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

38 THE WAR OP GREEK INDEPENDENCE
followers, and perhaps from his own, by a fabric of
lies. Alexander, he told the assembled leaders, had
denounced the revolution publicly in order to preserve
the peace of Europe, whilst privately commanding him
to persevere, and promising support.
The revolutionary
leaders were but half deceived ;
Savas and Vladimiresco
opened negotiations with the Porte;
and many
boyards, protesting their devotion to the Ottoman rule,
fled for safety over the Austrian frontier.
Hypsilanti
now at last took the field at the head of
a small and irregular force, lacking artillery,
and almost
destitute of ammunition.
Instead, however, of
marching towards the Danube to cover Bucharest, he
crept away northward towards the Austrian frontier.
Savas and Yladimiresco, though suspecting some sinister
design on the part of the prince, still followed him
with their troops;
being suspected, Georgaki
but the treachery of Yladimiresco
arrested him in his own
camp, and brought him before Hypsilanti, who amnestied
him, and then allowed him to be assassinated.
Savas thereupon deserted to the Turks, but, in place of
the reward he had counted on receiving, was promptly
beheaded.
The Hetairists were now in danger of being surrounded
by three divisions of Ottoman troops advancing
from Widin, Giourgevo, and Bucharest. On the 8th