Huntsville gazette., 1888-04-14

GENERAL sKOBELEFF.
ekobeleff, having fired a bullet through a
mirror at an aristocratic party, had been de-
prived of his command, and knew that he
had got to do some daring deed at the be-
ginning of the war with Turkey, then Just
coming on, to get himself reinstated in the
royal favor. In order to succeed, he would
need some comrades skilled in horseman-
ship, and of unfiinching courage, and he at
once thought that the American cowboys
would be just the men for him He was
about to speak to them, when loud cry
arose. and the scenery and stage were seen
to be on fire. At once, from every quarter,
arose the shrieks of women ard the shouts
of men.
Within fifty seconds the front of the
parquet was absolutely empty, save for
the three Americans and the two officers,
Skobeleff and Krapotkin, who had retained
their seats with imperturbable coolness
Little Bricks said to Macy, in a quiet way:
Reckon thar amt much show for us,
Buckaro, unless thar's a door under that
stage" Then, as he glanced around at the
demoralized crowd behind them, he added,
with some wonder: "Well, swar, ef thar
aint't two real men at last"
He referred to the two officers, who now
rose slowly from their seats and came to-
wards the strangers
Skobeleff was as cool as cucumber, as he
held out his hand to Little Bricks, and said.
in excellent English, or rather shouted into
his ear:
You are molodyetz-a brave fellow |!
How came you here? What brought you to
Russia / mean?"
Little Bricks. grasping the hand extended
G - l. i 11 ya1t a
back his answer in the others ear:
"Came to see the Grand Duke Alexis
Net him on the plains We three helped
him his first buffalo hunt Asked us to cali
on him, if we ever came to Roosha. Got on
a tear and came Here aoe air. Know any
thing about the Grand Duke, stranger?"
1.-The Grand Duke is at SebastopOl. You
know he is in the navy, not the army. You
will not be able to do any thing with him in
this war, gentlemen. You had better come
with me Here is my card. If we get out of
this fire alive, call at that hotel in the morn
ing. Is that understood"
Little Bricks nodded, and just at that
moment Krapotkin touched Skobeleff on the
arm, and pointed out that, under the stage,
the door by which the orchestra went out
and in. was wide open, and looked black,
The gesture was sufficient. and Skobelef
touched the three cowboys successiVely,
and pointed them to the door
Then Jacques Daroeville screamed into
6kobeleff's ear:
go and find if it leads out anywhere,
and we'Il bring some girls out that way"
Skobeleff nodded assent and darted
down to the opening. In few moments
he came back to shout in his companion's
ear:
1t leads into an open court If there is
no jam We can get out quite a number
Then the five men left their place of safe
ty, and advanced to the back of the Shrek
ing, struggling mass of humanity. that was
nows urging around the foot of the bal 3ony.
The fire on the stage had spread by the
curtain, over the roof of the theater, and
was already licaing at the curtains of the
boxes
Skobeleff, surveying the scene with un-
diminished coolness pointed to the great
entrance door, which could still be seen
through the smoke, and roared into Darde-
yille's ear:
Blocked tight! Get them back!"
So saying, they began to pull at the terror
stricken ones that they saw running to and
fro in the rear of the crowd, and pointed
out, by gestures, the dark door under the
stage; but by the time they had escorted
about score of ladies off in this way, the
fire had crept SO near the stage door that
the next-colners shuddered and shrank
back from the apparent danger Skobelef
yelled in Macy's ear:
We've saved all we can. Take another
girl apiece and let US 60 uhile soe can."
The Americans nodded silently, and each
man looked about for woman to save
when they heard great cry behind them,
which was followed by crash. Looking
round. they saw that part of the roof had
fallen in sparks on the crowd, and that all
hopes of escape seemed to be cut off; but
they heard Skobeleff say aloud, in English:
Courage my friends If we get cut OF
this, you are the boys l want to have with
me-" The continuation of this thrilling
historical narrative of The Cowboy Cos
sacks is given in number thirteen OF the
New York Ledger, the great family story
paper, which Is always full of the best ana
choicest reading matter and every number
of which contains something to amuse, to
entertain and to instruct the reader Tie
subscription price of the New York Ledger
is So year; for six months, 81. 80, and foi
four months, 81, all postage free. Sub
scribers can begin with No. 13, containing
o continuation of the great story Of
The Cowboy Cossacks" Address Roheri
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