire had beenkindled in the midst of the hut； and while the hot ashes lay there redand glowing； the bread was baked in them。 At times the snow would bepiled so high around our hut as almost to hide it； and then mymother appeared most cheerful。 She would hold my head between herhands； and sing the songs she never sang at other times； for theTurks； our masters； would not allow it。 She sang；…
〃On the summit of mount Olympus； in a forest of dwarf firs； lay anold stag。 His eyes were heavy with tears； and glittering with colorslike dewdrops； and there came by a roebuck； and said； 'What ailestthee； that thou weepest blue and red tears？' And the stag answered；'The Turk has e to our city； he has wild dogs for the chase； agoodly pack。' 'I will drive them away across the islands！' cried theyoung roebuck； 'I will drive them away across the islands into thedeep sea。' But before evening the roebuck was slain； and beforenight the hunted stag was dead。〃
And when my mother sang thus； her eyes would bee moist； andon the long eyelashes were tears； but she concealed them and watchedthe black bread baking in the ashes。 Then I would clench my fist；and cry； 〃We will kill these Turks！〃 But she repeated the words of thesong； 〃I will drive them across the islands to the deep sea； butbefore evening came the roebuck was slain； and before the night thehunted stag was dead。〃
We had been lonely in our hut for several days and nights whenmy father came home。 I knew he would bring me some shells from thegulf of Lepanto； or perhaps a knife with a shining blade。 This time hebrought； under his sheep…skin cloak； a little child； a littlehalf…naked girl。 She was wrapped in a fur； but when this was takenoff； and she lay in my mother's lap； three silver coins were foundfastened in her dark hair； they were all her possessions。 My fathertold us that the child's parents had been killed by the Turks； andhe talked so much about them that I dreamed of Turks all night。 Hehimself had been wounded； and my mother bound up his arm。 It was adeep wound； and the thick sheep…skin cloak was stiff with congealedblood。 The little maiden was to be my sister。 How pretty and brightshe looked： even my mother's eyes were not more gentle than hers。Anastasia； as she was called； was to be my sister； because herfather had been united to mine by an old custom； which we stillfollow。 They had sworn brotherhood in their youth； and the mostbeautiful and virtuous maiden in the neighborhood was chosen toperform the act of consecration upon this bond of friendship。 So nowthis little girl was my sister。 She sat in my lap； and I brought herflowers； and feathers from the birds of the mountain。 We dranktogether of the waters of Parnassus； and dwelt for many yearsbeneath the laurel roof of the hut； while； winter after winter； mymother sang her song of the stag who shed red tears。 But as yet Idid not understand that the sorrows of my own countrymen were mirroredin those tears。
One day there came to our hut Franks； men from a far country；whose dress was different to ours。 They had tents and beds withthem； carried by horses； and they were acpanied by more than twentyTurks； all armed with swords and muskets。 These Franks were friends ofthe Pacha； and had letters from him； manding an escort for them。They only came to see our mountain； to ascend Parnassus amid thesnow and clouds； and to look at the strange black rocks which raisedtheir steep sides near our hut。 They could not find room in the hut；nor endure the smoke that rolled along the ceiling till it found itsway out at the low door； so they pitched their tents on a smallspace outside our dwelling。 Roasted lambs and birds were broughtforth； and strong； sweet wine； of which the Turks are forbidden topartake。
When they departed； I acpanied them for some distance； carryingmy little sister Anastasia； wrapped in a goat…skin； on my back。 One ofthe Frankish gentlemen made me stand in front of a rock； and drew usboth as we stood there； so that we looked like one creature。 I did notthink of it then； but Anastasia and I were really one。 She wasalways sitting on my lap； or riding in the goat…skin on my back； andin my dreams she always appeared to me。
Two nights after this； other men； armed with knives and muskets；came into our tent。 They were Albanians； brave men； my mother told me。They only stayed a short time。 My sister Anastasia sat on the kneeof one of them； and when they were gone； she had not three； but twosilver coins in her hair… one had disappeared。 They wrapped tobacco instrips of paper； and smoked it； and I remember they were uncertainas to the road they ought to take。 But they were obliged to go atlast； and my father went with them。 Soon after； we heard the soundof firing。 The noise continued； and presently soldiers rushed into ourhut； and took my mother and myself and Anastasia prisoners。 Theydeclared that we had entertained robbers； and that my father had actedas their guide； and therefore we must now go with them。 The corpses ofthe robbers； and my father's corpse； were brought into the hut。 Isaw my poor dead father； and cried till I fell asleep。 When I awoke； Ifound myself in a prison； but the room was not worse than our own inthe hut。 They gave me onions and musty wine from a tarred cask； but wewere not accustomed to much better fare at home。 How long we were keptin prison； I do not know； but many days and nights passed by。 Wewere set free about Easter…time。 I carried Anastasia on my back； andwe walked very slowly； for my mother was very weak； and it is a longway to the sea； to the Gulf of Lepanto。
On our arrival； we entered a church； in which there were beautifulpictures in golden frames。 They were pictures of angels； fair andbright； and yet our little Anastasia looked equally beautiful； as itseemed to me。 In the centre of the floor stood a coffin filled withroses。 My mother told me it was the Lord Jesus Christ who wasrepresented by these roses。 Then the priest announced； 〃Christ isrisen；〃 and all the people greeted each other。 Each one carried aburning taper in his hand； and one was given to me； as well as tolittle Anastasia。 The music sounded； and the people left the churchhand…in…hand； with joy and gladness。 Outside； the women wereroasting the paschal lamb。 We were invited to partake； and as I sat bythe fire； a boy； older than myself； put his arms round my neck； andkissed me； and said； 〃Christ is risen。〃 And thus it was that for thefirst time I met Aphtanides。
My mother could make fishermen's s； for which there was a greatdemand here in the bay； and we lived a long time by the side of thesea； the beautiful sea； that had a taste like tears； and in its colorsreminded me of the stag that wept red tears； for sometimes itswaters were red； and sometimes green or blue。 Aphtanides knew how tomanage our boat； and I often sat in it； with my little Anastasia；while it glided on through the water； swift as a bird flying throughthe air。 Then； when the sun set； how beautifully； deeply blue； wouldbe the tint on the mountains； one rising above the other in the fardistance； and the summit of mount Parnassus rising above them all likea glorious crown。 Its top glittered in the evening rays like moltengold； and it seemed as if the light came from within it； for longafter the sun had sunk beneath the horizon； the mountain…top wouldglow in the clear； blue sky。 The white aquatic birds skimmed thesurface of the water in their flight； and all was calm and still asamid the black rocks at Delphi。 I lay on my back in the boat；Anastasia leaned against me； while the stars above us glittered morebrightly than the lamps in our church。 They were the same stars； andin the same position over me as when I used to sit in front of our hutat Delphi； and I had almost begun to fancy I was still there； whensuddenly there was a splash in the water… Anastasia had fallen in； butin a moment Aphtanides has sprung in after her； and was now holdingher up to me。 We dried her clothes as well as we were able； andremained