The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-05

BoinB W inuruer me- Dut as begged haru Tor
my life they changed their minds and de-
cided to make me their watchman. But I'll
try TO do whatever / can for you and help
you to escape Here, Jake this knife, and cut
the ropes that bind you" The old man
kicked toward her a knife which, with much
effort, she managed to get hold of and cut the
cords.
"Run for your life, Matushka little mother, {"
the old man implored: do not stop; here
death Is certain. Run wherever you can, and
as far as you can You may yet escape, and
IL you get to place Of safety pray for my
soul, for these robbers may yet kill me before
long"
Evghenia made her way out as well as she
could and ran. Every minute she would
stumble over a log or stump and now thorns
would tear her clothing and scratch her face
and body. Weary and footsore and bleeding
she kept on and on. Then she heard faint
sounds in the distance and the baying Of
bloodhounds. Nearer and nearer came the
| sounds
At last she came up with a moujik who was
driving cartload of hay. She told him her
story and begged him to take her along The
moujik looked grave. II the robbers found
her with him they would surely kill him, he
| said. They were the terror of all that part Of
/ the county. However" he added, II can
not leave you thus; I'll take the risk" Then,
hastily dismounting, he threw down num-
Der Of bales Of hay and told her to get in and
I lie down. She did so and then the moujik
! piled up the other bundles over her and, after
| tying them down, he again mounted his seat,
/ lighted pipe, and drove along as though
nothing had happened In about an hour he
was overtaken by half dozen rough-looking
men, who ordered him to halt. He recog-
/ nized them robbers and Immediately reined
in his horses.
"Where is that woman who passed along
herep asked one of the men.
"God be with you," replied the moujk,
! feigning intense astonishment; "this Is no
place for women. You will not find any wo-
men within twenty versts."
! "Stop up your throat" cried the first
speaker "you have got her in that hay and
we are going to search"
The moujik thought that his last hour had
come, but did not lose his presence of mind
"lf you are going to throw this hay all over
the road you will please help me to load it up
again and not let poor man do all the work
himself" he said.
Even the robbers smiled at the request as
they began pulling down the hay. Bundle
after bundle was thrown down. the moujik
calmly perched on his seat and remarking "Did
not tell you that there is no woman here"
One large bundle covered Evghenia, and the
robbers became impatient, and called out to
the driver Here, little father, get down
and put back your hay, we have no time,n
/ and they hurried away.
The moujik put back the hay and drove on.
He drove slowly SO as not to reach his village
before nightfall, for he did not want any one
to know that he had brought in fugitive
from the robbers He entered his cottage
first and warned his family not to tell any
one Of the young ladys arrival, for he was
afraid of the revenge of the robbers. When
all was prepared he led Evghenia i'll, and the
good housewife soon prepared her a comfort
able supper
The arrangements for taking her home were
soon completed. In due time they arrived at
Evghenias native village and drove up to the
Sokolov mansion. They entered with some
wares, and after half an hour the moujik
come out alone. After calling at several
| other houses no continued on his travels
Two months passed but no one in the vii
lage had heard Of Evghenias return. Sew
eral strangers called and made many in
quiries about the bayar and his family, and
then Maj. Morrow was seen driving up to the
house. He was ushered in by Sokolov and
his wife, who asked him for news from their
daughter.
"Oh, she is in good health and sends her
love to you" he replied, with feeling of re
lief, for he had concluded that she had died
and that they knew nothing about her. He
added that she would have come on, too, but
thought the journey too long.
He then proceeded to make himself at
home and, after some time, knock was
heard at the door, and several gendarmes
walked in and seized the robber chief He
made a desperate resistance, but was soon
overpowered, and then Evghenia was led in.
Then they dragged him out and put him to
death. 1t was afterward found that al
though the dead ataman was never Il major
yet he hal belonged TO good family and
had been Lieutenant in the Caucasus. He
was, however, a gambler and negligent in
duty. For some gross violation of army
rules he had been degraded to the ranks in
the very company where he commanded.
He then deserted and joined band OF robbers,
and after killing the ataman was elected
his successor. As for the moujik who brought
Evghenia home, he was presented with a
large farm, and the old watchman in the
robbers den, he, too, was rescued, and
became a watchman in the Sokolov mansion
Adapted from New York Times