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

was brave, OF course; to die at eighteen
SO suddenly! But youth and fatigue e.
nally yielded to the approach Of sleep,
and ne was buried in profound slumb Der.
He had slept'perhaps two hours, when
the door Of his dungeon opened slowly.
and some one entered with cautious steps
hiding with his hand the light Of the
lamp; the visitor bent over the prisoners
couch, the hand that shaded the lamp
touched him on the shoulder, and sweet
and silvery voice, aWoman's voice, asked
him:
''Do you want to eat2''
The young Pole, awakened suddenly
by the glare of the lamp, by the touch
and words of the female, rose up on his
couch, and, with his eyes only half open
ed, said in German, "What do you
want9"
Give the man something to eat al
once" said Castanos, when ho heard the
result of the first experiment, "and let
him 60. He is not d Frenchman. How
could he have been so far mas: sr of him
self2 The thing is impossible" FIJI
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food he was detained prisoner.
The next morning he was taken to spot
where he could see the mutilated copse
of the Frenchman who had been cruelty
massacred by the peasantry Of Truxillo,
and he was theatened with the same death.
But the noble youth had promised not to
to fail, and not word, not an accent, not
q gesture or look betrayed him.
Leckinski, when taken back to the
prison, hailed it with shout of Joy; for
twelve hours he bad nothing but gibbits
and death, in its most horrid forms. be-
fore his eyes, exhibited to him by men
with the looks and the passions Of demons
He slept, however, after the harrasing
excitement Of the day, and soundly, too;
when in the midst Of his deep and death
like slumbers, the door opened gently,
some one drew near his couch, and the
same voice whispered in his ear:
''Arise and come with me. We wish
to save your life. Your horse is ready
And the brave young man, hastily
awakened by the words, I'VE wish to save
your life, come" answered still in Ger
man "What do you want9" "
Castanos, when he heard Of this expe-
riment and its result, said the Russian
was noble young man; he saw the true
state of the case.
The next morning, early, four men
came to take him before sort of court
martial, composed of officers of Castanos'
staff. During the walk, they uttered
most horrible threats against him; but
true Of his determination, he pretended
not to understand them.
When he came before his Judges, he
seemed to gather what was going on
from the arrangements of the tribunal,
and not from what he heard said around
him, and he asked in German where his
interpreter was. He was sent for, and the
examination commenced.
It turned at first upon the motive of his
journey from Madrid to Lisbon He
answered by showing his dispatches to
Admiral Siniavin and his passport. Spite
OF the presence and vehement assertions
Of the peasant he persisted in the same
story, and did not contradict himself
once. +"5
'Ask him. said the presiding officer,
at last, ''it he loves the spaniards, as he is
not Frenchmsn?'
The interpreter put the question.
Certainly said Leckinski, II like
the Spanish nation; wish our two ma
tons were friends s.-.,.. ~. -.
"Colonel," said the Interpreter to the
president, "the prisoner says he hates US
because we make war like the bandittl,
that be despises us, and that his only re-
gret is that he cannot unite the whole
nation as one man to end this odious war
at single blow" H..
While he was saying this, the eyes of
the whole tribunal were attentively
watching the slightest movement of the
prisoners countenance, in order to see
what effect the interpreters treachery
would have upon him. But Leckinski
had expected to be put to the test in some
way, and he determined to battle all their
attempts. f..
"Gentlemen," SAD Castanos, ''it seems
to me that this young man can not be
suspected the peasant must be deceived.
The prisoner may pursueghis journey, and
when ne reflects on the peril of our posi-
ton, he will find the severity we have
been obliged to use excusable.'
Leckinski's arms and dispatches were
returned, he received free pass, and thus
this noble youth came VICTORIOUS out of
the severest trial that the human spirit
could be put to.