The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-01-23
his couch. and with his eyes half open

'Give him something to eat at once,
said Castanos. when he heard the re-
suit of the Arst experiment. "and lei
him go. He is not Frenchman. How
could he nave been 80 far master Of
himself? The thing is impossible.
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food, he was detained a prisoner
The next morning he was taken to 9
spot where he could see the mutilated
corpse of the Frenchman who had beer
cruelty massacred by the peasantry ol
Truxillo, and he was threatened witt
the same death. But the noble youth
had promised not to fail, and not word
not an accent, not gesture or look be
trayed him. ~
Ieokinski. when tsheal back to the
p.;son, hailed Il with Joy; for twelve
hours he had nothing but gibbets ant
death, in it's horrid forms, before hi
eyes, exhibited to him by men will
the looks and passions of demons. HI
slept, however, after the harassing ex'
citement OF the day. and soundly. too
when, in the midst of his deep and
deatL.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 wisf
to save your life. Your horse isready.
Aud the brave young man, hastily
awakened by the words. "We wish tt
save your life; come-"answered still
in German:
"What do you wfnt?"
Castano, when lie hetEt this expert
ment and its result. said the Russian
was noble young man; he saw the
true state of The case.
The next morning four men can,e tt
take him before sort of court martial
of officers of Castanos' staff. During
the walk they uttered most horrible
threats against him; but true to his de
termination, he pretended not to under
stand them.
When he came before his Judges hi
seemed to gather what was going or
from the arrangement of the tribunal
and not from what was said around him
and he asked in German where his in
telpreter was. He WAS sent for and tht
examination began.
1t turned at frst upon the motive O
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon
He answered by showing his dispatches
to Admiral Siniavin and his passport
Spite of the presence and vehement as
sertion of the peasant. he persisted il
the same story, and did not contradic
himself once.
"Ask him." sais tie presiding officer
at last, 'it he loves the Spaniards, al
ne is not Frenchman?"
The interpreter put the question.
Certainly" said LeckiDski, 81 lik'
the Spanish nation; esteem it for it
noble character; wish our two nation!
we're friends"
Colonel. ,ea;d the interpreter to th'
President, "the prisoner says he hates
us because we make war like banditti
that he despises us, and that his onl,
regret is that he can not unite th'
whole nation as one man; SO as to enc
this odlo,.s war at a single blow"
While he was saying this, the eve
of the whole tribunal were attentivel.
watching the slightest movement o
the prisoners countenance, in order t.
see what effect the interpreters treach
cry would have uhon him, but Leck.
inski had expected to be put to th
test in SOME wav, and he was determin
ed to battle all their attempts.
"Gentlemen. said Castanos, 81
seems to me that this young man Cal
not be suspected; the peasant must b.
deceived; The prisoner may pursue hi
Journey, and, when he reflects on th'
peril of our position, He. will find tn
severity we have been Obliged to us
excusable."
Leckinski's arms and dispatches wer
returned, he received free pass, ant
thus this noble xoatt game yictogriou
out of the severest trial that the human
spirit could be put to-.