The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-19

I was dragged away. "Hotter blood than his has cooled, l warrant you, be- tween Siberia and this"
 Siberial The dreadful word sent 8 chill through my veins, and almost caused me to become insensible to the rapid mo- tion through the air, for the carriage had now started, and at such pace that the COssacks of the escort were compelled to keep their wiry little nags at hand-gal- lop. As we flew through the deserted streets, and long after the suburbs had been cleared and the lights of Warsaw were lost to sight, I continued to ponder over this strange event, and to puzzle myself by vain efforts to guess why I, an Englishman, quite free from political complications of any sort, had been thus suddenly consigned to exile. I had heard of such arrests, but never of for eigner, still less of British subject, as their victim.
 "This is Stanislawow," said a voice that had heard before, speaking in French, as the carriage drew up at the door of a low-roofed posthouse, and a fresh relay of horses were harnessed and put to. "And now, count, if you will take my advice, and promise to abstain from useless resistance, l shall be bappy to give orders for the removal of that chain around your wrists. Come, come, sir, l make allowance for your excite ment at the outset of the affair, and do not desire to cause you any needless an- noyance. Should you refuse, your irons must remain on until the governor of Minsk-"
 ',Minskw I repeated, half-stupified.
 The junior of the two officers who had arrested me, and who stood beside his reeking horse, smiled.
 "It is the nearest fortified place which you will pass," he said: flor need net tell you, Count Ladislas, that we are anxious to get you safe across the Bug, and out of Poland. Will you give your parole"
 And then flashed upon me, all at once, the key to the enigma that had perplexed me. had been arrested in place of my friend and entertainer, whom I had suspected, rather than knew, to be mixed up in one of those wide-spreading conspiracies in which Poles are 50 often concerned, and whose heart was aware was better than his head. As the glare of the torches fell upon us could even guess the cause of the mistake, for in the hurry of leaving the theatsr 1 had put on the counts loose overcoat of rich sables instead of my own, while in height and figure we were alike. I had the presence of mind to repress the indignant protest as to my nationality which was on my lips.
 "I win give my parole, since you ask it," l said, concealing my face as 1t to hide my emotion, and the chain which fettered my hands was at once removed.
 It will no longer, count, be necessary that an officer should accompany you" said Lieut.. Imkoff, civilly. Will you drink some brandy before starting? The night is cold, and the stage long one."
 I shook my head, and made no artic- ulate reply, glad as should been of the proposed dram of coarse corn brandy, and chilled as was by the unusual ex- posture to the keen night wind. But l feared to show my face, least the mistake should be found out too soon for my friends safety. The driver clutched the reins, while grim Cossack corporal took his seat beside me, in the place lately occupied by the Warsaw police-agent. The other troops were in their saddles.
 Forward, there Push on, men '" cried the lieutenant, in Russian, and of we set, amidst bowling wind and whirl- ing snowAakes.
 1t was not until Stanislawow was left behind, and I and my wild guards were far on the road, that began to reflect that, in providing for the security of Count Ladistas, I had perhaps seriously compromised my own. My strategem had succeeded. My first captors were convinced that it was the rich young Polish landowner whom they had des- patched on the dismal journey to Siberia; and in all likelihood the marriage next morning would take place without in- terruption, and the newly-wedded pair start for Italy, unsuspicious of the danger which had threatened their happiness with shipwreck at the very outset of life's voyage. Could I but keep up the de- ception for another twenty-four hours, Ladislas and his bride would be safe across the frontier.
 But what would become of me, or how would the Russian authorities regard the author of their discomfiture True, l had been arrested in sheer ignorance of the blunder which promised to be so profitable to my friend; but I had fair chance of declaring who was, and had chosen wilfully, it might be said, to mis- lead the imperial police. l had heard most residents in Russia had heard- ugly stories as to what can be done in Mus covy, when it is no longer needful to hide the hand of steel with the glove of velvet. Yet I resolved to play out my part so long as I deemed it indispensable to the safety of Count Ladislas, and manfully addressed myself to confront the hardships of the long and arduous journey that lay before me.
 That terrible night, and the dark and stormy day that followed it; I think of them vet as of some hideous dream; of the snow, the cutting blasts. the toll to force way through the drifts, the black pine woods, the mounted escort, ex- changed at every second stage for fresh Cossacks and the intensity of the cold, which so benumbed my limbs that, when Minsk was reached could not stand, and had to be carried into the presence of the governor, the frozen efigy of a man. Feebly nadHmy protest. Twas Hugh Forster, Brit}sh subject had broken no law, infringed no rule. claimed my liberty, and, after most severe cross-examination and detention of three days, obtained it. but only in a qualified form, being sent back under yU.~.n.., aoA tbouoa a(xar 4,