The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-11-13
~ twice as many of tho mounted Cossacks,

ny Twice as many OF tho mounted COSSaCkS,
the Governor having decided to delay the
marchir Z Of the column until tidings should
arrive as to Edgar's tate The distance was
rapidly traversed, and as the exploring par
~ entered the forest Il wild, mourntul 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 rs well IL fierce
and when the rescuers cane in sight OF The
great beech tree around the foot Of which the
pack had gathered, bowling and Whining
over some object at first instiHctly visible,
their querulous cry changed into note OF
alarm, and they huddled themselves together
among the chesnuts and birches, with their
bushy tails dropping and their bright eyes
shining through the darkness like points of
flame. An irregular discharge of musketry
succeeded, while the Cossacks lowered their
lances and dashed forward with their shrill
"Hurrah!' rs though charging against hu-
man foes. Neither lance nor bullet did exc
culion among the wolves, who, fairly cowed,
SUNK of into the recesses Of the woods,
while the headmost horsemen checked his
why steed but just IN time TO prevent horse
and rider from falling headloug into u 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 wizards work
have we here?' exclaimed the soldier as
he wheeled his horse. MY name isn't Dim
itr if did not hear a groan from out yon-
der open gravel
Grave, iUrsooth" returned Baron Jagel.
lon hastily dismounting; "it 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
Bruln 10 the pitfall. And, as live he ad-
ded, after listening for moment, there is
some one down there, and alive-young Mar
ston, for thousand gold eagles"
And when, by means of Il rope hastily con
structed by linking together stirrupleathers
and butf-bels, a Cossack was lowered into
the pit the truth OF this. conjecture was
confirmed, for Edward Marston, pale,
livid and exhausted, bot to all appearances
unhurt save for brulse upon his right tenn.
pie, was drawn forth upon it. The bystand.
ers crowded round him, but he Was faint and
weak, and it was not until he had swallowed
portion OF the fiery corn brandy from the
Baron's hunting flask that he was able TO
speak.
Edgar's story when he was able to tell 1t
was simple one, and had already been an
ticipated by the matured sylvan experience
of the Baron. When he spCang from the
sledge it had been with full conviction that
he was about to save Anniette's life at the
sacrifice of his own. He had, however, made
u desperate effort to reach the great beech
tree, in the poor hope that by setting his
back against it and making vigorous use of
his hunting knife he might gain time to grasp
one Of the lower boughs and draw hlmselfup
beyond the reach of the wolves. But to his
the ireacherouS 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 preciptated INTO the narrow pit be-
low, receiving as he fell blow on the head
from projecting stake which stunned him
for q moment; and when he recovered his
senses it was to hear the furious yelping and
bowling of the disappointed wolves that
ragged around the brink OF his prison, and to
SEQ by the uncertain light their lolling tongues
and crashing teeth as they bent over the edge
and vainly tried TO seize the prey beneath
them.
The tale Is told. The prejudices which had
induced the Count and Countess Galiizan to
object 10 Edgar as sutton for their daugh.
ter's hand melted like snow in the sun when
their hearts were touched by the generous
of the gallant youHg man, whose
praises were on every lp.-Cass US Waga-
zihe