The Osceola times., 1880-03-06
A MAN OF NERVE.

swarmed with gucrillas and with troop,
composing Costanos' army.
Murat mentioned his embarrassment
TO Baron Strogonof, the Russian ambas-
sador to Span.
Russia, il is well known, was at that
time not only the ally but the friend of
France. NJ. dc Strogonof told Murat
that it was the easiest thing in the world.
"Thc Russian Admiral Siqiavin," said
he, as in the port of Lisbon; give me
the most intelligent Of your Polish Ian
GERS: | will dress him up in Russian
uniform and cntrust him with the dis
patches for the Admiral-all will be
well even il he should I've taken prisoner
a dozen times between this and Lisbon,
for the insurgent army is so anxious to
obtain our neutrality that it will be very
careful not to furnish preteXt for rup-
turc."
Murat was delighted with this ingeni-
Gus scheme. He asked KrJiginki, the
commander Of the lanccrs, to find him a
brave and intelligent young man. Two
DAYS afiCrward the Commandant brought
the Prince q young man of his corps, for
whom lie pledged his life. His name
was Lcckiuskl and he was but eighteen
years old.
Murat was moved at seeing so young n
man court SO imminent a danger, for If
he we're detected his doom was sealed.
Murat could not help remaTking TO the
Pole the risk he was about to run. The
youth smiled. "Lct your Imperial high
ness give me Instructions" answered he,
respectfully, "md | viii give a good ac-
count of the mission have been hon
orel with. | thank his highness for
having chosen me from my comrades,
for ali Of them would have Courted this
distinction
The Prince argued favorably from the
Young mans modest resolution. The
Russian ambassador gave him his des-
patches, he put ON Russian uniform
and set out for Portugal.
The first two days passed over quietly,
but on the afternoon OF the third I.cckln-
ski was surrounded by body Of Span
iards. who disarmcd Inn and dragged
him before their commanding officer.
Luckily for the youth, ii was Castanos
himself
Le-kinski was aware that he was lost
if he were discovered to bc a French
man. Consequently, hc determined on
the instant not TO let 4 single word of
French escape him, and TO speak Rus
sian and German, which he did with
equal hsency. The cries of rage Of his
captors announced the fate which await
ed him, and the horrible murder of Gen.
Rene. who had pcrished in the most
dreadful torturcs a few weeks before, as
he was going to Join Junot, was sufficient
10 freeze the blood.
"Who are you?" said Castanos, in
French. which language he spoke per
fcctly well. having been educated IN
France.
Leckinski looked at the questioncr,
made a sign, and answered in German,
II don't understand
Castanos spoke German, but he did
not wish TO appear personally IN the
matter, and summoned one of the oth-
GERS Of his staff who went on with the
examination. The young Pole answered
in Russian and German, but never let a
syllable of French escape him. He
might, however, easily have forgotten
himself. surrounded as he was by a
crowd eager for his blood, and who wait
ed with savage impaticucc 10 have him
declared guilty, that he was French
man, to fall upon and murder hia.
But their fury was raised TO a height
which the General himself could not
control by an accident which seemed to
cut of the unhappy prisoner irom every
hope of escape. one of CastanoS aid-de-
camps, one OF the lanatieal patriots who
were so numerous in this war. who from
the first had denounced Lecklnsh rs a
French spy, burst into the room, drag
ging with him man wearing the brown
Jacket, tall hat and red plume of 4 span
ish peasant.
The officer confronted him with the
Pole, and said;
Look at TINS man and then say if it
is true that he is German or l'usslan.
He is a spy, ! swear 10y my soul"
The peasant meanwhile was cyeing
the prisoner closely. Presently his dark
ewes lighted up with fire of hatred.
"Fs Frances" The isa Frenchmanl he
exclaimed, clapping his hands. And he
stated that having been in Madrid few
weeks before, hc had been put into re-
QUESTION to carry forage TO the French
barrack; "and,' said he, II was near
him for an hour, and rccollect him.
When we caught him told my comrade
he is the French officer | delivered my
forage to-"
This was correct. Costunos probably
discerned the true stale Of the ease, but
he was a generous foe. lie proposed to
let him pursue his Journey, FOR LecIinski
still insisted he was Russian, and he
could not be made to understand word
of French But the moment be ven
tured q hint Of that kind thousand
threatening voices were raised agains;
him, and he saw that clemeucy was I'M
possible.
"But." said he, "will You then risk a
quarrel with Russia, whose neutrality
we are so anxious to obtain
,"No," said the officer, "but let us try
this man."
Leckinsi understood all, for he was
acquainted with Spanish. He was re-
moved, and thrown into q room worthy
TO have been one of the dungeons of the
lnquisition.
When the Spaniards took him prison.
er he had eaten nothing since the pre-
vious evening, and when his dungeon
door had closed upon linn he had tasted
for eighteen hours No wonder, then,
what with exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety,
and the agony Of his dreadful situation,
that the unhappy prisoner fell almost
en-elees on his hard couch. Night soon
closed in, and l,l him TO realize in his
gloom the full horror of his hopeless stu
alton. lie was brave, of course, but to
die at eightecn-so suddenly. But youth
and fatigue finally yielded to the APP