Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-26
Concluded from first page.I

her lovers uangei' spo - \
tell. in broken accents, what had occurred
to indicate the place where she ielt MN,
and to inplore that rescue might pe seh'
thiher without delay.
like wildiire the news flew through the
crowd. for the whole population of Vasil-
tof had collected in the streets, and wo-
men wept and men grew pale at the news
while the exclamation OF bystanders
eyipced the horror, admiration and SYM
patby which Edgar Marston's intrepid
selt-deyotion had evoked. The young
English manager OF the Land Bank was
popular in the town, and even had he been
q stranger, the deed he had done would
have sufficed 10 raise him to the rank OF
a hero. But, ready and willing to render
assistance as were all who heard the sto-
nv, the most sanguine could not venture
TO express hope that aid could arrive ID
time TO be of service to him.
In spite of these dismal forebodings' II
wassdeternsined that not an instant should
be lost in carrying help to Edgar Marston
if human help could indeed avail ana
about thirty gentlemen, some in sledges
and others on horseback, set off at RAPID
pace, escorted By twice as many oil the
mounted Cossacks, the Governor having
decided to delay the marching OF the col
umn until some tidings should arrive as
to Edgar's fate. The distance was rapidly
traversed, and as the exploring party en-
tered the forest, wild mourntul sound
came afloat on the night wind.
They are there yet, the pack of lhem,' :
cried old Baron Jagellon. squirting his
horse and handling his gun. Push on
aud let us pepper some of their grey 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. growing
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 bushy
tails dropping. and their bright eyes shin
ing through the darkness like points OF
fame. An irregular discharge OF musket-
~ succeeded, while the Cossacks lowered
their lances, and dashed forward with
their shrill "hurrah ~ as though chang
ing against human foes. Neither lance
nor bullet did execution among the wolves,
who, fairly cowed, skunk off into the re-
cesses of the woods, while the headmost
horseman checked his wiry 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! y Blessed ST.
Stephen of the Steppes What wizard S
work have we hcrep' exclaimed the SOL
isn't Dimtri il did not hear groan from
out yonder open gravel"
"Gravo, forsooth!' returned Baron
Jagellon, hastily dismounting, lit is a
bear-trap, such as peasants set in likely
spots, near where the honey of some
swarms of the wild bees that dwell in hol-
low trees is sure TO tempt Bruin to the pit
fall. And, as live," he added, after lis
tening for a moment, there is some one
down there and aliye-young Marston,
for thousand gold eagles"
And when, by means of a rope hastily
constructed by linking together stirrup-
feathers and buf-belts, a Cossack was
lowered into the pit, the truth of this con-
lecture was confirmed, for Edgar Marston,
pale. livfd, and exhausted, but to all APP
pearance unhurt save for 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 un +.
til 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
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 tho sacrifice of his own. He had.
however, made desperate effort to reach
the great beechtree, 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 himself up beyond the
reach OF the wolves. But to his conster-
nation the treacherous surface on which
he alighted and which was composed of
rotten branches and dried leaves, gave
way beneath his feet, and he was precipi-
tated ipto the narrow pit below, receiving
as he fell blow on the head from pro-
jecting stake, which stunned him for a
moment, and when he recovered his senses
it was to hear the furious yelping and
of the disappointed wolves that
ragged round the brink of his prison, and
W sec ny Inc uncertain liSnt lnelr lOlllnS
tongues and crashing teeth, as they bent
over the edge and vainly tried to sieze
the prey beneath them.
: The tale is told. The preiudices which
had induced the Count and Countess Gal
itzin to object to Edgar as a sutton for
their daughters hand melted like snow in
the sun when their hearts were touched
by the generous self-sacrifice of the gal
liant young man, whose praises were on
every lip.-CdsseWs MONTHLY.