Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-21

his gun.
'sWhat do you say, Yegor?" cried Mad
eye, alarmed. DO you foresee any dam
ger."
S'What danger?" said Yegor, casting
upon his companion a look supplicating her
to hide her trouble from the eyes of the
guide care we not going to Aldanskois
Well, there will be one more of us. This
man has no guide: he can go in our COM
pany!"
II believe that he has followed in our foot
steps thus far How else could he have
avoided losing his way? You know how
frightful the roads alc!"
Several times, in FACT it has seemed to
me that heard the trot of a horse behind
US All is now explained. In any case,
Nadege, reassure yourself. Whoever shall
dare to cause you pain shall pay dearly for
it"
Nadege approached Yegor.
''Yegor," whispered she, eff we were to
mount our horses, could we not try to es-
cape?"
''Impossible!" he answered, also in whis-
per. "Our guide would not make himself
our accomplish and we should compromise
everything"
''But at least, do not expose yourselfl"
'sWhat are you saying, Nadege? Do you
think that have waited so many months
for the first day of our liberation to obey a
summons without resistance? Do you know
what would await me-What would await
you-under such circumstances? I must
either deliver up or defend both our lives r.
Defend our lives? BY what means Veg
orr"
''By every means!" answered the latter
He again gazed at the horseman and added:
1T is Yermac lit is indeed, the chief of
police. He IS following us. I thought he
had forgotten; but to q man of his mould
death alone brings forgetfulness."
GLOW you frighten mel" murmured the
young girl u no longer recognize your'
''Ah! it is because [ love you and they
wish to separate Isl"
''Yegor, | supplicate you"
81 will do all I can to put what owe YOU
in accord with what owe honor and hui
mainly. If [ were a common malefactor ]
would submit at the sight of a gendarme;
but | am an innocent MN. the victim of an
odious persecution. For myself and fOryoU
have the right on my side and, perhaps, ]
am the strongerm
The IaRoute alone was yet eating the re-
mains of the teal. lie was devoming with
a capital appetite the morsels which the
travellers appeared to have abandoned. Al
the same time, he took copious draughts Of
koumis and brandy.
Yegor was not deceived. Tt was, indeed,
the chief of police who was approaching,
and it was not chance that had put him on
the track of the fugitives. For long while,
every time the governors secretary left
Yakoutsl1 he had caused him to be follow
ed. This time his habitual suspicious had
assumed such proportions that he had de-
cided not to con1ide the task to anybody but
himself
When he learned that the exile had quit
ted the seat Of government with his betroth-
cd, preceded by Davidoffs adopted son and
M. Lafleur, he felt assured that it was with
the intention of not returning He wished
to have the cruel satisfaction of arresting
him himself III his flight. Neither hatred
nor the remembrance of the atfront put upon
him actuatel Yermac. He had higher in
centive He considered himself the instru-
ment Of the law and was obeying the harsh
obligations of duty.
When he was within twenty PAGES of the
spot where Yegor had halted, Yermac dis
mounted from his horse and fastened it to a
larch tree He advanced towards Yegor,
who arose at his approach.
'Out for little trip Monsieur Seme
notf?' said he, with a smile on his lips.
1t was not an affected, hypocritical smile,
but smile of proud satisfaction and tri-
umph
''Out for little trip, as you see," an
swered Yegor
''And here is young and charming lady,
continued the chief of police, turning towards
Nadege, who fears neither wretched roads
nor dangerous accidents"
Nadcgo bowed, growing red and pale by
turns.
1--WE are going to Alaanskoi," said Yegor,
with assumed careles5ness. "My betroth-
ed and | desire to get some idea of that
part of the country, with which we are
acquainted only through the vague ac-
counts
''Of tho merchants who frequent the Yak
outsl fair" interrupted the chief, with a
satirical meaning that did not escape Veg
or. II also am going to Aldanskoi," added
he.
''Indeed" exclaimed Yegor, ironical in
his turn.
'sMy sole vexation is that know the way
only by this direction-constantly follow the
right bank of the Lena"
The chief of police, having brought his
own horse with him. was not escorted by
Yegor had every interest in not letting
this man, in whom he saw an irreconcilable
foe, outWit him; the contrary would expose
him to being stopped. He, therefore, invit-
ed him to profit by his guide as far as the
nearest relay station and to accompany him
to Adanskoi.
This proposition somewhat astonished
Yermac. but he affected to accept it with
genuine pleasure. He thanked the exile and
added:
''Who would have thought, when we
were at the bottom of the Oukboul shaft,
that we would again encounter each other
marshes of the country of the Yakoutesl"
''Do not talk of the mine," said the exile.
1T recalls, to my great confusion, facts
that | have bitterly regretted, believe me,
Monsieur!"
eve will drop it, them" he said, dryly,
and he colored.
The exile noticed that he uttered not a
word that could open the way to a reconcile
alton.
II believed this road utterly unavaila ole
for carriages, . said Yermac. And he point
ed to the traces of the wheels of NJ Lafeur's
little cart, attentively watching the exile as
ne did So
81 thought the same. he replied. 81
was told so, but see my Informant was
mistaken. We have just breabfasted,n con.
tinued he, ION the SPOTS of the chase. You
see-teal killed III the naighboring pond
am going to shoot another brace or two they
will be better for our next meal than dry