Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-06
A MAN OF NERVE.

troops composing Castanos' army.
Murat mentioned his embarrassment
to Baron Strogonoff, the Russian ambas-
sador to Spain.
Russia, it is well Known, was at that
time not only the ally, but the friend of
France. NJ De Strogonoff told Murat
that it was the easiest thing in the world.
"The Russian Admiral Siniavin," said
he, els in the port at Lisbon; give me
the most intelligent of your Polish lam
GERS; I will dress him up in Russian
uniform, and entrust him with the des-
patches for the admiral-all will go well,
even if he should be taken prisoner a
dozen times between this and Lisbon,
for the insurgent army is so anxious to
obtain our neutrality that it will be care
full not to furnish pretext for rapture.
Murat was delighted with this ingeni-
Gus scheme: He asked kraisinki, the
commander OF the lancers, to find him
brave and intelligent young man.
Two days afterward the commandment
brought the prince q young man of his
corps, for whom ne pledged his life;
his name was Leckinski: and he was but
eighteen years old.
Murat was moved at seeing so young
a man court so imminent a danger;
for, if he were detected, his doom was
sealed. Murat could not help remark
ing to the Pole the risk he was about to
run. The youth smiled. "Let your
imperial highness give me my instruc-
tons, answered he, respectfully, "and
| will givea good account of the mis-
/ hnnnroI / + nj
his highness for having chosen me from
my comrades, for all of them would
have courted this Distinction" r
The prince argued favorabiy from
the young mans modest resolution.
The Russian ambassador gave him his
dispatches, he put on Russian uni
form, and set out for Portugal.
The first two days passed over quietly,
but, on the afternoon of the third, Lee
kinski was surrounded by body of
Spaniards, who disarmed 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 a
Frenchman, consequently, he deter
mined, on the instant, not to let sim
gle word of French escape him, and to
speak Russian and German, which he
did with equal fuency. The cries of
rage of his captors announced the fate
which awaited him, and the horrible
murder of General Rene, who had per-
ished in the most dreadful fortunes but
a few weeks before, as he was going to
join Junot,, was sufficient to freeze the
very blood.
"Who are you?" said Castanos, in
French which language he spoke per-
fectly well, having been educated in
France. .zs~- - esq,
Leckinski looked at the questioner,
made a sign, and answered in German:
Il do not understand you - $500
Castanos spoke German, but he did
not wish to appear personally in the
matter, and summoned one of the Of
hcers of his staff, who went on with the
examination. The young Pole answer
ed IN Russian or German, but never let
single syllable of French escape him.
He might, however, easily have forgot
ten himself, surrounded as he was by a
crowd eager for his blood, and who
him declared guilty: that he is French
man, to fall upon him and murder him.
But their fury was raised to height
which the general himself could not con
trol, by an accident which seemed to cut
off the unhappy prisoners from every
hope of escape. One of Castano's abide
camps, one Of the fanatical patriots,
who were SO numerous in this war, and
who from the first had denounced Lee
kinskl as French spy, burst into the
room, dragging with him man wear
ing the brown jacket, tall hat, and red
plume OF a Spanish peasant.
The officer confronted him with the
Pole, and said: - III
''Look at this man, and then say if it
Is true that he is a German or Russian.
He is spy, swear by my soul.;'
The peasant, meanwhile, was eyeing
the prisoner closely. Presently mis-
dark eyes lighted up with the fire of
hatred. -a.- .,..
"Es Frances, he is a Frenchman,"
exclaimed he, clapping his hands. And
he stated that, having been in Madrid,
a few weeks before, he had been put in
requisition to carry forage to the French
barrack; and, said he, was near him
an hour, and recollect him. When we
caught him, told my comrade. this is
the French officer I delivered my for
age to-"
This was correct. Castanos probably
discerned the true state of the case, but
he was generous foe. He proposed to
let him pursue his journey, for Lee
kinski still insisted he was Russian,
and he could not be made TO under
stand a word of French But the mo-
ment he ventured a hint of that kind, a
thousand threatening voices were raised
against him, and he saw that clemency
vas impossible.
"But said he, twill you then risk
quarrel with Russia, whose neutrality
We are SO anxiously asking for?"