THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

196 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
The Missolonghiots were to be divided into two bands:
one was to attack the camp of Reshid;
the other, with
the women and children, to attempt to cut its way
through the Egyptians. Once beyond the Mussulman
lines, they could join hands with the Armatoli on
Mount Zygos, and seek safety in the mountains.
The plan, however, was betrayed to Ibrahim by a
Bulgarian deserter. Karaiskakis, too, was unable to
carry out his share of the programme.
The messenger
of Botzares found him lying
ill in his tent, and the
other chiefs of Armatoli too much occupied with their
own selfish quarrels
to care much about the fate of the
heroic Missolonghiots. Only about two hundred men,
under Noti Botzares, proceeded on the afternoon of
the 22nd to Mount Zygos, only, however, to fall into
an ambush of some two thousand Albanians, whom
Ibrahim had posted there for the purpose of cutting
them off. The sound of the firing was taken by the
Missolonghiots to mean that the Armatoli had reached
the place arranged. Unfortunately
it also warned
Ibrahim that the sortie might be expected that night,
a belief which was confirmed by the unwonted stir and
clamour in the town. He made his dispositions accordingly.
The troops lay under arms in the trenches ;
and, in case the Greeks should succeed in breaking
through, strong Lodies of cavalry were held in reserve