The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-01-09

ana one where, in the dusk, 1t would have
been q hard matter to see me. but 1 had q
full view of the lattice. 1 waited till my
patience was beginning to wear out, and
then fancied that ! heard some slight
sound outside under the fortochka. 1t was
so slight that at first / was not sure
whether it might not be merely fancy, but
after little pause heard il, again, louder
and more distinctly. lsat still as mouse,
and kept . sharp lookout.
Slowly and gradually something raised
itself before the opening. 1t was head;
but in the uncertain light could not say
whether it was human head or that of
some brute creature. Whichever it might
be, could see enough Of it to know that it
was such wild. haggard, unearthly look
ing thing as had never looked upon be.
fore. Any quantity Of shaggy hair was
speak Of seemed to be eyes. Eyes it had
past all mistake. Mover did / see any.
thing like the way In which It glared at
our good provisions within. / have seen
what a famished wolf looks like, and
should hardly think famished wolf worth
comparing with that creature. 1t was
rsvenous after what II saw. Up beside
which wrenched at the wooden lattice as IL
to tear it down. But they were too weak.
The strips held fast. And then the thing
fell to with its teeth to gnaw way
through.
While the creature was thus engaged, I
contrived to slip quietly from my dark
corner by the door, and catching up big
stick, went out at the back Of the house. I
stole around as noiselessly as ! could to-
ward the window. There were, as said,
young fir trees on that side of the house,
90 that with little care it was not difficult
to approach the place unobserved. When
l got to within q few yards, saw that the
g. H.
still hard at work trying to force way in.
l dropped my stick and made rush at
him, and had him before he knew anything
about 1t. He struggled hard-desperately
/ may say. But, bless you! he'd not q
ghost Of q chance with me. / am toler.
ably strong man still, as men go, and was
younger then. I could have undertaken
three such as he, and thought nothing Of
1t. The poor wretch had no sort of condi-
ton about him-he was mere skin and
bones-no muscle at all. He was nothing
but walking anatomy, with few rags by
way of covering-and only a very few.
All that he gained by his struggles was
q good shaking, for l gave him one that
made every tooth in his head chatter; and
then laid him fiat on his back.
had been long enough in the country to
gain some knowledge of Russia. l could
use 1t pretty freely to our mill people; and
must own that for terms in which to
BLACKBOARD set of lazy rascals, as most
Of those fellows are, Billingsgate isn't q
understand me. "Now, then my friend, I"
said to him. ''you needn't take the
trouble to show any more fight. You see
it won't pay. So just get up, and march
quietly OF with me to the Observation-Disclosures
0ttchastok being, as you perhaps know,
equivalent to the police-station in English.
But instead Of getting mp, and doing as
kn~ kAlI b. ~ Hail xAn
creature contrived to wriggle itself upon
its knees, and to hold up its hands; while
1t begged of me In the name of the Virgin
and all the Saints not to hand it over to
the politzia. 1t would rather be killed out
right, and was ready to be beaten as much
-" INV 1 ragged friend" said, "you are .
queer chspi Why do you object to the
police so strongly"
The poor wretch made no direct answer,
but only reiterated his entreaties that
would not give him up. began to have
some suspicion Of the quality of my guest
~ am inclined to think" said, SHAT you
are neither more or less than an escaped
convict"
Instead Of attempting to deny It, he only
begged me to pity him as before.
Russian law Is terribly hard on those
who in any way assist in or conceal the
escape of q convict. OF that was aware.
But though I am a big fellow to look at,
and in some things can hold my own as
poor, soft hearted fool in others. / was
beginning to feel downright sorry for that
poor dewitt was not so much his prayers
that touched me as his looks. "Well,"
said, suppose don't give you up, but let
you 60. What them"
He would always remember me with
gratitude. He would go on his way at
once, and do no harm to my property: He
was no thief. He had only entered this
duor-this yard-to hide himself, but that
the sight of food had overcome him; he
was furnishing, and he dared not beg. He
had walked, how far he could not tell, per-
haps thousand versts, and all the way he
had not dared to ask for food, scarcely to
speak to . living soul. He was trying to
versts further. II I would only set him
free he would go on at once.
That was about the substance Of the fell
lows answer. His appearance seemed to
bear out his statements, and was in
clined to believe him. "It's sheer nom
sense" l said, .'for You to talk Of setting
of for walk Of q thousand versts, IL let
you CO. You might as well tank of flying.
You have not the strength to walk ten.
You would only fan by the roadside, you
miserable scare.crow, and die in q ditch.
should be doing the kinder thing by you
II hand You over to the authorities. II
do let you 60, l must give you something
to eat first. Come with me-"
The miserable wretch hardly believed
that meant to feed him, and would have
run away had he dared. took him into
the empty house. of which had the key,
and fetched him as much food a. thought
it safe for him to eat.
So there was, with an escaped convict
on my hands. Had been more prudent
should have reflected that the fellow was
most likely hardened scoundrel, quite
undeserying Of pity, and that his gratitude
would probably be shown either by rob-
bling me, or If he should happen to fall into
the hands Of the police, by getting me into
trouble to save his own worthless neck. /
ought to have thought of these things; but
as said before, I am q soft-hearted old
fool. and neglected to do 30.
kept him In that empty house for sew.
eral days; in fact. till he had so far recov.
cred his strength as to be fit to go on.
Nobody knew about him, not even the
members Of my own family, for il 1 was
doing foolish thing had sense enough to