Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-09-20

/ dare TO act IN opposition to the car. Al
the same time they we've not vet eonvined
of the nationality Of the man; they sus-
pected he might be French spy, in spite
of appearances, Accordingly he was cen.
Quoted to vault bsnea h the chanel. ana
locked in.
hard ride of many hours over rough
roads, added to the agony of mind which
he had ondured during his examination,
hsd SO exhausted poor Lackinsky, that
he sank upon heap Of straw IN QUO
corner OF his prison, ard was soon, sound
asleep
Two hours elapsed, when the door was
softly opened and some one entered. A
Lieutenant, and woman's gentle voice
whispered; 'Voule2-yous souper, mon
sieur!'
Heavy With slsep, the prisoner faucied
himself, for a moment, With his mess at
Madrid The fearful ordeal lasted only
slEglo momert, for, looking up and rub
bing his eyes, Lackinsky's position was
| recalled TO him by the darkness uf his
cell, which served the double purpose of
conceal.ng his doubt and gurpIisg. His
presence of miRd 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 COM
rades, Castanos added, with hoarss
laugh, "YOu see, was right in believing
him to be a Russian, for we're he French
he would surely have betrayed himself 10
woman. Give him something to eat.
seddle his horse, end send him no his
way
Unfortunately for the prisoner, the gen
erals authority over his vol 3uteer crous
was not absolute; his order was therefor
obeyed only in part. Sapper was srrv.
cd, but Laokinsky remained III Ais cell.
The following morning Castanos, who
hsd hIs own reasons for wishing to favor
ably reported to the Russian government
viaited his prisoner and told him not 10
discouraged, adding an assurance that
his dete ntion would soon end. Az 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 reioicing, as he listen
ed to the encouraging words, Laceinsky
appeared to comprehend nothing but the
gentle tone and the friendly pressure of
the land.
Later he was led to spot where ten
French prisoners of war had Just been
shot. There, in the presence OF the
ghastly, bleeding corpaes, he was forced
20 remain until night. Prison was re-
lief compared with such cruel speeta-
Gle; yet, in spite of the generals reeesur-
ing remarks. he could not obtain the re-
pose of which he was by this time sorely
IN need. The fate of his companions in
arms, which he fully expected TO share,
hauEted him continually, until sleep over
came him after several hours of weary
watching and tossing ON his hard bed Of
straw.
AS before, woman gently aroused
him and spoke in the same low tone in
French: Come quickly; / will save you;
your horse is saddled; everything is
ready; follow me softly softly"
The young lieutenant's senses were I'm
mediately On the alert; his suspicion was
fully aroused and he was not to be taken
unawares. "What was it you sald?i he
quietly asked in German. IL did not
understand. Can you not speak to me
in my native tonguef" The woman i'm
mediately vanished,
On hearing Of this incident, Castanos
again spoke in behalf of his prisoner
bat the assertion made so confidently by
the peasant had worked upon the minds
" the guerillas to such degree that
they eeiused 10 be convinced until they
made one more trial. 1t wac therefore
agreed that LacBinsky should remain iu
captivity another night.
Five guerrias entered the vault on the
following morning; utteripg furious
threats against the French, accom- panied
by maledictions on the head of Napo
leon. They spoke in Spanish, of which
Lakinsky understood quite enough TO
know what they we're saying, but ne as
suned an air OF u1concern and looked
from one to another as though wonder
ing what could be the cause OF the 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 alter, he beheld q dozen guerilla
chiefs who had constituted themselves a
council of war. With q show of sudden
ly understanding that he was to undergo
an examination, the yonng lieutenant
demanded an interpreter.
A soldier who spok German was sen
for, and The trial proceeded
"Wnat is the object of your journey
from Madrid TO Lisbon?' was the FIRST
question.
Being an officer of the cars guard,
answered Lackinsky, II have been in
trusted with important dispatches from
Baron Stroganoff TO Adnii al Siniarin."
ask him if be is a friend to Spaine,'
said one of the judges to the irterpre-
ter.
"Indeed l am" replied the Pole, when
the question was put to him in German
II honor and esteem the Spanish nation
and would be delighted if they woulc
consceat to form an alliance with M
country
Turning toward the council the inter
prefer said in French: "The prisoner do
elates that he is a Russian and he adds
that his sovereign is firm friend and
ally OF Napoleon. He also says that h.
despisss Spain, and that he considers
her soldiers band Of robbers and cut
throats who ought To be wiped from the
! face of the earth"
This was the most terrible ordeal the
the young man had yet undergone, but
be did not betTay, the movement of g
muscle, that be understood whgt was said
U L.