Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-04


Austrian ship is Boris Andreyeff, your sis
ter's husband, Yegor."
''My brother-inlaw, cried Yegor
"Your brother-in-law, who. after your
| exile to Siberia, disguised with despotic
Russia. quilted the port Of Riga and took
service in the Austrian merchant marine
your brother-in-law, to whom is given the
immense good fortune to deliver you, and
who burns to press you to his heart and to
know the amiable companion you have
snatched from a frightful AID unmerited
fate. You can imagine how he received
4ermac's denunciation. Captain Andre
yeH, will take you wherever you wish to
go; to port Of King Georges Archipelago,
of New Norfolk, of New Hanover, or even
of California. Where do you wish to go?"
Where do wish to goa" answered Yegor
II wish to go to France"
And Chateau-Thierry is there!" said M
Lafeur, smiling. 1--WE will go together
that is if Madame Semenoff will permit it y
Nadege grew red as a cherry.
''Vive Ia iberte" said the Partisan.
"And now," added he, embrace me, my
friends"
Yegor, Nadege and Ladislas threw them
selves into the arms of the excellent M.
Lafeur.
''Take care, said he to them, wiping away
tear with the back Of his hand, ''you will
crush my pocket violin!"
An hour later, the fugitives found them
selves installed on board the Austrian ship
and perfectly at home. Tekel and Chort
had been dismissed and thanked. Yegor
abandoned to them the nartas and their con.
re 1I1F1iv l,o1.
rowed from the governor of Yakoutsk and
the curiosities belonging to NJ Lafeurs
new collection. He gave them, besides,
nearly all the money he yet possessed, coin
and paper, which amounted to quite a large
sum.
The two Yakoute guides took leave of the
travellers with sorrow They decided to
wait for the chief of policies return to land
and then to start on their homeWard Journey
immediately.
The joy of Captain Andreyeff knew no
bounds, and his happiness would have been
complete if he had been able to induce Yer
mac to break with his past, forget who he
was and become another man. But the chief
of police remained firm as a rock.
M. Lafleur wished to reproach him with
his conduct, but Yegor's brother-in-law in
terfered and defended Yermac, saying, with
firmness:
'He is an honest man"
The breakfast table was set on board the
ship and the captain insisted that Yermac
should sit beside him. But, amid the gener
al gayety, the chief of police remained silent
and sad.
He felt that he was vanquished.
''You will not remain with US, then?'
said Captain Andreyeff to him for the tenth
time
Yermac shook his head negatively.
81 regret it," said the Captain ''The
only thing l can now do is to put all my
boats at your disposal to return to land"
II thank you for your persistence and
your offer, he said, ''but I shall return as [
came-on FOOT"
1.-The sea is more agitated than it was last
night" observed the Captain
The fugitives laid plans for the future,
for happy life in common.
II have my emeralds yeti" cried Nadege,
suddenly, looking at the chief OF police.
The latter smiled.
The moment for their separation at last
arrived.
The chief of police after having coldly
shaken hands with all and warmly embraced
LadiSlas, gave Yegor a document written
in pencil.
''What is this?" asked Yegor
''The inventory of the tools and supplies
found on the whaler, You will, doubtless,
be the first in a situation to use it for the
benefit of the ship-owners"
With these words. he threw himself upon
the ice block to which the ship was moored
Captain Andreyeff had spoken truly: the sea
was greatly agitated. Yermac seemed to
take no heed of the fact.
"At least, make use of the baydare, cried
M. Latleur to him.
He replied by gesture of adieu
Every eye followed him.
Several times, he disappeared for min
ute or two behind blocks of ice, from which
they afterwards saw him emerge,
Suddenly, when upon an elevated point.
he lost his footing. Nadege and Ladislas
uttered cry. Yermac appeared no more.
Captain" said Nadege, ''in mercy send
some of your men to him. He may yet be
rescuedl'
The captain was about to give orders to
this effect, when they saw the two Yaloutes
advance over the ice fields in search of Yer
mac, whose disappearance they also had
witnessed.
On reaching the spot where he had lost
his footing, the Yakoutes made vain search
for the chief of police The moving ice
blocks between which he had fallen had
come together again, burying him beneath
their immense masses.
Tekel and Chort were very quickly con-
WINGED of this.
Then Tekel mounted a block, having some
trouble to maintain his equilibrium. He
made speaking trumpet OF his hands, and,
turning towards the ship, cried out with all
his might:
'Deadl"
His voice ran over the ice with a mourn.
full information.
''He is dead!" repeated those around Cap
tain Andreyeff.
1T looks like suicidel" said Yegor with a
shudder.
II warned him." said the Captain. 'WIy
was he so obstinate!"
''It was his own fault" murmured the
Partisan. "But what head he hadl"
Poor mani" said Nadege. LET US pity
him, and remember only the assistance he
rendered US at the peril of his life"
"Assistance?" said the captain, in aston
ishment.
Yes, my dear Boris2" said Yegor ''In
the midst of the polar night on the ice dur
ing frightful tempest he saved Nadege
! and Ladislas from terrible death-and,
without him, neither they-nor would be
| here nowl"
CHAPTER XXXv.-MARRIAGE BELLS.
| The Francis-Joseph was cast loose from
the ice block as soon as the fact of Yermac' s
death was ascertained; the vessel, with