Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-10-21
who seemed disposed to welcome her as
one risen from the dead.

nlette appeared 10 De sensible to her
ymothers caresses and endearing words
with the escort with which the Kindness
of His Excellency the Governor had pro.
vded us, hoping-but hardly daring to
hope, my lamb-that you would have been
spared in the first outbreak of the fury of
those serfs, of which the news reached us
but an hour ago. Troops are about to
march for the scene of the revolt, but
since you are sate--though through what
marvellous piece of good fortune | cannot
conjecture"
6 1t was through no such fortune" in
terrupted Annette piteously; sit was his
life--his gallant, noble life, dearer to me
than my own, that he gave to save me
wretched me! Yes, am safe, but at what
a pricew
And here a darkness came before her
eyes, and her voice failed, as she sank
fainting into the arms of her mother; but
soon, as if nerved by the recollection of her
lovers danger, she reused herself to tell,
in broken accents, what had occurred, to
indicate the place where she left him, and
to implore that rescue might be sent thither
without delay.
Like wildfire the news flew through he
crowd, for the whole population of Vasil-
kof had collected in the streets, and
women wept and men grew pale at the
news, while the exclamation of bystanders
evinced the horror, admiration and SYM
pa,hy which Edgar Marston's intrepid
selfdevotion had evoked The young
English manager of the Land Bank was
popular in the town, and even had he
been a stranger the deed he had done
would have sutficed to raise him to the
rank OF hero But, ready and willing
to render assistance as were all who heard
the story, the most sanguine could not
venture to express hope that aid could
arrive in time to be of service to him.
In spite Of these dismal forebodings it
was determined that not an instant should
be lost in carrying hclpto Edgar Marston,
if human help could indeed avail; and
about thirty gentlemen, some in sledges
and others on horseback, set off at rapid
pace, escorted by twice as many of the
mounted Cossacks, the Governor having
decided to delay the marching of the
column until tdings should arrive as to
Edgar's fate, The distance was rapidly
traversed, and as the exploring party en-
tered the forest wild, mOurnful sound
came floating on the night wind.
"They are there yet, the pack of them"
cried old Baron Jagellon, squirting His
horse and handling his gun. Push on
and let us pepper some of their gray hides,
at any rate"
But wolves are cunning as well as fierce
and when the rescuers came in sight of
the great beech tree around the foot of
which the pack had gathered, bowling
and whining over some object at first in
distinctly visible, their querulous cry
changed into note of alarm, and they
huddled themselves together among the
chestnuts and birches, with their bushv
tails dropping and their bright eyes shin
ing through the darkness like points of
flame. An irregular discharge of mus
kerry succeeded, while the Cossacks low
cred their lances and dashed forward with
their shrill "Hurrah" as though charg-
ing against human foes. Neither lance
nor buletdid execution among the wolves,
who, fairly cowed, skunk of into the re-
cesses of the woods, while the headmost
horseman checked his why steed but just
in time to prevent horse and rider from
falling headlong into deep but narrow
pit dug at the foot of the huge beech tree.
Holy st. Sophia of Kew! Blessed
ST Stephen of the Steppes! What wiz
soldier as he wheeled his horse. "My
name isn't Dimitri if l did not hear a
groan from out yonder open graven'
"Grave, forsoothn' returned Baron
Jagellon, hastily dismounting; lit is a
bear-trap, such as peasants set in likely
spots near where the honey of some
swarm Of the wild bees that dwell in hollow
trees is sure to tempt Bruin to the pitfal.
A nd l adj aI
for moment, there is some one down
there, and alive-young Marston, for
thousand gold eaglcsr'
And when, by means of a rope hastily
constructed by linking together stirrup
feathers and butFbelts, Cossack was low.
cred into the pit the truth of this con.
lecture was confirmed, to- Edward Mars
ton, pale, livid and exhausted, but to all
appearances unhurt save for a bruise upon
his right temple, was drawn forth from it.
The bystanders crowded round him, but
he was faint and weak, and it was not
until he had swallowed a portion of the
fiery corn brandy from the Baron's hunt
ing flask that he was able to speak.
Edgars story when he was able to tell
it was simple one, and had already been
anticipated by the matured sylvan expert
ence Of the Baron. When he sprang from
the sledge it had been with full convic-
ton that he was about to save Anniette's
life at the sacrifice of his own. He bad,
however, made a desperate effort TO reach
the great beech tree, in the poor hope that
by setting his back against il and making
vigorous use of his hunting knife he might
gain time TO grasp one OF the lower boughs
and draw himself up beyond the reach OF
the wolves. But to his CONSERVATION The
treacherous surface on which he alighted,
and which was composed OF rotten
branches coated with moss and dried
leaves, gave way beneath his feet and he
was precipitated into the narrow pit below,
receiving as he fell a blow on the head