San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-16
THE EXILES.
RUSSIAN STORY.

enure SKY was as red as blood, Yermac re-
coiled in terror from his work of destruc-
ton. He passed long hours in anxiety, ask
ing himself if he had not gone too far!-if
he had not devoted to certain death the I'M
fortunates hidden in the depths of the
forest! Finally, the gray of tardy dawn
mingled with the reflections of the conflag-
ration.
The chief of police saw two Siberian
horses dash madly towards him-they were
Yegor's horses, the third having, doubtless,
persisted His suggestions were verified.
He could not doubt that these horses be.
longed to the fugitives. But why did not
the fugitlves themselves appears
He had asked himself this disturbing
question many times, when he saw, emery
ing from the defle, group of struggling
fugitives, whose huge shadows, produced
by the glowing furnace they had left behind
them, stretched out Enthusiastically in front of
them.
''They are here at last!" cried he.
He examined his arms-his gun and pis-
tolls; they were in good condition. But his
establishment was great when, on raising
his head, he counted seven men advancing
in the light of the confiagration, accoutred
like veritable robbers of the steppe and
armed to the teeth. These people had per-
ceived him and were coming towards him.
They believed themselves tracked and smok-
ed out by patrols of Cossacks, and prepared
to sell their lives dearly.
When within range, two of them aimed
their guns at the chief of police and fired.
"a declaration of war;" said he to him.
SELF as the balls hummed about his ears
like swift-winged bees. 81 have determ.
med party to deal with! These fellows are
without doubt, brigands, and, though my
authority does not extend to this district, il
is not l who will shrink from the new duty
the rascals impose upon me! / will reply tc
them in their own fashion"
At this he stepped behind a bush, which
covered him completely, and discharged
both barrels of his gun at the advancing
group.
Then, these more than strengthening
men, instead of remaining massed, scatter
ed. AS they marched straight towards the
bush, they fired shower of balls at the au-
dacious man who had the courage to await
their coming.
Soon Yermac was hemmed in on all sides
and entirely at the discretion of his ag'
gressors. The latter took position-they
utilized everything-trees, rocks, and in
capabilities of the ground-and, slowly, giving
themselves time to take steady aim, they
made Yermac target
The chief of police did not lose his pres
ence of mind and bravely sustained this dis
loyal attack. Three times he reloaded his
gun; he fired five shots at one of his adver-
saries, the one most advanced on his left
then, wheeling rapidly about, discharged his
weapon to the right at second, who, sur
prised as he was passing from one tree to
another to advance few yards, was hit full
in the breast.
To the howl uttered by the latter as he
fell, his companions roars of anger re-
sponded. The band of gold-robbers, who
had terrified the country, had lost their
chief.
In an instant, Yermac was flooded with
prOiectiles.
He would infallibly be forced to succumb,
for, besides the fact that flight was repug-
nant to him, he well knew that to turn his
back would be but an Indifferent means Of
ameliorating his perilous situation.
Suddenly, one of the assailants uttered a
cry. 1t was an invitation to his compan-
ions to stop the attack; and Yermac was
much surprised to see come towards him
unarmed the adversary of the left, again st
whom most of his efforts had been directed.
He was a very young man, beardless, with
black eyes and the dull complexion of a
Slovenian, and clad in the skin garments OF
the Yakoutes.
What was Yermac's stupefactIon on re-
cognizing in this brigand of the steppes, seen
in the ruddy light of the glowing conttagra-
ton, his son Dimitri'
Father" cried the latter, ''it is II"
"Wretch!" exclaimed Yermac. 'Youl
You-with them with the goid-robbers"
"Have no further fear" said Dimitri,
and he signed to his companions to with
draw.
$50 robber and assassin, you were on
the point of becoming parricide! !" observed
the unfortunate father, prey to genuine
despair.
Father" said Dimitri, timidly, 81 have
never been an assassin-never, l swear itv
'sParricide, you became one," pursued
Yermac, ''when in depriving me of honor
you took from me more than life Do you
know what / was compelled to doto expiate
your crimesl Did you doubt my voluntary
humiliation when abandoned my position
as Ipravsnikl Have you thought of the
contempt and affronts 1 was forced to en-
dure while convict-guard"
Father, the iniquities of which you have
been the victim, this odious censure and
this exile which you did not deserve have
troubled my mind. have suffered greatly
in seeing you suffer l rose in insurrection
nl SnnintI. ~