Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21

cedars Nadege heard them discharge
their weapons several times From afar.
she even saw number of large birds fall,
stricken by their shot. This only partially
| treasured her
If she could have seen Yegor closer, and
noticed his fierce eyes, compressed lips and
clenched hands, she would have feared
some violence Oh his part. The young man,
dismayed and overwhelmed. no longer hes
itated at tie thought of crime. He loaded
his gun with bullets, and, without further
delay, when Yermac took aim at a fen
duck, which had just risen, covered him and
fired
The chief of police heard whistle about
| his ears not small hunting SHOT but pail,
which shattered the face Of his cap. He no
| longer doubted the intentions of tie escaped
convict, for, in his view, Yegor was nothing
else. He thought of replying in kind, as he
was also furnished with like munitions, but
that would bring on a duel and the rigid
functionary Immediately discarded the idea
as an egregious weakness, an effect of fear
1t was not his business to disembarrass
himself of his adversary, no matter how
criminal he might be, His strict duty for
babe that, except IS a last resort. It was
alive, with his hands tied behind his back
that he should return him to the seat of
government.
But he had not, however, sufficient hero
ism to await the second shot that was in
tended for him. He allowed himself to fall
| among the leafy bushes, just as the second
report was heard Once on the ground,
Yermac slung his gun across his back and
crawled upon his hands and knees, gliding
through the clunps of dwarf cedars. In
this way, he succeeded in getting altogether
out of range.
The fact is that Yegor, after having re-
loaded his weapon, advanced cautiously, his
finger upon the trigger, in the direction
where the chief Of police had concealed him
self from his sight He feared trap a
surprise, sudden attack, but found no one
on the spot where he supposed the chief
was IN ambush. He secured the surround
ing thlckets, still maintaining his caution,
and, at last lost an exact idea of the re-
spective positions they had occupied at the
moment he asSaIed the too jealous agent of
the law.
Finally, he found himself again on the
edge Of the path which, in the distance,
Nadege was following. His face was livid,
his eyes wild and his legs bent beneath
him.
II have, perhaps killed him." murmured
he, cor wounded him-which amounts to
the same thing in such a place as this,
without help. But he brought it on him
self"
He hastened to reioin Nadege He heard
the noise made by the horses as they tramp
ed over stony ground Ten minutes after
disturbed expression on his face. She
sWo0ned and slipped from her animal He
caught her in his arms.
'Ah, Yegor! what have you done" MUIR
INJURED she, on opening her eyes And she
gently repulsed the young man.
''It was for you'll" cried Yegor ''F'or you
and your brother-two lives If I only had
been involved, I should have hesitated-yes.
[ swear i'll"
What are we going to do?n demanded
Nadege, after silence painful for both.
''flrst, remOunt your horse, he answered.
AND he aided his companion to regain her
saddle.
Then he unfastened from his leather
belt a teal and a fen-duclz suspended by the
legs, and, calling the guide, who had gone
on before:
''Tal1e these fowls" said he. "And now
let us be going"
But this horso?" said the guide, point
ing to the animal of the traveller left behind.
1.-THE horse! Set it free. 1t will not stray.
and its master will rejoin us presently
ForWard!"
Tue little party started. The guide re-
su:G2cd his interrupted chant, and Yermac's
dor :. abandoned upon the path, after hay
ing lifted his nostrils to snuff the wind, be-
gan to neigh.
poor BEAST" Yegor could not help ex-
claiming.
''Poor mainland wretched Yegor" added
his companion.