The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-28
F.R1E THE FIFTH.-Cosr1YrrD.

familiar Nightmares wherein the legs
feel like dragging lead and yet have TO
go Oh and on and on, against time and
need, with the minutes flying away fast
before and vague pursuit behind. But
the lights put new life into him. They
meant, at the very worst. d heel of hard
goats cheese and litter of straw. A
little rayine broke the plain and led
towards the twinkle. He did not re
member the path. but his mind was in
3 dazc. No doubt he would know it
well enough by day. At last
"Qui "a lar
He started, and rubbed his eyes. That
was not quite the way they challenged
IL Portuguese.
Friend said he. ''Lusitanian Le-
gion. Bringing in wounded"
A. HaItc-Lar'
But by the light of lantern he soon
saw what the language would have told
less sleepy ears. The ears woke up
now, and the ewes. too. He looked
round him still bcwildered, though as
wide awake rs Il weary man could be
Escalona?" he asked.
He thinks he is in EScalOnar said
the man with the lantern, holding l.
into his eyes. Then, from the hut that
served for a guard room. came out an
officer, with Frenchman written all over
him, who looked at the swaying soldier
on the horse and then from him to the
Portuguese soldier on foot. as ii he were
put out by such combination of things.
Dick saluted, hand to cap. Il m
10 trrI,f I'll - ii
he, in his native tongue. I've brought
this comrade of mine, dad or alive. out
of the fight; I'm of the LuSitanian
Legion at Escalona, and | thought this
was Escalona; but I'm hanged if l think
so now, unless you French have cared
to carry that beggarly hole. suppose
I'm prisoner? All right. But | sup
pose you've got surgeon for my COM
Tade here?"
They only stared. Then the officer
gave an order, in which Dick could
make out word that seemed to mean
.'Interpreter. And h. must have been
right; for after some quarter of an
hour, with the English soldiers head
reclining on his shoulder, 4 woman,
dressed Spanish fashion, appeared, and
talked with the officer some five min
utes more. Then the lantern was again
thrust into his eyes, so that he could
hardly see for blinking.
Sir" said she, in English that star
tied him, 1.-THE Lieutenant here desires
me to interpret your story for him.
What shall say?"
Madam KraSinskai Madam kraS-
inska, by all that's -"
Hush. We have no names here, if
you please. Remember two things,
and we shall get on very well. One
none here knows English; not one
word. Two, say what you like TO me.
and | shall turn it into any sort of
French | please. Only, do not lie to
me. 1t is | who shall find the lies"
The lies-I should think you will!'
She spoke to the Lieutenant, as if in
terpreting; and afterwards. whenever
the prisoner spoke-no doubt quite as
faithfully rs she pleased.
"YOu were more gallant on Wednes-
day" said she. But it is all equal,
/ quite comprehend YOU will never be-
leve in woman again-until the next
time
HIN! Is this Escalona?"
.Escalonal No; this is Santa Olalla,
do YOU not know? Have you not then
taken my counsel. and come"
"As a spy? So that's what you
think Good God. to be taken all in
one night by Spanish she-wolf for a
-corpse-robber and by a spy for a spy
Then" asked she, sharply, what
brings you here?"
My legs; l know not what else, y
said he.
But you must have crossed the
river. How could you think EscalOna
to be on this side?'
Il crossed no river"
81 said-no lies to me-"
'Lies?"
Pardon. sir, | know you tell no lies.
If you did l should know. Besides
see. You must have crossed the river
by the pontoon: taking it in the dark
for the track. That was not cleYer. sir
But what is to be done?"
''Get surgeon for this man. He wa:
alive-some hours ago"
'Ah-your comrade. And he was S
handsome comrade, too" said she
taking the lantern and holding it up tC
the dead or diving man. IAN English
sergeant. All, well. He will fight nc
more"
He is dead, them"
ALAS. yes. You need hold him W
no longer. Lift him down"
Dick could not help sigh. True,
the dead man was no more to him than
the hundreds upon hundreds of brave
fellows, English and French, who had
died that day. But he had made him
his own, in fashion, and he would
have given his whole wealth, which wa,
sixpence. to have brought him in alive
The English sergeant was lifted down
roughly-for what was ope man more
but not irreverently, and laid aside, a.
dead and done for.
Now for the living said madame.
~'Mr. Backbone, YOU are a great
big, big fool. but l like you; it is nict
to meet with great big fool. | fear
have done you harm; but, in fine, wal
is war. Now you shall 90 free if you
will tell the which side has gained thi,
day; and, mind, what you say shall
believe"
II don't know. And if 1 did, | should
nos tell" But those eyes and thai
voice, with she smile in both, wer;
making more play with him than ht
cared to own. ''CountesS-I NEAR
madam, YOU have done me more wrong
-thaD-than man who is not quite :
coward ought to bear. l ought to b,
in the place of that poor fellow there
You've made me spy and skulkel
besides"
"a 'skulkerr can not interpret that
But it sounds bad, very bad: and so