Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-25

their fur caps and sheepskin pelis.
Ses, long lance tucked under each
right arm, were those who rode to
left and right of it? Cossacks,
surely.
SIN the Emperor's name !" said
the major, putting his gloyed hand
on my shoulder, and pushing me
towards the sledge.
Stupefed for a moment, | now
found my tongue, and vigorously
demonstrated, telling my captors
that | was an Englishman, peace
full traveller, and guiltless Of any
ofense. Myplea was received with
utter incredulity.
We are not your dupes, count, "
said the officer who had been called
Imkoff. "You had better give your
parole MOTTO attempt resistance, or
force us to use violence. In the
long journey which -"
Are you mad, or by what
right -" began |, boiling with
passion, and making a desperate
effort to shake myself free, but,
though | dealt a few heavy blows,
was soon oyerpowered by superior
numbers, my wrists were manacled
and | was flung into the kibitka,
with a policeman by my side.
Bon voyage!w sneered the ma.
iOr, as | was dragged away. "Hot-
ter blood than his has cooled, |
warrant you, between Siberia and
this"
Siberia! The dreadful word sent
chill through my veins, and al.
most caused me to become insensi-
BILE to the rapid motion through the
air, for the carriage had now started,
and at such pace that the Cos
sacks Of the escort were compelled
to keep their wiry little nags at a
hand -gallop. AS we flew through
the deserted streets, and long after
the suburbs had been cleared and
the lights of Warsaw were lost to
sight, l continued to ponder over
this strange event, and to puzzle
myself bv vain efforts to ouess why
|, an Englishman, quite free FROM
political complications of any sort,
had been thus suddenly consigned
to exile. l had heard of such ar.
rests, but never Of a foseigner, still
less of a British subject, as theii
victim.
"This is Stanislawow," said &
voice that had heard before, speak
ing in French, as the carriage drew
up at the door Of a low-rooied pos
house, and a fresh relay Of horses
were harnessed and put to. "AnC
now, count, if you will take my ad
vice and promise to abstain from
useless resistance, | shall be happl
to give orders for the removal O
that chain around your wrists
Come, come, sir, | make allowanc,
for your excitement at the outset o
the affair, and do not desire to causr
you any needless annoyance
Should you refuse, your irons mus
remain on until the goyernar o
Minsk-"
"Minsk| l repeated, half stu
pifed.
The Junior of the two officer
who had arrested me, and who stoo(
beside his reeking horse, smiled.
"lt is the nearest fortified plac,
which you viii pass" he said; so
| need not tell you, Count Ladislas
that we are anxious to get you saf
across the Bug, and out of Poland
viii you give your parole?'
And then flashed upon me, al
at once, the key to the enigma tina
had perplexed me. l had been ar
rested in place of my friend an,
entertainer, whom l had suspected
rather than knew, to be mixed VI
in one Of those wide-spreading con
spiracies in which Poles are so Otter
concerned, and whose heart | wa
aware was better than his head. A
the glare of the torches fell upol
us could even guess the cause o
the mistake, for in the hurry O
leaving the thcater | had put on tn
counts loose overcoat of rich sable
instead of my own, while in high
and figure we were alike. / ha,
the presence of mind to repress th
indignant protest as to my nation
ality which was on my lips.
81 will give my parole, since yol
ask it," said, concealing my fac
as if to hide my emotion, and tn
chain which fettered my hands wa
, at once removed.
5 at will no longer, count, be ne
cessary that an officer should ac
company you," said Lieutenan
t Imkoff, civillv "Will you drinI
r some brandy before starting? Th
4 night is cold, and the stage Ion
4 one"
I shook my head and made no al
+ ticulate reply, glad as | should hay
Q been of the coarse corn brandy, an
: chilled as l was by the usual expo
sure to the keen night wind. Bu