Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-04-12
help to Edgar Marston, if human

uhrty gentlemen, some III sieuSes
and others on horseback, set out at
a rapid pace, escorted by twice as
many of 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 dis
lance was rapidly traversed, and as
the exploring party entered the
forest, wild, mournful sound
came floating on the night wind.
"They arc there yet, the pack OF
them," cried old Aaron Jagellon,
squirting his horse and handling
his gun. "Push on and let us pep
per some of their gray hides, at
any rate"
But the wolves are cunning ms
well as fierce, and when the rescu-
ers came in sight OF the beech
tree around the foot of which the
pack had gathered, bowling and
whining over some object at first
indistinctly visible, their qneru-
lous cry changed into a note OF
alarm, and they huddled themselves
together among the chestnuts and
birches, with their bushy tails
dropping, and their bright eyes
shining through the darkness, like
points Of flame. An irregular dis
charge Of musketry succeeded,
while the Cossacks lowered their
lances. and dashed forward with
their shrill "Hurragh!' as though
charging against human foes
Neither lance nor bullet did execn-
ton among the wolves. who, fairly
cowed, SUNK off into the recesses
of the woods, while the headmost
horSpman checked his wiry steed,
but Just in time to prevent horse
AMI rider from falling headlong into
n deep but narrow pit dug at the
foot of the hugh 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 Dimi-
tri If | did not hear groan from
out yonder open gravel
Grave, forsooth !" returned Bar
on Jsgellon, hastily dismonnting,
sit is hear-;rap, such ms peasants
set in likely spots, near where the
honey Of some swarms Of wild bees
that dwell in hollow trees is sure
to tempt Bruin to the pitfall. And
rs liYe," he added, after listening
for a moment. "there is some one
down there and alivc-young Mars
ton, for a thousand gold eagles !"
And when, by means Of rope
hastily constructed by linking to-
cether stirrup feathers and buff
belts, a Cossack was lowered into
the pit, the truth of this conjecture
was confirmed, for Edgar Marston,
pale livid and exhausted, but to
all appearance unhurt save for a
bruise upon his right temple, was
drawn forth from it. The bystand-
ers crowded round him, but be
was so faint and weak, and it was
not until he had swallowed por-
ton of tie 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 a simple one, and
had already been anticipated by
the matured sylvan experience Of
the Baron. When he sprang 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 a 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 himself up be-
yond the reach of the wolves. But
70 his CONSERVATION the treacher-
our surface on which he alighted
and which was composed Of rotten
= branches 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 from a projecting stake
which stunned him for a moment,
aud when he recovered bis senses
IL was to hear the furious yelping
and bowling Of the disappointed
wolves that ragged around the brink