The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-29
IN a CLEFT STICK.
III.
CnNGT TnEn

himself, Jesus, Maria, Joseph" that cry
of the peasant in his moments of agony.
Suddenly Noyak remembered his wonted
caution OF poacher. Quickly passing his
left arm beneath Zinka's knees and his right
around his shoulder he lifted him and ran
with him to the woods. There he lid him
down again upon the moss and asked hlm'
where are you wounded
ION the right side, in the ribs, whispered
Zinka, and added Nothing has happened
to the rest of you, please God!'
After time he whispered, pressing his
hands to his breast: 81 shan't live; they
have settled me-"
Novak nut his thick, swollen hands to his
Inns and initiated the cry of an owl, 'Tu-
WHO'D, tu-whoo!
Bending down again over the wounded
man, he took out of his pocket well-corked
bottle, opened it, and said:
"Taste a little powder, mate. twill drive
cut the sting"
Zinka took the bottle in his weak left hand,
lifted it to his mouth, and poured on his
tongue few grains of gunpowder, rolled
them in his mouth for few moments, and
swallowed them. That's with the Bohemian
poachers favorite preventive against the
evil consequences of wound.
st is no good" whispered Zinka. With
sad smile he went on: 1.-THE shot has gone
into my lungs" And as he spoke, he
coughed and the blood ran out of his mouth.
Again Novak initiated the boot of an owl,
and this time the cry was answered from a
short distance. The boughs of the pines
rustled, and presently Skokan appeared,
pushing his way through the underwood
"Zinka has received the whole charge in
his lungs" Novak whispered into Skokan's
ear ut seems to me they have finished
him."
Skokan bent over ZInka, saying, ''It's /,
mate, Skokan."
Zinka, feeling with his left hand In the
dark, touched Skokan's face. 1t was the
touch of hand Of ice, and he spoke dis
jointedly.
"Mate-you're alive-please God-forgive
for Tommy's sake only child-fourteen
years-the gauntlet"
He could say no more. There was dull,
rafting sound in his throat. Skokan could
find no meaning in his words. Leaning to-
ward Noyak, he whispered HE does not
know what he is saying; he is delirious
Spread out the nets and we will take him
Z home"
They spread out the nets, taking them
from their necks and laying them out one
above the other on the grass. Opening them
to half their breadth they laid the helpless
Zinka in them. lifted up the ends of the nets.
and proceeded into the depth of the wood.
There they found narrow path which
wound like snake. Many time had they
taken their way along 1t, bending under the
weight of the fish they had stolen. Five
times they had led or carried home wounded
comrade.
Zinka half lay and half sat in the net.
Now and then he sighed, and the rafting
sound was audible in his throat. They pro-
ceeded thus for half an hour through the
thickest part Of the wood, where the rays of
the moon were unable to pierce the branches,
though she shone now brightly. Presently.
again, Zinka began to murmur some unintel-
ligible words.
keep quiet, mate" said Skokan. "You1
be all right presently"
Itseemed that Zinka heard, for he remained
STILL The poachers fastened as much as
they could At last light appeared before
them. and after little while they were on
the edge Of the wood. The moon shone
down clearly with her soft light. the wind
had dropped, and the sky was cloudless.
Where the path joined the road they laid
down their burden on the soft, fresh grass.
moistened with dew. The moonlight fell
straight on Zinka's face. 1t was as white as
Imam A faa N iunru paiuht bo
looked so. With sudden start Skokan put
his band to the pale cheek. 1t was cold as
Ice, stiff, and stark. In the CLASSY eye, that
seemed to start from its socket, the dim
moonlight reflected itself glittering.
"Jesus, Maria it's all up with him." ex-
claimed Skokan.
Starting up, Novak caught his hair with
both his hands, as il he would with a single
wrench tear 1t from his skull.
1.-THE woman and the lad will 90 mad"
said Ncvak. He was silent for moment,
and then asked, more as if speaking to him
self than to his mate, ''But how did the
gamekeepers guess that we were going to-
night" He stopped, and continued, in a
cautious voice, almost as if he feared lest the
dead man should hear his words: Skokan,
what Frantishka said was true, then"
II thought of that, mate, too, but-God
knows" said Skokan. as il 10th to Judge the
dead man.
"You are the stronger" said Skokan.
Garry him home. IT'S not far. / will go in
front and tell his wife that there has been an
accident"
He rose from the ground as he spoke and
limped away.
Novak drew together the four corners Of
the net with both his hands, knelt down by
the corpse. and then, turning away from it,
drew 1t up upon his back, rose, balanced
himself, and proceeded with his burden along
the lane. On his right the head and one hand
of the dead man hung out of the net. On the
other side logged wet naked foot. And at
the same time, in the dim depths of the wood,
sounded the melodious song of the thrush
welcoming the approaching dawn.
He was soon in sight of the cottages. AL
ready fire had beenlighted in one of them.
Tothat he directed his steps. Some dogs,
barking wildly, ran out to meet him, then,
recognizing him, were silent, and shifted at
his burden. From the cottage Skokan came
out to meet him, and they both OF them took
the dead man in their arms.
'They think he is only wounded" whis-
pered Skokan hurriedly.
A womaR half dressed, barefooted, and
with her hair in wild disorder, followed al
most at Skokan's heels. twas Zinka's wife
She had her son with her, and from the lips
of both of them broke the wild, heart-piercine
peasant cry, "Jesus, Maria, Joseph"
The wailing son helped the poachers to
carry his father.
81 always told him it would end like this
one day." said the woman. And calling him
Joseph. Joseph" she put down her hand to
his face.
in an instant she drew it back.
THE five wounds of the Lord Christ! he is
as cold as icev'
The poachers carried their burden into the
little room. where the Pickering, restless
flame of the resinous pine danced on the
hearth They laid him on bed. A single loob
at the CLASSY eyes, in which now the red flame
OF the pine wood pictured itself, sparkling
and glistening, as the moonlight had done In
the road. and woman and boy, as if flash Of
lightning had struck them to the earth, fel
on their knees besides the bed, in wild, harsf
tones, shrieking, rather than crying, "Jesus
Marial Jesus, Maria!'' Then wailinl