Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-08-30

C4ACu GlSAlo AdluOSC.
 "Too late. They have crossed the Wis tula an hour ago."
 "The government shall atone for this," the two men cried out together. They would see if travellers were to be robbed with impunity on the czar's high road.
 l was vainly endeavoring to pacify them, when a soldier entered the room. Captain" he said, ''the Vistula has risen. The bridge was carried away at daybreak."
 "Those two travelers?" I demanded eagerly. 'Did they get across in time" ''No, captain. They started for tha upper bridge"
 ''Then we'll have them yeti" cried. "Call out the guard at once. Don't lose 8 second"
 l buckled on my sword, seized my cloak and hat, and rushed to the door, where my horse already awaited me.
 My own men were mounting in haste and the Cossacks sat motionless in their saddles.
 A moment more woulds have seen us off, when a solitary rider came in sight far up the road, and presently refined up before us, painting and breathless.
 "Orders from the czarI' he cried, vaulting from the saddle. ''Have Ivan. Brosky and Vladimir Program passed this station?"
 briefly explained the situation.
 "They must be arrested at all haz- ards!" he cried. "They left St. Peters, burg with forged passports. It was dis covered only yesterday"
 And who are these. nen?" asked.
 "They are, Shamerin and Kharkoff, |" replied the, messenger, ''the assassins of Gen. Orley."
 It was of grave importance, indeed, that they should be captured, and mount ing in haste we dashed away at full speed, leaving the czars messenger to enjoy the comforts of the station, for he had been riding all night and badly needed rest.
 Our course led eastward to the Vistula and then turned off to the south, follow ing rugged and little travelled road through the hills, which led eventually to another bridge over the Vistula, some twenty miles further down the stream. It was bad enough for horseman; for a sleigh it was terrible.
 rode in advance, side by side with Capt. Karaman, the commander of the Cossacks.
 We thundered at headlong speed over the frozen ground, sure of our prey-fol on the road before us, fast freezing III in the morning air, were the tracks oi hoof and runner imprinted in the slush At intervals through the hill gaps we caught sight of / the Vistula, turbid yellow mass, svfirling past with its bur den of floating ice.
 We must travel still faster. The up per bridge was heavier, more solid structure, little likely to be carried of by even such flood as this. We mus overtake them before they reached it.
 We drove the spurs into our pantinl horses and the forest and barren hill sides shot past us in one flying pano rama as We galloped like the wind owe, tho frozen ground, rounding bend afte1 bend, only to see the same empty, gilt tering stretch of road fading in mock cry into the frosty atmosphere. Furlong on furlong, mile after mile and still they kept ahead with speed that seemed incredible.
 ''Lookr' cried Capt. Karaman unde his frosted beard. ''The tracks are stil soft. We shall soon see them"
 Struggling houses came in sight, ant the people ran 70 their doors in wonde as we swept past like whirlwind-Kara mans Cossacks of the Volga, somber an, stern in their great black cloaks an shahOs; my dragons trihe more pictul | esque, with their green uniforms an waving plumes.
 We galloped through the little villag Cf Kaban-only five miles now to tn tridge-and as we swept round the broy of q hill in the distance we saw blac- speck on the frozen road.
 Even as Karaman pointed it out vanished over ridge. We thundered ol in hot pursuit, losing sight of it some times, but all the while steadily gaining dntil, from vague dark object, it as stunned shape and form, and we coul plainly make out sleigh and two horses
 With fierce joy saw it drawing close and closer. They were flashing the horse with furious desperation, but the poo brutes were fast giving out.
 Barely quarter of a mile lay betwee us now, and that distance was diminish ing very rapidly We were going dow a gentle slope, when suddenly Capt Karaman cried: "The bridge! Do yo see the bridge:"
 Crossing the road far ahead of us wa a gleaming bit of water spanned by narrow wooden bridge. It was not tn Vistula, but puny mountain stream one of the tributaries of the Vistul whose existence had forgotten.
 It was possible, I thought, to overtak the assassins before they could reach il and even if we failed it mattered little for the Vistula was still mile or nor away. We swept over the icy ground a a dangerous speed, and felt like shout ing out with triumph, for the sleigh wa running slower and slower and the capt ure of the men seemed certain.
 1 called to them to surrender, but the made no reply, though they must hay seen how hopeless their situation was
 The bridge was very close now, and saw at a glance that it was giving way for the stream was high and swolle1 and great cakes of ice were crushin against the wooden piles.
 Look out, they are going to fire, cried Karaman, suddenly. And as | spoke the smooth faced man half rose his seat and, turning round, pointed gun directly at us. I heard the repol and felt the whiz of the bullet past m ear. Then came puff of white smok and a second shot; and with cry ( pain the Cossack behind me sprang u from his saddle and rolled down on th icy road, while his riderless horse reare with fright.
 "The scoundrelsr' hissed Karama through his set teeth. "If we only dare fire on themr'
 But this was exactly what we dare not do. They must be taken alive at a hazards. In the excitement I had fo [ gotten all about the bridge, and closin 7 up we dashed on in rapid pursuit. l The assassins had nearly reached tE f edge of the stream now. The bearde l man was plying the whip savagely, an 3 his companion was standing, gun l hand, holding his fire apparently unt l we should come little nearer.