The daily gazette., 1883-07-20

facei he also was as small and as beardless
as the two who looked like brothers.
NOW" said the leader of the band,
when he had done with the valse, ''pull off
the rage then we will eat couple of
mou 'hiuls, and thrn we will see" fEEB
The two brothers approached the soldier,
and one united his ar s, while the other
held a knife to his breast, The two arms,
when loosened, fell limp like the arms of
corpse.
'foF with your uniform, !" said one o. the
robbers.
The soldier looked at them, and for some
moments stood bewildered, his forehead
wrinkled and one lip drawn under his teeth.
The younger brigand looked pityingly at
him.
"You," said the chief who sat near the
door ''go To your post"
The youth, as II obeying customary
command, went up the stairs, from which
one of the brigands had seen his comrades
approach. Leaning his elbows on the rock,
he put his face between the two stones, aud
stood motionless.
"Of with your uniform" repeated the
two robbers, each lifting his hands as II by
one aceord.i ~
"Give him knock that will leave tn 3
mark OF your hngersp' roared the chief.
The soldier started as If a wound had
| mission, and took of his uniform. The two
brigands picked It up; they searched the
pockets, the sleeves, every part OF 1t; then
threw It tldown. One Of them also searched
the trousers pockets of the prisoner, and
said to the captain: "Nothingl" -tol
SD VII take himW was the answer "bind
him to the from"
The two executioners bound the soldier
with his hands behind him to large hook
driven into the wall. The unfortunate man
was as white as death, and his teeth chat
tered as ii he had fever and ague.
The three robbers brought food from one
OF the niches, sat down, and began to eat,
quietly discussing various iuditfei rent topics,
as one does when one's food is more inter.
Getting than the conversation.
| "Did you here the news from Casalvec-
chop
"You mean about Alexis ~
eyes; two hundred ducats tax"
'Paid9"
"Paid." .5t.-.-
| "What back f'
Il "And three hundred to the mayor"
"They were wise. He and his brother
own plenty of land" and the speaker
em Dtied q glass Of wine. 'Fi.at
Look" said another, pointing to the
| soldier, she seems pensive."
"What are you thinking p asked the
chief, pulling his beard. .4
/" 4 mamma 2" asked another.
"Wbere did you leave hers Come, let's
hear p H.
fellow closed his eyes for q moment, then
opeied them full Of tears, and gazed at the
distant mountains. ~ a9
The three brigands laughed.
"But the best Of tn, Joke is," said one
that he never speaks. Can it be from
pridel Z"
"Of imOdesty," cried the other with 9
silly laugh. .,aa
The soldier shook his head as il in dissent
"Oh, no ~ cried the brigand, springina
upt "Iet us see." Aud then to his two com
rades, with resolute frown: "This fellow
was carrying an order for our capture We
have lost too much time already. Let vi
make him spit it out"
snake him spit out" responded tht
Iothers, rising.
The soldier started, and raised his head a,
If TO say: 81 am prepared" The three
brigands plHnted themselves before him
Had anyone noticed just then the youth
who was keeping guard, he might have
been seen to tfemble like a leaf and turr
away to hide his white and terror stricken
face, The captain noticed it, and warned
him with an imperious gesture TO mind his
own business, upon which he resumed hi
former attitude.
eWell," said the chief, turning to tn
soldier, In tone that admitted ofno furthe
delay, 'where do you come from"
The prisoner frowned, and Il ed his eye
upon the brigand's face with look whicl
showed a will even more powerful than hi
+ own, and made no answer.
The brigand, without another work ,strucl
4 ~ xfT pb
a crash was heard as If teeth were broken
"Will you answer now!'
The soldier lower, d his head, spit out tn
blood which filled his mouth;t then raising hi
!, | eYes to the robbers face, with an expression
: | Of imperturbable pride, shook his head.
The brigaDd bit bis lip, exchanged
| forced smile with his comrades; then wit
great calmness, he put his hand In hi
|, pocket, drew out knife, opened It, unhui
/ toned the soldiers shirt, and put the edge
q the blade to his throat. The victim made
: convulsiye motion as If the blade alread
. pierced his lesh. ''No fear" mnterea tn
i briga nd, and he drew his knife slowly an
. lightly from neck to waist, as If he wei
tracing line on a slate. A red streak al
peared on the poor wretch's chest, like
4 razor cut which Is instantly lost in 'hesdrol
3 OF blood which gush forth; and the r,
o drops fell like tears over his clothes al
Il down to the ground.
aAh, ah r' cried the chief in a brut
= voice; now you'll see something, eh?
q "See how he bleeds '' said another.
h The young brigand covered his face wi
n his hands.
The soldier watched his blood flow, th'
# raised his head, fixed his eyes on the bri
y and's, and with the same expression as
4 re, again shook bis head
!, The three bullits looked at each otht
Ie more amazed than enraged.
n "Then you want me to kill you, fool
d roared the leader, putting his face close
!, to that OF the solder, SO that the t'
re touched "Don't you see that you are hsi
ar in our hands, alone,and that we eau rip y
up like q dog! What do you hope 10
of That your friends will come and set y
at free Speak Let us hear your vo
N Utter one word at least s'
ne The soldier was dumb.
/ RIA hp CON tIDupd