Wichita eagle., 1888-01-12

| Softly OpeneU, duu some one entcieu n
gentle tap OH the shoulder aroused the young
! lieutenant, and woman's gentle voice whis.
| pered: "NOulez-vous souper, monsieur
! Heavy with sleep, the prisoner fancied him.
self, for moment, with his mess at Madrid.
The fearful ordeal lasted only single mo-
ment, for, looking up and rubbing his eyes,
Lackinsky's position was recalled to him by
the darkness of his cell, which served the
| double purpose of concaaling his doubt and
surprise. His presence of mind did not desert
him even then, and he inquired, in German,
| what was wanted Of him. Without another
word, the woman disappeared.
/ When reporting this test to his comrades,
| Castanos added, with coarse laugh: "You
see was right in believing him to be a Rus
| sian, for were he French he would surely
| have betrayed himself to a woman. Give
him something to eat, saddle his horse, and
send him Oh his way"
Unfortunately for the prisoner, the gen.
erals authority over his volunteer corps was
not absolute; his order was therefore obeyed
only in part. Supper was served, but Lack
| insky remained in his cell.
The following morning Castanos. who had
his own reasons for wishing to be favorably
| reported to the Russian government, visited
his prisoner and told him not TO be discour-
aged, adding an assurance that his detention
would soon end. At the same time, taking
the youth kindly by the hand, he assured
him, with a smile, that there was nothing
further to fear.
Though inwardly rejoicing, as he listened
to the encouraging words, Lacllinsky ap-
peared to comprehend nothing but the gentle
tone and the friendly pressure of the hand.
Later be was led to a spot where ten French
prisoners of war had Just been shot. There,
in the presence of the CHASTITY, bleeding
corpses, he was forced to remain until night.
Prison was relief compared with such a
cruel spectacle; yet, in spite of the generals
reassuring remarks, he could not obtain the
repose of which he was by this time sorely in
need The fate of his companions in arms,
which he fully expected to share, haunted
him continually, until sleep overcame him
after several hours of weary watching and
tossing on his hard bed of straw.
As before, a woman gently aroused him
and spoke in the same low tone in French:
"Come quickly; 1 viii save you; your horse
is saddled; everything is ready; follow Inc
softly, softly"
The young leutenant's senses were imme-
aroused, and he was not to be taken unawareS
What was it You said?' he quietly asked in
German. Il did not understand. Can you
not speak TO me in my native tongues" The
woman Immediately vanished.
On hearing Of this incident CaStanos again
spoke in behalf of his prisoner; but the asser-
ton made so confidently by the peasant had
worked upon the minds of the guerrillas to
such degree that they refused TO be con-
WINGED until they had made one more trial.
1t was therefore agreed that Lackinsky should
remain in captivity another night.
Five gperrillas entered the vault on the
following morning, uttering furious threats
against the French accompanied by maledic
tions on the head of Napoleon. They spoke
in Spanish, Of which Lackinsky understood
quite enough to know what they were saying,
but he assumed an air of unconcern, and
looked from one to another as though wonder
Ing what could be the cause of their excite
ment After being informed that he was to
have another trial. he was led to the chapel
where, ranged along the steps Of the altar, he
beheld q dozen guerrilla chiefs who had con-
stituted themselves a council of war. With
a show of suddenly understanding that he
was to undergo an examination, the young
lieutenant demanded an interpreter.
A soldier who spoke German was sent for
and the trial proceeded
"What is the object Of your journey from
Madrid to LiSbon?" was the first question
Being an officer of the cars guard an
swered Lackinsky, Il have been intrUsted
with important dispatches from Baron Stro-
ganoff to Admiral Siniarin."
Ask him if he is a friend to SPAIN" said
one Of the judges to the interpreter.
Indeed | ann replied the Pole, when the
question was put to him in German; Il honor
and esteem the Spanish nation, and would be
delighted if they would consent to form an
alliance with my country"
Turning toward The council the interpreter
said in French: "The prisoner declares that
lie is Russian, and he adds that his SoveT-
egn is a firm friend and ally of Napoleon.
He also says that he despses Spain, ami that
lie considers her soldiers band of robbers
and cutthroats who ought to be wiped from
the face OF the earth"
This was the most terrible ordeal the
young man had yet undergone, but he did
not betIay, by the movement of muscle,
that he understood what was said. Re
seemed merely to be wondering what could
so suddenly have aroused the council, who
watched him narrowly while giving vent to
angry threats. They knew that nothing
would be SO likely to put the prisoner off his
gu nd as the apparent treachery of the in
terpreter.
Comrades" said Castanos, who entered
the chapel at the conclusion of the inter
prefers remarks, "are YOU convinced at last,
and will You now permit this dispatch bearer
to proceed"
The guerrillas answered with one voice, and
so eager were they to make amends for what
they considered their error, that within one
hour Lackinsky's horse, papers and weapons
were restored, ami he was far on the road TO
Lisbon, rejoicing at his escape.-Translated
for Tie Argonaut from the German by r. K.