The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-12-03
A YOUTH OF NERVE.

A YOUTH OF NERVE.
While Murat was in Madrid. he was
anxious to communicate with Jun0t
in Portugal. hut all the roads to Lis
bon swarmed with guerrillas, and with
the troops composing Castano's army.
Murat mentinred his embarrassment
t. Baron S.rngonofi. the Russian am
bassador to Spain. Russia was ut that
time not only the ally. but the friend
Of France. NJ. ID. S,rogonof told
Murat that il was the easiest thing in
the world. "Admiral Siniavin." said
he. lis in the port at Lisbon give me
the most intelligent of your Polish Ian.
GERS {; will dress him up in a Russian
uniform. and intrust him with the dis
patches for the admiral; al! will 90
well even If he should be taken pris-
oner a dozen times between this and
Lisbon, for the insureent army is 50
anxious to gain our neutrality that it
will be careful not to furnixh it pre-
text for rupture.
Murat was delighted with this in
genious scheme. He asked Kransinkl.
the conmandant of the lancere. To
find him brave and intelligent young
man. Two days af,erward the com.
mandant brought the Prince q young
man Of his corps. for whom he pledged
his life his name was Leckinski, and
he was bnt Is years old.
Murat was moved at seeing SO
young man court SD imminent dan
ger: for. If he were detected, his
doom was sealed. Murat could not
help remarking to the Pole the risk he
was about to run. The youth smiled.
Let your imperial highness give me
my instructions" answered he,
respectfully. "aud will give q good
account of this mission ! have been
honered with. I thank his hishness for
having chosen me from my comrades.
far all of them would have courted
this distinction"
The Prince argued favorably for
the young mans modest resolution.
The Russian Ambassador gave him
his dispatches. he put on a Russian
and set out for Portugal.
The first two days passed quietly. bu,
m the afternoon of the third.
Leckinski was surrounded by q body
NJ Spaniartls. who disarmed him AMI
dragged him bcfare the commanding
officer. Luckily for the gallant |
youth. it WA CastanOs himself.
LecEinski was aware that he was !
Inst If he were discovered to be a
Frenchnan. Consequently he de- |
on the instant, not to le,
, single word If French escape him
md speak Russian and German,
which he did with equal fluency. !
The cries Of rage Of his cap.ors an.
,onnced the fate which awaited him.
md the horrible murder Of General
Rene. who had persisted in the most
lreadful tortures only few weeks be-
ore, as he was going to join Junot.
vas sufficient 10 freeze the very blood.
"Who are vouy" said Castanos in
french. which language he spoke per
ectlv well. he having been educated
n France.
Leckinski looked ut the guestioner
made sign, AMI answered in Ger
nan.
II do not understand you |
Cas.anos spoke German, but he did
ct wish to appear personally in the I
natter, aud summoned one Of the [
fficers of the staff, who went on with
be examination. The young Pole ,
nswered in Russian or German. but
ever lie. syllable of French escape
i'm. He might, however easily have I
,rgotten himself, surrounded rs he 4
a. by crowd eager for his blood, Il
nd waited with savage impatience to
ave him declared guilty, that is, a
to fall upon him and Il
lurder him. But their fury was v
used to a height which the General q
imself could not control. by an ac- 3
dent which seemed to cut off the e
nhappy prisoner from every hope Of |
cape. One Of Castanos's aids-de- Z,
'mps. one Of the fanatical patriots d
no were 50 numerous in this war,
no from the first had denounced 8,
eckinski as u French spy. burst into u
e room, dragging with him q man Il
caring brown jacket. tall hat aud b
d plume Of Spanish peasant. Il
The officer soon confronted him Il
tn the Pole and said: u.
''Look at this man. and then saw. if
is true that he is a German or Rus. "
IN. He is spy. l swear BY my soul." p,
The peasant. meanwhile, was cycling vi
3 prisoner closely. Presently his I'll
rk eyes lighted up with the fire Of to
s-ed.
sh0