Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-08-21
A TALE or NERVE,

troops composing Castanos army. Murat |
mentioned his emparrassment to Baron
Strogonoff, tho Russian Ambassado to
Spain. Russia, it is we'll known, was at
that time not only the ally but the friend
OF France. Mde Strogonoff said to Murat
that it was the easiest thing in tho world.
'The Russian Admiral sinivian," said he.
"is in the port of Lisbon; give me the
most Intelligent of your Polish lancers;
will aless him up in Russian uniform,
and entrust him with dispatches for the
admiral-you will give him your instruc-
tionss verbally. and all will go we'll, even
if he should be taken prisoner a doz-
en- times between this and Lisbon, for the
Insurgent army is 80 careful not to fur
Dish a pretext for a rupture.'
Murat was delighted with this ingeni
ous scheme. He asked krasluski, the
colnmandant of tue lancers, to find him a
brave and intelligent young man. Two
days atterwarG the commanda1t brought
the Prince young man of his corps. for
| whom he pledged his life; his name we
Leckzinski, and he was but eighteen
years old.
Murat was moved at seeing so young a
| man court so imminent a danger; for, if
| he was detected, his doom was sealed,
| Murat could not help ,remarking to the
| Pole tho risk he was about to run. The
youth smiled.
| 'Let Your Imperial Highness give me
my instructions" answered he respect
fully, "and will give you agood account
of the mission have been honored with.
/ thank Ills Highness for having taken
me from among my comrades, for all OF
! them would have courted this distinc-
ton"
The Prince augured favorably from the
| young mans modest resolution. The
| Russian Ambassador gave him his dis
patches; he put on a Russian uniform,
:. and set out for Portugal.
The first two days passed over quietly,
but on the afternoon of the third, Leck-
| zinski was surrounded by BODY of Span
iards, who Iisarlned him, and dragged
him before their comman ding officer.
Lucky for the youth it was Castanos him
self
Leckzi.lski was aware that he was lost
If he were discove, ed to be Fremchman
consequently he determined on the IN
stant, not to let single word Of French
escape him, and to speak nothing but
Russian or German, which he spoke with
equal hucncy. The cries of rage OF his
captors announced the fate which await
ed him, and the horI lille murder of Gen
elal Rene, who hid perished lr the mos
dreadful torture but a few weeks before
as he was going to join 3unot, was sufh
cient to freeze the very blood.
"Who are you ?" said Costanos, IL
French, which language he spoke per
fectly well, having been educated II
France.
Lcckzinsli looked at the questionel
make sign and answered IN German
81 do not underst and you"
Castauos spoke German, but he did no
!, wish to appear personally in the matter
and summoned one Of the officers OF III
, staff, who went on with the examination
The young Pole answered in Russian Q
, German, bat never let Il single syllable G
French escape him. HIS might, however
have easily forgotten himself, surround
cd as he was, by a crowd eager Tor nj
blood. and who waited with savage lu
:. p,tie,.ca to have him declared guilty
that is. FIenchman, to fall upon an
| murder him.
But their fury was raised to helgh
which the General himself could not COZ
= troll, but an accident which seemed
| cut off the unhappy prisoner from ever
hope Of escape. One of Castanos aid' 'o'
| camps, one of the frantically patrlotl
who were so numerous in this war, an
I who from the first had denounced LeckzlI
SIX; as a French spy, burst into tho roo'
| drawing with him a man wearing II
o brown Jacket, tall hat and red plume OF
Spanish peasant. Tho officer contronte
him with the Pole. and said:
r nI.ook at this IN n, and teen say II
is true that he is q German OF a Russia
He is spy, swear by my SOUL
t, The peasant, meanwhile, was eye't
the prisoner closely. Presently his da'
rt eve lighted up with the fire "f hatred.
'"Es, Frances, he is q FrenchmanE y @
10 claimed he, clasping his hands. Ana
stated that, having been to Madrid
# few weeks before, he had peen put IN
ouisition to carry forage to the fren'
os barracks; and said he, II recollect tn
tnis is the man who took my load OF f'
% age and gave mo a receipt. was ne
him an hour, and reco.lect him. WA
w we caught him, told my colnrade, II
sc ia the French officer delivered my Il
u age to. c.u.,o. ,rob,l
or This was correct. Castanos Pro"t'
us ,.,,, 4,,o +rua state of the case,