San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-15

ness, which suggested an immense glacier
Of the primitive epoch, when part of the
world was slumbering beneath thick en-
velope of crystal.
That day, after the few hours duration
to which the sunlight was reduced, they
lighted in Nadege's hut the great copper
lamp intended to furnish both heat and il
Elimination.
The young girl made and served tea, re-
counting the while to NJ. Lafieur the suffer
ings endured by her father and herself or
their journey to Siberia, in the midst Of s
severe winter, during which they encounter
ed several Of those terrible hurricanes SC
frequent beyond the Ural Mountains.
They saw wolves running on each side
of their sledge, ready to leap upon the
horses if they should fall or relax their pace
Such experiences were dreadful for an old
man and young girl so stepped in misfor
tune. They reached Nertchinsk exhausted,
after journey of more than forty-sevep
hundred miles, accomplished under the
worst conditions.
"Poor father!" murmured Nadege, as she
finished her recital.
Poor Nadege!" said Yegor, extending his
hands to his betrothed.
MY friends" said the Partisan, ''you de-
serve better fate But patience; it will
comet Filial devotion will have its re-
compense, and the energy and courage Of
him who is to be your companion in this life,
Mademoiselle, will also be rewardedw
While they We're thus talking the night
had advanced. NJ. Lafleur smoked final
pipe, discreetly putting out-of-doors the
clouds of his doubtful tobacco.
At last, bedtime came. Yegor and the
Partisan babe the young girl and her broth.
er goodnight and retired to their hut.
The preparations for bed did not cost
night-shirts or kuchlankas; each of them
crawled, feet first, into large reindeer skin
sack, burying himself up to the head, and
sleep came quickly. The dog Wab kept
guard over all.
Suddenly. little before midnight, the
guests of the forest were awakened by o
strange noise made by the cracking, crunch.
ing, and fall of trees amid a great crash of
branches. Roars of animals and plaintive
cries mingled with it. Wab uttered furious
bowls.
On opening their eyes, Yegor and his com.
paniOn saw the sky red with fire. Masses
of rudy smoke rolled across it, whirling
one about another. A strong odor of burn
ing green wood was everywhere.
At this sight they stood terror-stricken
and overwhelmed.
1.-The forest is on fret" cried M. Lafieur
Yegor was already hurrying towards Mad.
sges hut
He found her up She had seen the first
strcaks of light in the sky but had taken
them for the effect of the aurora borealis.
Little Ladislas, thinking it all a dream. was
rubbing his eyes.
'The forest is in flames," said Yegor.
"Then we are LOST" cried Nadege, with Q
look of despair. ''Oh! Yegor! that after
suffering and hoping so much we should
come here to die All! if could have fore.
seen it! At Irkoutsk, at least, should have
been buried beside my father"
And she burst into tears.
you take alarm too quickly, dearest,
said Yegor, grasping her hands; 'you de.
spair too soon! Am not here! Are we not
resolved, all of us, to perish if necessary &c
save youi"
oh see how the flames are advancingr
cried She
Fear nothing, Nadege! 1 will save you"
cried Yegor; 1--WE will save you! But dc
not paralyze our strength"
''Be calm, be calm, my children !" said M
Lafleur. Let us effect our retreat together
and in good order. We must not separate.
l will be your guide"
But we cannot abandon our camp pos
sessions" observed Yegor, ''our garments
and our provisions If we do, what will be-
come of us!r
And the horses'" said the little Pole, on
perceiving the three animal which, in theil
fright, were Juggling at their ropes.
THE horses!" said NJ. Lafeur. at will
suffice to release them. Their instinct will
teach them how to escape without US"
Yegor set the horses at liberty.
Nadege hastily gathered the objects which
filed her hut, and, first of all, the precious
manuscript-her fathers songs of exile ::
Ladislas made bundles of them. Yegor
and the Partisan attended to the clothing
and food.
"Above everything" said Yegor, stoutly
working away, 1--WE must be careful of our
stock of powder"
At last, they set out, now preceded, now
followed by Wab.
The conflagration increased with frightful
rapidity. The larches, pines and all the
resinous trees famed like immense torches
The tallest of these trees, burning from root
to crown, rose in close ranks like enormous
pillars of fire. The flames, kept from as.
cending by the wind, extended their raw
ages afar. The huge branches detached
themselves from the trunks with a crash.
and, an instant after, the giants of the
forest fell, one upon another, with hollow