The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-12-04

Continued Jroaa page taeo.
CHAPTER xI.-TuE PRISONER.

the shoulders OF which were encircled by a
| white band resembling a collar.
The beast stopped and suddenly showed
fearful energy occasioned, doubtless, by the
| cravings of its stomach. It went to the
brigand, who lay stretched in death upon
the snow tinged pink by the confagration of
the forest. It walked around the corpse,
smelled it, and taking q convenient posi-
ton, calmly began to devour it.
When the creature had swallowed the
flesh, which it tore to pieces with it's sharp
nails and crunched with its powerful jaws,
it went, dripping with blood, towards the
chief of police. Was the latter about to be
eaten in his turn? The bear turned the mo.
| tionless and paralyzoi body and, afterwards,
methodically, turned il back then it seated
itself upon it's launches, reflected for an
instant and decided, like the good econo-
mist it was, that having eaten enough for
that day, and even for several days, it should
reserve the rest of its provisions for time
of need
It seized Yermac by the arm and without
sinking its pointed teeth too deeply in the
flesh, dragged his body in the direction Of
little clump of dwarf trees.
Arrived there, it dug a hiding-place in the
earth with it's nails, in which it carefully
laid the chief of police.
The bear broke some small branches, art
fully placed them over the food magazine it
had just established, and covered the whole
with snow, which it deftly projected with
its hind paws, turning it's back to the little
mound.
This done, it went to complete its diges-
ton somewhat further off, and perhaps, to
scott at some brown confrere having a less
keen scent and less activity.
Meanwhile, the fugitives-Ye gor, Nadege,
NJ Lafeur, and the little Pole-after having
escaped from the torrent of flames which
ran from south to north, were returning,
slzirting the immense incandescent furnace,
over the eastern road, by which Telzel and
the liberating sledges would arrive in a few
days.
They had heaped upon two of their horses,
which they had succeeded in recovering
the pologue, some saved provisions, the
arms and the clothing, and were progress
ing, Yegor and M. Lafeur each leading a
horse by the bride. They were advancing
slowly by the intermittent light of the con
flagration.
An hour after the burial of the chief of
police the fugitives reached the spot where
the bloody fight between Yernac and the
gold-robbers had occurred. They saw blood
scattered about in profusion, and the re-
mains of devourel human corpse. All
stood mute with amazement at this hideous
spectacle. On looking closer Ladislas per-
ceived a trace of blood upon the snow, as
if wounded man had dragged himself
away. He impaired his discovery to Mad
eye.
Ia n ST,Ol n
from here" cried the young girl. ''Soe this
blood, Monsieurs, and this troddon snow.
Oh! if we have come soon enough to save
one Of our lind!"
ssL1et US look into this matter. said Yegor.
They fastened the horses to the trees.
In a neighboring valley, a groWl was
heard. It was the bear with the white col
lar
eve must not stray too far" said M
Lafeur, prudently holding his gun in his
hand prepared for whatever might happen.
The whole party advanced to the mound
beneath which Yermac lay This hiding
place seemed mysterious to them.
Yegor and the little Pole got down upon
their knees and scraped away the snow
with their hands, while M Lafeur, with
his gun upon his shoulder, kept guard over
them
The snow removed and the branches tax
en- from their position, in the light reflected
by the clouds of smoke lowering over the
forest in combustion, Yegor, Ladislas and
Nadege saw a mana dead man inferred.
"A corpse !" exclaimed they, simultaneous
ly, with different degrees of emotion.
a sigh answered them.
HE is not dead!" cried Yegor And ne
felt his heart. cit beats strongly" added
he, full of hope
ooh! what good fortune for us!" cried
Nadege. ''My friends, we are allowed to
do a good action-which will somewhat con-
sole US for the cruel extremities to which
you were compelled to resort; you can re-
store this life in place Of the other life in the
defiles Confidence, Yegor! This is good
omen for the success of your courageous en-
terprise"
The chief Of police was placed in a sitting
posture by Yegor, aided by M. Laheur who
had forgotten the bear and its growls.
Yegor, frightened at seeing the distorted
features and closed eyes Of the chief of
police, thought the sight q vision of the
brain
''Ah! Nadege!" cried he ''do not speak
Of that man of the defles-you ill me with
terror!"
M. Laheur, with open mouth, was also
staring with fright.
Yermac, at last, opened his eyes.
''Thank you'll" said he.
-'EIt is, indeed, the chief of police!" STAN
mered Yegor, in extreme astonishment.
Whoever you are, thank you'll" again
said the exhumed man. ''You have taken
heavy mountain from my breast"
The reflections of the condagration grew
more intense, suddenly increased with
craclzlings indicating that the flames had
found new food
''What! is it you, Monsieur Semenof!-
is it you, Monsieur Lafieur? Do owe my
life to you-to you? Where is my son? What
have they done with Dirnitri? It is night
and I am wounded in the right arm-I am
losing blood. Have you, Semenoff and NJ.
Ladeur, come to finish me? Did you bury
me alive beneath the snow, as the other day
you strove to bury me alive beneath the
rocks? That was cowardly. But explain
yourselves-speakp
Yegcr and NJ. Lafeur had lost the power