t be more complete； these unhappy beings were compelled to wash in the Inachus blankets； sheets； and clothes steeped in bubonic infection； while the collectors were hunting everywhere for imaginary hidden treasure。 Hollow trees were sounded； walls pulled down； the most unlikely corners examined； and a skeleton which was discovered still girt with a belt containing Venetian sequins was gathered up with the utmost care。 The archons of the town were arrested and tortured in the hope of discovering buried treasure； the clue to which had disappeared along with the owners。 One of these magistrates； accused of having hidden some valuable objects； was plunged up to his shoulders in a boiler full of melted lead and boiling oil。 Old men； women； children； rich and poor alike； were interrogated； beaten； and compelled to abandon the last remains of their property in order to save their lives。
Having thus decimated the few inhabitants remaining to the town； it became necessary to repeople it。 With this object in view； Ali's emissaries overran the villages of Thessaly； driving before them all。 the people they met in flocks； and compelling them to settle in Arta。 These unfortunate colonists were also obliged to find money to pay the pacha for the houses they were forced to occupy。
This business being settled； Ali turned to another which had long been on his mind。 We have seen how Ismail Pacho Bey escaped the assassins sent to murder him。 A ship； despatched secretly from Prevesa； arrived at the place of his retreat。 The captain； posing as a merchant； invited Ismail to come on board and inspect his goods。 But the latter； guessing a trap； fled promptly； and for some time all trace of him was lost。 Ali； in revenge； turned his wife out of the palace at Janina which she still occupied； and placed her in a cottage； where she was obliged to earn a living by spinning。 But he did not stop there； and learning after some time that Pacho Bey had sought refuge with the Nazir of Drama； who had taken him into favour； he resolved to strike a last blow； more sure and more terrible than the others。 Again Ismail's lucky star saved him from the plots of his enemy。 During a hunting party he encountered a kapidgi…bachi； or messenger from the sultan； who asked him where he could find the Nazir； to whom he was charged with an important communication。 As kapidgi…bachis are frequently bearers of evil tidings； which it is well to ascertain at once； and as the Nazir was at some distance； Pacho Bey assumed the latter's part； and the sultan's confidential messenger informed him that he was the bearer of a firman granted at the request of Ali Pacha of Janina；
〃Ali of Tepelenir。 He is my friend。 How can I serve him？〃
〃By executing the present order； sent you by the Divan； desiring you to behead a traitor； named Pacho Bey； who crept into your service a short time ago。
〃Willingly I but he is not an easy man to seize being brave； vigorous； clever； and cunning。 Craft will be necessary in this case。 He may appear at any moment； and it is advisable that he should not see you。 Let no one suspect who you are； but go to Drama； which is only two hours distant； and await me there。 I shall return this evening； and you can consider your errand as accomplished。〃
The kapidgi…bachi made a sign of comprehension； and directed his course towards Drama； while Ismail； fearing that the Nazir； who had only known him a short time； would sacrifice him with the usual Turkish indifference； fled in the opposite direction。 At the end of an hour he encountered a Bulgarian monk； with whom he exchanged clothesa disguise which enabled him to traverse Upper Macedonia in safety。 Arriving at the great Servian convent in the mountains whence the Axius takes its rise； he obtained admission under an assumed name。 But feeling sure of the discretion of the monks； after a few days he explained his situation to them。
Ali； learning the ill…success of his latest stratagem； accused the Nazir of conniving at Paeho Bey's escape。 But the latter easily justified himself with the Divan by giving precise information of what had really occurred。 This was what Ali wanted； who profited thereby in having the fugitive's track followed up； and soon got wind of his retreat。 As Pacho Bey's innocence had been proved in the explanations given to the Porte； the death firman obtained against him became useless； and Ali affected to abandon him to his fate； in order the better to conceal the new plot he was conceiving against him。
Athanasius Vaya； chief assassin of the Kardikiotes； to whom Ali imparted his present plan for the destruction of Ismail； begged for the honour of putting it into execution； swearing that this time Ismail should not escape。 The master and the instrument disguised their scheme under the appearance of a quarrel； which astonished the whole town。 At the end of a terrible scene which took place in public； Ali drove the confidant of his crimes from the palace； overwhelming him with insults； and declaring that were Athanasius not the son of his children's foster…mother； he would have sent him to the gibbet。 He enforced his words by the application of a stick； and Vaya； apparently overwhelmed by terror and affliction； went round to all the nobles of the town； vainly entreating them to intercede for him。 The only favour which Mouktar Pacha could obtain for him was a sentence of exile allowing him to retreat to Macedonia。
