Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
CHAPTER XXXII.


At the beginning OF the conflict Jana and
her party entered the travellers room. JUS
now q woman might have been seen to leavt
the house and look curiousiy through the
open window at the newcomers. This wa'
the widow of the captain of gendarmes o.
1rkutsk. When the exiles had reached the
house she had fed with the official and hid
behind some rocks. Now, when she found
that the rebels were too busy with their own
escape, she quietly left her hiding place. ap-
preached the house from the river side, and
stopped below the window. Thus she could
see everything that happened inside. She
mustered the travellers, then laughed out
aloud and ran as asst as she could to the
little barn, in which a mass OF oats and
straw was stored away. She took them,
bundle after bundle, and piled them up at
the side of the house. While at work in
this way she murmured scorniully to her
sell:
81 know this accursed woman. She
surely brings his pardon. But the old
witch, as she called me, shall have her re-
venge irst!''
In a moment the whole big pile was on
fire, the black smoke rose in dense, dark
clouds and the sparks few all over the little
structure. A cry OF horror was heard in
the travellers room, into which the wind
blew great masses of smoke.
"We must open the door and defend our
selves or we shall be smothered by the
smoke" said voice.
"That shall be done at oncep'
"No, I'll do it!''
"Pray let me attend to that business"
said the first voice again. 81 am least
needed in this world. Consider, he who
opens the door is almost sure to perish"
"Waitl''
Caroline jumped up on one of the blocks
of stone to look into the room. When she
saw how the smoke was gradually filling the
room, she again laughed aloud, although
she could no longer recognize the travellers.
Suddenly a loud noise was heard, and Mil
Ter c7ed:
Aok outl We are in danger"
At the same time he fired at the door. It
opened, and Miller. who had aimed his rife
again, saw a man, whose features he could
not recognize, fall to the ground, with the
words, Il die
Miller, Vladimir and Ivan at once rushed
into the room, which the dra t created by
the open door had cleared pretty well, of
smoke The other exiles all hurried through
the passage down to the river in order to
reach the boats and, in them, safety from the
CLOSELY pursuing Solulers.
The exiIes noticed how Caroline was con-
tinually feeding the flames. Several wanted
to hurry past her down to the Angara, but
the insane woman thought they wanted to
put out the fire, and put herself in their way.
The desperate fugitives seized her and
pushed her into the flames; the woman Ut
tered superhuman cry and fell down faint
ing.
The wind had now scattered the clouds of
smoke entirely, and the bright sunlight
once more illuminated the blsckened walls
of the room. Vladimir had at once recog-
nIzed in the persons who met him and his
comrades his wife, his uncle and General
Moski. At the same moment he tore the
gun from Miller's hands and pushed Ivan
aside.
1.-THE Countess!" exclaimed Miller.
Count Lanin advanced.
my nephew among a band of rebelsp'
90 ncle, look at me. L am unarmedl
fee, but l have taken no part in the con-
fiictP'
Lanin pointed at the body that lay on the
floor.
You have committed murderI You have
just now shot DR.. Haas!'
God is my Witness" cried Vladimir,
shat have shot no onei''
THAT is my doing!," cried Miller, ''I am
q rebel, and l boast OF it!''
The last exiles had left by this time.
Already the words of command of the
officers of the regulars were distinctly hea q.
as they were standing before the house.
Miller cast a look through the window.
The fire kindled by Caroline had not been
able to consume the house, and was going
out gradually. The guns of the soldiers
glistened in the bright sunlight.
snake way therep' cried Miller, drawing
frnm hic hocouo al
low me!'
Lanin declined. 81 surrender to General
Moski," be said.
Behind Vladimir Jana's form suddenly
f'Mr. Miller, surrender also! 1 remind |
you Of your promisel 1 need your evidence |
IL order to save my husband"
Miller hesitated q moment; then he cast |
aside the dagger and said:
'Since you make that demand, Countess.
/ will stay. Ivan, fee quicklyl Countess. |
man also? God knows it would serve no |
purposeI'
II demand no mans death %
She pointed at the window. Quick as
lightning Ivan was through it and hurried |
down the steep rocks. The balls struck the |
water, body ell into the waves. From
the ashes OF the expiring fire a human |
shape, Dlack all over, arose suddenly, utter
ing groans OF pain. She was moving off
when all at once a ball struck the wall, |
glanced off and hit her in her bosom. Caro-
line fell with a heavy sigh. Jana ap-
preached the doctors body. Quite unarmed,
as he now was, Miller followed her. and
raised the head OF the dead man. A ball
whlstled past between Miller and the Couu-
tess. The soldiers were occupying the
rocks on the bank the river, Some exiles
who had not been able to reach the boats,
were hiding behind protrudlng rocks from
the Russian balls.
You have not told me yet" said Gen.
eral LanIn to Vladimir, "how you got
mixed up with this band OF rebels ?'
NED tny pursuers- L had been sem
fenced to death by running the gantletp'
"Whatl You to run the gantlet?"
Eyes, indeed!''
"Now L see it allr'
"GeneralF Jana called to him. while she
and Miller were busily trying to move the
dead body into a quiet corner. stcould Won
not stop the fgbt?'' :
The passage was empty. The last exiles