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

''No," said the officer, "but let us try
this man."
Leczinski understood all, for he was ac-
quainted with Spanish. He was removed
and thrown into "a room worthy to have
been one of the dungeons of the Inquisi-
tion in it's best days.
When the Spaniards took him prisoner
he had eaten nothing since the p'eviou'
evening, and when his dungeon door was
closed on him he had tasted for eighteen
hours; no wonder, then, with that ex-
haustion, fatigue, anxiety and the agony
of his dreadful situation, that the unhap-
py prisoner fell almost senseless on his
hard couch. Night soon closed in anu
left him to realize in it's gloom the ful
horror Ct his hopeless situation. He was
brave, of course; but to die at eighteen
tits sudden. But youth and fatigue finally
yielded to the approach of sleep, and he
was soon buried in a profound slumber
He had slept perhaps two hours, when
the door of his dungeon opened slowly
and some one entered with cautious steps
hiding with his hand the light of lamp,
the visitor ben+ over the prisoners couch;
the hand that shadedThe lamp touched
him on the shoulder, and sweet and sill
very voice, woman's voice, asked him !:
'Do you want to eat :"
The young Pole, awakened suddenly by
the glare Of the lamp, by the touch and
voice of the female, rose up on his couch
and with eyes ouly half opened, SAID in
German:
"What do you want7"
"Give him something to eat at once,'
said Castanos, when he heard the result
of the first experiment, "and let him go.
He is no Frencbman. How could he have
! been so far master Of himself9 the thing
is imposs ble."
But, though Lecinski was supplied with
food. he was detained prisoner The
rext morning he was taken to spot
where he could see the mutillated corpses
of ten Frenchmen, who had been cruelty
massacreel by the peasantry of Truxl!lo,
and he was threatened with the same
death. But the noble youth had promis-
cd not to fail, and not word, not an ac'
cent. not n gesture or look betrayed him.
! Leczinski, when taken back to his pri.
SOD, hailed it with a sort of joy; fol-
twelve hours b" had nothing but gibbets
and death, in horrid forms, before his
eyes, exhibited to him by men with the
looks and passions OF demons. He slept
however, after the harrasslng excltement'
of the day, and soundly too; when, in the
midst of his deep and deat-,l Ike slumbers
the door opened gently, some one DIRE"
near his couch, and the same soft voice
whispered in his ear;
"Arise and come with me. We wish tt
save your life. Your horse is ready"
And the brave young man, hast'i,
awakened by the words, awe wish tt
save your life, come" answered still II
German:
"What do you want ?"
Castanos. when he heard of the expert
ment and the result, said that the hus
sian was noble young man; he saw TIL
. true state of the case. The next morning
carly four men came to him before a sor
T. Of court martial, composed OF Castaho'
staff. Du,ing the walk they uttered tn
most horrid threats against him bu'
true to his determination, he p:etende
p not to understand them.
3 When he came before the judges n
seemed to gather what was going Oh 1ro'
! the arrangements of the tribunal ond nc
g from what he heard said around MN
and he asked in german where his lnterl
refer was. He was sent for and the e.
! | animation commeuced.
It turned first upon the motive OF
+ Journey from Malrid to Lisbon. lie al
swered by producing the dispatches
. Admiral Siniavin and his passport. Spi
| of the presence and. the vehement asse
| tions of the peasant, he persisted IN II
same story, and did not contradict hil
Il self once.
HAsk him. said the presiding otfe er,
:, last. .sif h, loves the Spaniards, as he
q not Frenchman.'
The interpreter put the question.
y .Certainly." said Leczinski, II like t
Spanish nation; and esteem it tor
- noble character. wish our two natlo
, were friends"
"Colonel," said the interpreter to
-, president, "the prisoner says that
T. hates us because we make war ike pa
ditti, that be dispiscs us, and thae
T. only regret is that he cannot unite t
,e whole nation in one man, and end u
a. odious war at one blow"
O. While he was saying this, the eyes
N ti,e whole tribunal were intently waite
at ing the slightest movement OF inc pr
,r- orer's countenance, in order to see WI
,r effect the interpreters treachery w"'
en- have upon him. But Leczinskl hao
,is pected to be pnt to the test in some W;