Athanasius departed from Janina with all the demonstrations of utter despair； and continued his route with the haste of one who fears pursuit。 Arrived in Macedonia； he assumed the habit of a monk； and undertook a pilgrimage to Mount Athos； saying that both the disguise and the journey were necessary to his safety。 On the way he encountered one of the itinerant friars of the great Servian convent； to whom he described his disgrace in energetic terms； begging him to obtain his admission among the lay brethren of his monastery。
Delighted at the prospect of bringing back to the fold of the Church a man so notorious for his crimes； the friar hastened to inform his superior； who in his turn lost no time in announcing to Pacho Bey that his compatriot and companion in misfortune was to be received among the lay brethren； and in relating the history of Athanasius as he himself had heard it。 Pacho Bey； however； was not easily deceived； and at once guessing that Vaya's real object was his own assassination； told his doubts to the superior； who had already received him as a friend。 The latter retarded the reception of Vaya so as to give Pacho time to escape and take the road to Constantinople。 Once arrived there； he determined to brave the storm and encounter Ali openly。
Endowed by nature with a noble presence and with masculine firmness； Pacho Bey possessed also the valuable gift of speaking all the various tongues of the Ottoman Empire。 He could not fail to distinguish himself in the capital and to find an opening for his great talents。 But his inclination drove him at first to seek his fellow…exiles from Epirus； who were either his old companions in arms； friends； of relations； for he was allied to all the principal families； and was even； through his wife； nearly connected with his enemy； Ali Pacha himself。
He had learnt what this unfortunate lady had already endured on his account； and feared that she would suffer yet more if he took active measures against the pacha。 While he yet hesitated between affection and revenge； he heard that she had died of grief and misery。 Now that despair had put an end to uncertainty； he set his hand to the work。
At this precise moment Heaven sent him a friend to console and aid him in his vengeance； a Christian from OEtolia； Paleopoulo by name。 This man was on the point of establishing himself in Russian Bessarabia； when he met Pacho Bey and joined with him in the singular coalition which was to change the fate of the Tepelenian dynasty。
Paleopoulo reminded his companion in misfortune of a memorial presented to the Divan in 1812； which had brought upon Ali a disgrace from which he only escaped in consequence of the overwhelming political events which just then absorbed the attention of the Ottoman Government。 The Grand Seigneur had sworn by the tombs of his ancestors to attend to the matter as soon as he was able； and it was only requisite to remind him of his vow。 Pacho Hey and his friend drew up a new memorial； and knowing the sultan's avarice； took care to dwell on the immense wealth possessed by Ali； on his scandalous exactions； and on the enormous sums diverted from the Imperial Treasury。 By overhauling the accounts of his administration； millions might be recovered。 To these financial considerations Pacho Bey added some practical ones。 Speaking as a man sure of his facts and well acquainted with the ground； he pledged his head that with twenty thousand men he would； in spite of Ali's troops and strongholds； arrive before Janina without firing a musket。
However good these plans appeared； they were by no means to the taste of the sultan's ministers； who were each and all in receipt of large pensions from the man at whom they struck。 Besides； as in Turkey it is customary for the great fortunes of Government officials to be absorbed on their death by the Imperial Treasury； it of course appeared easier to await the natural inheritance of Ali's treasures than to attempt to seize them by a war which would certainly absorb part of them。 Therefore； while Pacho Bey's zeal was commended； he obtained only dilatory answers； followed at length by a formal refusal。
Meanwhile； the old OEtolian； Paleopoulo； died； having prophesied the approaching Greek insurrection among his friends； and pledged Pacho Bey to persevere in his plans of vengeance； assuring him that before long Ali would certainly fall a victim to them。 Thus left alone； Pacho； before taking any active steps in his work of vengeance； affected to give himself up to the strictest observances of the Mohammedan religion。 Ali； who had established a most minute surveillance over his actions； finding that his time was spent with ulemas and dervishes； imagined that he had ceased to be dangerous； and took no further trouble about him。
CHAPTER VIII
A