Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-17

once" said Castanos, when he heard
Give the man something to eat at
the result of the first experiment,
and let him go. He is not a French
man. How could he have been so far
master of himself2 The thing is i'm
possible"
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food he was detained a prisoner.
The next morning he was taken to a
spot where he could see the mutilated
corpse Of the Frenchman who had
been cruelty massacred by the peasan.
try of Truxillo, and he was threatened
with the same death. But the noble
youth had promised not to fail, and
not a word, not an accent, not a ges-
ture or look betrayed him.
Leekinski, when taken back to the
prison, hailed it with joy; for twelve
hours he had nothing but gibbets and
1 death, in its horrid forms before his
eyes, exhibited to him by men with
the looks and passions of demons. lie
slept, however, after the harrassing
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 the
couch, and the 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, We wish to
save your life como answered still
in German
What do you want?'
Castanos, when he heard Of this ex-
pertinent and its results, said the Rus
sian was a noble young man he saw
the true state of the Ease.
The next morning four men came to
take him before a sort of court-mar-
tial Of officers Of Castano's staff.
During the walk they uttered most
horrible threats against him but true
to his determination he pretended not
to understand them.
When he came before his judges he
seemed to gather what was going on
from the arrangement of the tribunal
and not from what was said around
him, and he asked in German where
his interpreter was. He was sent for,
and the examination began.
1t turned at first upon the motive Of
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon.
He answered by showing his dispatch
es to Admiral Siniayin and his pass
port. Spite of the presence and We
hement assertion of the peasant, he
persisted in the same story, and did
not contradict himself once.
ask him" said the presiding Off
Ger, at last, IF he loves the Spaniards
as he is not a Frenchman p
The interpreter put the question.
Certainly, said Leckinski, Like
the Spanish nation; | esteem it for its
noble character; | wish our two ma.
tons were friends"
Colonel" said the interpreter t
the president, the prisoner says he
hates us because we make wal like
banditti; that he despises us, and tina.
his only regret is that he cannot unite
the whole nation as one man, so as tt
end this odious war at one blow"
While he was saying this, the eye
of the whole tribunal were attentivel,
watching the slightest movement 0
the prisoners ~countenance, in order Il
: see what effect the interpreters treach
+ cry would have upon him, but Leck
q inski had expected to be put to tn
q test in some way, and he was deter
. mined to battle all their attempts.
Gentlemen" said Castanos, 81
seems to me that this young man can
not be suspected; the peasant must b
deceived; the prisoner may pursue hi
. journey, and, when he reflects on tn
+ peril Of our position, he will find tn
severity we have been obliged to us
excusable."
Leckinski's arms and dispatche
were returned, he received a free pas
and thus this noble youth came victo
: rious out of the severest trial that tn
human spirit could be put to.