The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-11
ATERRIBLE ORDEAL.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY R.


THE Argonautl
When the Peninsular war was at its
height, Gen. Murat, who was in command of
the French troops at Madrid, desired to send
a dispatch of the gravest Importance to Gen.
Junot at Lisbon. The distance was not
great, but the country through which the
messenger would be obliged to travel was
infested by band of guerrillas, who carried
on an irregular warfare ON their own ac-
count, much to the annoyance and detriment
Of the French army. These lawless volun-
teers fought from ambuscades in the forests
and mountain passes with unparalleled fe-
rocity. frequently surprising detachments of
the regular army and capturing their stores
and ammunition. The heroic deeds of Gen.
Castanos, the guerrilla commander in chief,
were echoed throughout Europe, and it was
well known that he gave no quarter to French
prisoners. Therefore Gen. Murat could find
no soldier DESTROYS of undertaking an errand
so fraught with danger.
In his dilemma he sought the advice of
Baron Stroganoff. the Russian ambassador,
who was friendly to the French cause.
The baron. being well aware Of the gravity
OF the situation, sdeliberated for several min
utes; the result was the following suggestion:
Send one OF your most reliable Polish Ian
GERS in Russian uniform" he said, with a
verbal message to our admiral. now in Lisbon
harbor. He, in turn. will communicate with
Junot without arousing the slightest sus-
picion on the part of the English. No doubt
your courier will be arrested score of times
en- route; but as my country has maintained
neutral ground thus far, it is not probable
that the result will be fatal. Castanos is too
much of diplomat to risk the displeasure of
Russia, and, by observing the proper caution,
1t will not be difficult to deceive him.
Gen. Murat was charmed with this clever
proposition, and at once ordered the captain
Of the Warsaw lancers to select from his
company brave, reliable fellow who could /
be trusted to undertake the important mis-
sion.
Early on tie following day, Lieut.. Lackin- |
sky, young Pole, is years of age. sought au-
dience Of the French general, who explained |
the nature of the service he required of |
the youth. without concealing the perils it |
would entail. Lackinsky, nothing daunted, |
declared with contemptuous smile that he |
eagerly awaited an opportunity to prove how |
little he feared the gnerrillar, and that he was
prepared to set out at once ON his journey,
Pleased with the young Poles enthusiasm,
as well as with his evident desire to distin- |
guish himself, the general repeated with pre-
cision the message TO be carried to Junot.
Baron Stroganoff's Russian dispatches
having been duly secured, the courier started
for the coast, completed armed, and disguised
in the uniform Of an officer of the cars
guard.
Nothing of Importance occurred until the
afternoon of the second day, when our hero
entered a defile in the mountains near Tala- |
vera. He had not advanced more than a |
quarter Of a mile when he was met by half |
dozen guerrillas, who, without waiting to |
parley, roughly dragged him from his horse, |
seized his weapons, and led him to chapel in |
a cave hard by, where he found himself face |
to face with the terrible Castanos.
"Who are you?" asked the guerrilla chief, |
in French, while he angrily scrutinized the |
prisoner.
Alive to the danger of his position Lackin-
sky's heart failed him for an instant, but,
quickly recovering his presence of mind. he |
fixed his eyes on his interlocutor's face with |
q mCdulUkicSS oLdTt. IItStuLly ue dQSWcT6u
in German: 81 do not understand"
Castanos called one of his officers, and re-
quested him to continue the examination in |
the prisoners tongue. Observing the utmost |
caution lest by an inadvertent expression he |
might betray his knowledge of French, the |
Pole replied to all the officers questions in |
Russian or German.
During the examination the chapel had be- |
come crowded with guerrillas, attracted there |
by curiosity and a desire for excitement |
Each hung upon the prisoners words, eager |
to detect the slightest evidence of deception /
on his part.
Suddenlyithere was an interruption, caused /
by the appearance of Castanos, leading by |
the arm peasant, whom he placed before
the Pole saying:
Look carefully at this man and tell us
whether he be Russian, German or, as
strongly suspect, cursed French spy"
Inc peasant obeyed, and presently replied,
in loud, decided tone:
HE is a disguised Frenchman. A few
weeks ago, when took load of hay to Mad
rid. this was the very officer who signed my |
receipt.
LackInsky betrayed no sign of fear, and |
the expression of his countenance did not
vary as he looked from one to the other of
the excited soldiers who surrounded him.
They would have torn him to pieces had not |
their general, discouraged by the failure of |
his test, interfered
my friends" he loudly exclaimed, nothing |
is yet proved against our prisoner, and he |
has certainly proved beyond doubt that he |
does not understand French. This peasant |
might easily make a mistake, for it would be |
difficult to recognize man whom he saw only |
once, and then in different uniform from |
the one he:now wears. The prisoner looks |
like Russian, his papers are addressed to |
the cars admiral, and | think we had better |
allow him to proceed"
mo, no." was the cry that arose from |
hundred voices at once; 1--WE are not yet sat |
isfed and he shall not go until we are"
"But are we to take the risk of offending |
the Russians by interfering with one of their |
dispatch bearers?"
The guerrilas agreed that they did not |
dare to act in opposition to the car, at the |
same time they were not yet convinced of the |
nationality of the man; they suspected he |
might be French spy, in spite of appear
ances. Accordingly he was conducted to a
vault beneath the chapel, and locked in.
A hard ride of many hours over rough
roads, added to the agony of mind which he
had endured during his examination, had so
exhausted poor Lackinsky, that he sank upon
heap of straw in one corner Of his prison,
and was soon sound asleep.
Two hours elapsed, when the door was
softly opened, and some one entered. A
gentle tan on the shoulder aroused the vounc
lieutenant, and woman's gentle voice whis-
pered "VouleZ-vous souper, monsieur"
Heavy with sleep, the prisoner fancied him |
self, for moment, with his mess at Madrid. |
The fearful ordeal lasted only a single mo |
ment, for, looking up and rubbing his eyes, |
Lacknsky's position was recalled to him BY |
the darkness Of his cell, which served the |
double purpose Of concealiug his doubt and /
surprise. His presence OF minddld not desert |
him even then, and he inquired In German. |