Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-11
Yernlac, at last, opened his eyes.
''Thank you'll" said he.


whoever you are, thank your again
said the exhuned man. You have taken
heavy mountain from my breast"
The reflections of the conhagration grew
more intense, suddenly increased, with
cracklings indicating that the flames had
found new food
''Whati is it you, Monsieur Semenoff?-
is it you, Monsieur Lafieur9 Do owe my
life to you-to you! Where is my son: What
have they done with Dirnitri. 1t is night
and am wounded in the right arm-I am
losing blood. Have you, Semenoff and NJ
Laf1eur, come to finish mel Did you bury
me alive beneath the snow as the other day
you strove to bury me alive beneath the
rocksa That was cowardly. But explain
yourselves-speakl"
Yegor and NJ Laf1eur had lost the power
Of speech. Nadege was on the point of
fainting. and little Ladislas, after having
retreated several steps, was making pre-
cipitate signs of the cross, one after another.
Monsieur Yermac," said the exile. final
~, ''there is in all this the intervention of a
higher power! 1t is to aid you that we are
here. Fear nothing And if 1 have done
you grievous wrongs, offer to repair them.
But you yourself do not attribute to chance
left you for dead in the defiles of the Verlhho.
Yansk Mountains, we should disinter you in
this spot. You are wounded; we will care
for you"
NJ. Lafeur added few words which en-.
lightened the chief of police as to how he
came in the hole. AS a commentary, the
bear was still growing in the distance
AS further proof, M. Lafem showed the
ms of
| ground Everything was explained
II thank you, Messieurs," said Yernac,
getting upon his feet L am in better con.
dition than l thought. So we are quits.
Monsieur Semenoff. Now, you can no
longer deny that you are in full flight,
you and she whom you call your berothed,
| as well as her brother! l arrest you all
| three!"
Yegor made movement, Nadege grew
pale, and little Ladislas burst into tears;
but NJ. Latleur said, with sneer:
''You are joking, my poor Yermac! Why,
you can scarcely stand, you are alone,
wounded, and far from all help-yet you
tailI IS if you had a squad of Cossacks at
your back! Don't get angry; we shall quiet
ly proceed on our Way-and if you are not
satisfied, another time we Will let the
bears of Siberia devour the agents OF au,
thority."
'You have strength on your side, Mes
| sieurs, but represent the law" said the
chief of police, with dignity.
''On the faith of Partisan, what singu-
| lar pretension!" cried M. Lafleur.
Strength should remain with the law, re-
| sumed Yermac.
well, if you have the strength, show itn
| Yegor interposed:
do you know why you have not the
strength Yermac! Because your demand
is not founded on justice. You have before
! you innocent victi,2ls-I pass over the t4a15ic
| incidents Of Jour pursuit. We are martyrs
| Of oppression, and you cannot make the
! least impression on us by appealing to our
| ccnscieuces; that is why you are weak, with
! out prestige and really disarmed."
eve shall see Messieurs. You are going
towards the east. I shall return towards
! the west. May each one of US keep his con-
| fidence"
| NJ. Lafeur made a sign to Yegor. They
consulted together hastily, while Yermac
was looking at the roads, uncertain as to
the direction he ought to take.
''You are in our power" said Yegor, to
| him.
''There are several of you and I am alone.
| The game is not equal. I submit, answered
! Yermac, whose visage, impenetrable as
granite, betrayed not the least emotion.
Your submission is not enough for u.s.
said Yegor. eve may meet patrols, or
stumble on some post of Cossacks. What
would you do in that case?"
"My duty"
"You would denounce us?"
eyes"
Yegor was silent for an instant, adrniring
| the chiefs firmness and courage, and think.
ing how he could secure his silence without
staining himself with crime.
eve could cause your DEATH" said he, at
length, ''by fastening you to tree; you
would be devoured by the bears. But ]
wish you no harm. You have done your
duty. Free, you were an obstacle in our
path-that is why we wished to suppress
you. Now that you are in our hands, now
that fate has made you our prisoner, will
you give US your word that you will not seek
to escape from us!"
s'No.n
| What strange nature was that Of Yer
mac who discharged his policeman's func-
! tons without the least passion, with the
absence Of every interest. Duty and law
these two words summed up for him life.
the world and society. His conscience,
| pure sincere, just and free from every Sc
cret end, had made him an austere, impassi
BILE and impenetrable man. He looked his
| adversaries in the face, as the lion looks at
it's foes. Disguised at hiding himself, at
crouching in a corner to await the passage
Of his prey and hurl himself upon it unex-
pectedly, he acted openly, Loyalty, even
with those who were in insurrection against
| the law.
monsieur, the chief of police of Yak
| outsk," said M. La1eur, 1--WE cannot see
things in the same light as you; you will re-
main with US, if you please, until we judge
you retreat indifferent to our safety; you
are our prisoner!"
| But [ am wounded"
| "Another reason for remaining with US
I will cure you; know all about wounds"
| "Youl-a dancing Ia maker of
| womens hats "a manufacturer of cham
| pagne!"
| II began life as an herbalist, Monsieur
| But have you no weapons?"
II had a gun and pistols" said the chief OF
| police, looking in the direction of the field
| of strife,
| AS he finished speaking, Ladislas advanc-
| ed, bearing slung across his back the very
| gun and showing in his belt the very pistols
| in question.
''Keep those arms, my child" said NJ LAT
| leur to him.
$50 you disarm me- However, MY safety
| demands"