Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-02-07
BY FRED LANG.


had obtained his liberty. They were
therefore in constant fear of hi:
vengeance, and kept themselves con.
cealed during the day ia one
of the sepulchral vaults of the church
until Gregorius brought them under
the protection of darkness TO one Of
his clerical brethren, who for six days
hid them in his house. From this
house they set out on their flight, as
Henry was then sufficiently improved
They effected their escape secretly
and by night, so that their protector
might not for their sakes, become
exposed to the consequences of hi.
perilous agency. They had passed
the proceeding night in the woods
tonight they hoped to complete their
deliverance by reaching the French
army. Willhof who was best ac-
quainted with the country, drove the
sled; Jeanette still remained the
faithful companion of Lodoiska. The
fate OF all seemed now about to be
decided-the haven lay on the oppo-
site shore.
But what inexpressible horror was
compressed within that barrier which
lay between them and safety
The black train OF the army had
already spread itself over the snow
field shelving down towards the
stream; but the travellers observed
with establishment that the throng
on the bank this side continually in
creased, while no one was to be seen
on the other Willhof drove towards
the point where the passage was to
be effected; but the crowd was al
ready so dense that he could not get
to the water. They were here In
formed, that no wagon not even a
horse, could cross the river, the ice
being too thin TO bear any such bur-
den. The CONCEALED thoroughfare
consisted only of floating pieces of
ice massed together, and cemented
by their own ponderosity. Only
single persons had as yet ventured
to cross, but even OF these many had
persisted, by slipping down between
the assures.
At midnight our travellers effected
passage, but at the expense of their
sled. The horses were taken out and
light articles thrown over their backs
and led across. Willhof led up the
two horses for Lodoiska and JEAN
nette, with blankets for saddles. They
were lifted up and seated upon them.
Willhof hitched the bridle-reins over
his arm to lead the horses, while
Frederick and Henry walked along
side on foot, but keeping as near as
possible to Rasinski's troop, the
greater number OF whom having lost
their horses pursued their way on
foot. The march led through thick
forest, in the shelter Of whose OBJ
security the most impending dangers
seemed to have been at the last effort
surmounted. Thus they continued
with the retr >ating troops till they
arrived at Orcha, here they once
more gained possession Of a wagon,
on which Lodoi5ka and Jeanette
might pursue their wearisome jour-
nsy. Frederick and Henry walked
on foot, as the latter's wound, thanks
to his youth and sound constitution,
and the superior dressing and nurs-
ing which he had enjoyed for the last
few days, was now fully healed. The
road they were taking led almost in
terruptedly through pine forests, now
and then interspersed with only few
wretched huts. Thus they reached
Brisoff, situate near the banks OF the
Berezina, which here expands into
wide swampy lake. The substantial
bridge across was entirely destroyed,
as the town but few days previous
L. ,1 y ,ofr %.
the enemy's grasp.
Rasinski endeavored to persuade
Frederick and Henry to separate
themselves, with Lodoiska from the
troops, and to push their way as far
as possible, down the river, believing
that they would under the protection
Of Lodoiska-who, anywhere, could
appear as a native of the country, to
obtain place OF refngee-and, final
ly' the open road to Warsaw. But
the two friends, and more than they,
Lodoiska herself, firmly declared
that they on no account, would sepa-
rate their fate from that OF Rasinski
and his men.
Frederick and Henry proceeded on
foot beside the wagon on which Lo-
doiska was seated. As they drew
nearer to Studianka, the watch fires
on the heights became distinct and
numerous. They reached Studianka |
at four o'clock in the morning. |
Since the preceding night the engi-
neers had been busy throwing two
bridges. across the river, which, 1t
was hoped, would be completed be- |
fore day-break; SO that the troops |
might pass over. The river, swollen |
by the thaw OF previous days, had |
risen several feet, so that the ford by |
which, on an emergency, they might |
have pursued their way, had now be- /
come too deep. The frost, which had |
again set in, was sufficiently severe
to form cakes of ice. which, drifting
with the current, carried everything
before them, but did not tarry to /
unite. The utmost efforts OF human |
and toll were therefore
frustrated by the rude hostility of the /
elements.
Thus they had to await the COM
pletion of the bridges At one |
o'clock the news spread that one of /
the bridges was finished, and that /
the other was also nearly completed.
And now commenced a convulsive |
stir and pressure among the crowds. |
as every one wished to be the first ia
the opposite shore.
Twilight came. The file of wagons
but slowly; near the river
there was an immense crowd OF We
hicles, among which 1t was useless
to think of maintaining a line; but
each one, as he was able to extricate
from the mass and to gain
the bridge passed over. But the tu-
multi increased. Wagons, vehicles
and soldiery rushed furi0usly from
three different points to the con-
tracted avenue leading to this one
bridge; they rushed against each
other, breaking wheels and axles, and
thus obstructed the road.