The Times' correspondent at Athens tells us expressly that the
Prime Minister, M. Zaimis, had admitted the absolute reasonable- ness of the demand that there should be no pursuit, since the same order had been given for the same purpose in the case of many Greeks. He seems to assert that the Government were vehemently assailed for stopping the pursuit of the brigands,—that its orders became confused and inconsistent ; that the brigands got alarmed, and on the 21st April (Thursday), creased the Asopus, going towards Sykemenos, and then discovered a powerful force in front of them. They sent on the courier Alexandros, who had accompanied the travellers ever since they left Athens, to ask why the troops impeded their passage to Sykemenos, and to repeat the threat to murder the prisoners if they were attacked. Alexandros went, but never returned. The brigands then divided into two parties, of which one, under Chrestos Arvanitaki, with Mr. Herbert and Mr. Lloyd, was to pass through the troops to Sykemenos, and the other, with Count de Boyl and Mr. Vyner, under the chief brigand, Takes Arvanitaki, was to pass round the left of the troops to Skoimatari. The soldiers attacked the first party, and Mr. Herbert was cut down by a brigand's yataghan, and Mr. Lloyd was shot ; while seven of the brigands, including Chrestos, were slain, and their heads sent to Athens. The other party was also before long discovered and pursued, when Count de Boyl was shot,—and the last survivor was Mr. Vyner, who was shot through the heart either in an effort to escape, or the fear that he might escape. Why the brigands were surrounded and attacked at all seems more a mystery than ever.
