The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-20

1t proved to be fifteen feet long and
about the general thickness of mans
thigh.
A MAN OF NERVE.
While Murat was in Madrid, he was
anxious to communicate with Junot in
Portugal; but all the roads to Lisbon
sSarmed with guerrillas, and with the
troOps composing Castanos' army.
Murat mentioned his embarrassment to
Baron Strogonoff,, the Russian ambassador
to Spain.
Russia, as is we'll known, was at that
time not only the ally, but the friend 81
France. M De Strogonof told Murat
that it was the easiest thing in the world
The Russian Admiral Siniavin,' said + e,
"is in the port Of Lisbon; give me the
most Intelligent Of your Polish lancers;
will dress him up in Russian uniform
and intrust him with the dispatches for
the admiral--all will 60 we'll, even if he
should be taken prisoner dozen times
betweed this and Lisbon, for the insurgent
army is so anxious to obtain our neutrali.
ty that it will be careful not to furnish q
pretext for rupture" q
Murat was delighted with this ingeni-
GUS cheme. He asked Kransinski, the
commandant Of the lancers, to find him q
brave and intelligent young man. Two
days afterward the commandment brought
the prince young man of his corps, fol
whom he pledged his life: his name was
Leckinski, and ne was but eighteen years
old.
Murat was moved at seeing so young a
man court 50 imminent danger; for,
if he were detected, his doom was sealed
Murt could not holp remarking to the
Pole the risk he was about to run. The
youth smiled. "Let your imperial high.
ness give me my Instructions" answered
he, respectfully, "and I will give you a
good account of the mission have been
honored with. I thank his highness tor
having chosen rue from my comrades, for
all Of them would have courted this dis
tinctlon."
The prince argued favorably from the
young mans modest resolution. The
Russian ambassador gave him his dis
patches, he put on Russian uniform,
and set out for Portugal.
The first two days seemed over quietly,
but on the afternoon of the third, Leckin-
ski was surrounded by body of Span
iards. who dlsarmed him, and dragged
him before the commanding officer.
Luckily for the gallant youth it was
Castanos himself.
Leckinski was aware that he was lost
if he were discovered to be Frenchman,
consequently he determined, on the in.
slant, not to let single word of French
escape him, and to speak Russian and
German, which he did with equal fluency
The cries of rage of his capto,s announced
the fate which awaited him, and the hor-
rible murder Of General .Reue, who had
persisted in the most dreadful fortunes
but few weeks before, as he was going to
Gin JunOt, were sufficient to freeze the
very blood.
!, "Who are YOUR said Castons, in
French, which language he spoke PEI SCI
fectlv we'll, having been educated in
France.
Leckinski looked at the questioner,
made a sign. and answered in German:
II do not understand YOU"
Castanos spoke German, but he did not
wish to appear personally in the matter,
and summoned one Of the officers of his
staff, who went on with the examination.
The young Pole answered in Russian or
German, but never let syllable Of French
escape him. He might however, easily
have forgotten himself, surrounded as he
was by acrowd eager for his blood, and
who waited with savage Impotence to
have him declared guilty, that is
Frenchman, to fall upon him and mur-
der him.
But their fury was raised to a height
which the general himself could not con
control, by an incident which seemed to
cut of the unhappy prisoner from every
hope of escape. One Of Castanos' aides
de-camp, one Of the fanatical ,atriots
were so numerous in this war. and who
from the first denounced Leckinski as {.
French spy, burst into the room dragging
with him man wearing the brown
ct, tall hat and red plume of a Spa
peasant.
The officer confronted him with tie
Pole, and said:
''Look at this man, and then say if it is
true that he is German or Russian. He
is spy, I swear by my soul"
The peasant, meanwhile, was eyeine
the prisoner closely. Presently his dark
eyes Lighted up with the fire Of hatred.
"Es Frances, he is Frenchman ex-
claimed be, clapping his hands. And he
stated that having been in Madrid = few
weeks before, he had been put in reoui-
sition to carry forage to the Freech bar,
rack; 'and," said he, II recollect that this
man took nv load of forage and he gave
me receipt. I was near him an hour,
and recollect him. When we caught him.
told my comrade, this is the French
officer I deliver my forage to-
This was correct. Castanos probably
the true state Of the case. pnt
he was a generous foe. He proposed to
let him pursue his journey, for Leckinski
still insisted he was Russian, and he could
not be made to understand word Of
French. But the moment he ventured a
hint Of that kind, a thousand threatening
voices we're raised against him, and he he
saw that clemency was impossible.
'But, said he, twill you then risk 4
quarrel with Russia, whose neutrality we
are 50 anxionsly asking tor2"