The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-04-18
NUMBER<B.-:
THE INVASION:
OR,
YEGOF THE FOOL.
CONTINUED /


The young men slung their riffeo upon their
backs, and, leaving the valley of the Broque to
the left, they pushed mp the steep ascento Of
Hengsback and descended on the further side,
without following any path through the snow,
but guiding themselves solely by the peaks, to
cut short their journey.
They had thus proceeded for about two
hours; the winter was dropping to the
horizon, and night was fast approaching, but
calm and light. They had only to cross the
solitary gorge of Rioi, which forms o wide cir
cular basin DO of the forest, enclosing
a blue lake. often the resort of the roebuck.
Suddenly, as they left the cover ofthe trees,
the old man stopped short behind a clump of
bushes.
"Histw
He pointed to the little lake, which was COW
cred with thin and Transparent coating of
ice. A strange spectacle greeted their eyes.
Twenty Cossacks, with matted yellow boards,
heads covered with old funnelshaped caps of
the skin of some animal, and long ragged coaks
hanging from their shoulders were before
them, seated on their little horses. Their stir
rups were simply Topped ropes, aud the steeds,
with long names, thin tails, and TANKS matted
with yellow, black, and white, looked not IN
like goats. Some of the riders were armed only
with long lanccs, others with sabres, others
with merely a Ratchet hanging by cord from
their saddle, and large horse-pistol in their
belt. Some gazsd with ecstasy upon the line
of green Ers and tall, lean fellow was
breaking the ice with the butt of his spear,
while his horse drank. Others dismounted,
aud began to remove the snow preparatory to
enoamping.
They formed singular plcture-those men
from afar, with their bropEed features, fiat
foreheads aud noses and grey tuttering rags,
as they stood by the side of the lake under the
tall tree covered crags. 1t seemed D glimpse
of another world than the ons We live in, and
as the three hunters gazed and caught the
sounds of their unoouth speech, curiosity for
while mastered all other feelings. But Kasper
and Frantz soon fixed their long bayonetB on
their rifles and retired once more under the
cover of the woods They reached a rock son0
twenty feet high, which Matsrne climed
then, after o few words exchanged in . low
voice, Kasper examined his printing, slowly
brought his piece to his shoulder, and aimed,
while his brother stood by ready to follow his
example.
The Cosssck whose horse was drinking was
about two hundred pacea from our little party
The report of the rifle rang through the forest
and awoke the deep echoes Of the gorge, and
the horsemRn bent forward and disappeared
beneath the ice of the lake.
1t would be impossible to describe the stupo-
faction which seemed to sOize the band. The
echoes rolled like q volley Of mnSketry; the
dismOnuted barbarions bounded on their
steeds, gazing wildly around, while q thick
wreath OF smoke rolled above the ctump Of
trees behind which the hunters stood.
Kasper had in q moment reloaded, but at
the-same instant the Cossacks dashed toward
the slope of Harts, following in single file and
shouting savageIy, "Hurrah Hurrah. "
They disappeared like fash, and as Rasper
aimed again the last horse disappeared in the
woods.
The steed of the dead Cossack stood alone
by the lake. His fallen masters foot yet re-
manned in the stirrsp, although the body was
submerged ia the water.
Materue listened on his rock, and then said
joyfully;
"They are gonei Let US press on. Frantz
remain here for a while. u any should re-
turn"
Bot despite this direction all three ran to
where the horse yet stood, and Materne, seizine
the animals bride, cried
Now, old fellow, we will teach thee 70
sneak Fsoneh. These C8ssaekB have famous
hs,.s.- nv l,ova y Ia snnetanea paad when