San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-11

When he was within twenty PAGES Of the
spot where Yegor had halted, Yermac dis
mounted from his horse and fastened it to
larch tree. He advanced towards Yegor,
who arose at his approach.
"Out for little trip, Monsieur Seme-
noffa" 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 a young and charming lady,"
continued the chief of police, turning towards
Nadege, "who fears neither wretched roads
nor dangerous accidents"
Nadege bowed, growing red and pale by
turns.
''We are going to Aldanskoi," said Yegor,
with assumed carelessness. "My betroth-
ed and desire to get some idea Of that
part Of the country, with which we are
acquainted only through the vague &C
counts"
"Of the merchants who frequent the Yak
outsk fair" interrupted the chief, with a
satirical meaning that did not escape veg
or. 81 also am going to Aldanskoi," added
he.
''Indeedl" exclaimed Yegor, ironical in
his turn.
''My 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
the guide furnished at each relay station.
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 Aldanskoi
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,
on a fine September morning, among the
marshes of the country of the Yakoutes"
''Do not talk of the mine" said the exile.
sit recalls, to my great confusion, facts
that have bitterly regretted, believe me,
Monsieur"
1--WE 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 unavailable
for carriages" said Yermac. And he point
ed to the traces of the wheels of NJ Lafleur's
little cart, attentively watching the exile as
he did so.
81 thought the same" he replied. 81
was told so, but see my informant was
mistaken. We have just breakfasted," con-
tinued he, ION the spoils of the chase. You
see-teal killed in the neighboring pond.
am going to shoot another brace or two; they
will be better for our next meal than dry
biscuit"
81 will wait for you here" said Yermac.
"You do not hunt9 Why then do you carry
a gum"
The chief of police vaguely caught a
glimpse of hidden design in Yegor Seme-
noff's words and the invitation they convey
ed; but he shrunk from seeming afraid and
replied, resolutely:
Nov l think of it, why should l not
participate in the amusement l am your
man"
Yegor ordered the guide to go in advance
and asked Nadege to get into the saddle.
He motioned to his dog Wab to follow the
latter The Yakoute, on foot and singing an
improvisation led by the brides the horses
of Yegor and the chief of police.
Nadege, before departing, cast upon her
lover a supplcating look, which she strove
to render persuasive. He understood its
generous Specification.
The two hunters, full of distrust for each
other, passed along the edge of pond over
ground covered with profusion Of dwarf
cedars. Nadege heard them discharge
their weapons several times. From afar,
she even saw a number of large birds fall,
stricken by their shot. This only partially
treasured her.
If she could have seen Yegor closer and
noticed his fierce eyes, compressed lips and
clenched hands, she would have feared
some violence on his part. The young man,
dismayed and overwhelmed, no longer hes
itated at the thought of crime. He loaded
his gun with bullets, and, without further
delay, when Yermac took aim at a fen
duck, which had just risen, covered him and
fired.
The chief of police heard whistle about
his ears not small hunting shot, but ball,
which shattered the face Of his cap. He no
longer doubted the intentions Of the escaped
convict, for, in his view, Yegor was nothing
else. He thought of replying in kind, as he
was also furnished with like munitions, but
that would bring on duel, and the rigid
functionary Immediately discarded the idea
as an egregious weakness, an effect Of fear.
1t was not his business to disembarrass
himself Of his adversary, no matter how
criminal he might be- His strict duty for