Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
CHAPTER XIII,


In vladimir's hut the twilight had Ions
changed into night. More than a quarter
of an hour Nicholas Popoff had waited fol
the Count, according to his promise, paying
no attention to the increasing darkness. Al
first he wondered why Lanin had not ap.
peared, because he had charged Helen very
specially to mention the hour at which he
would be there. He had obtained two
hours leave and no more, and knew per.
tectly how dangerous this step might he
come for him and for Palkin himself.
"OhI these womeup' he thought to him.
self "No doubt Helen has blundered. /
ought to have done it myself Why, it is
perfectly darkF
Nicholas rose, looked for q piece of light
wood. kipdIed it with. the aid of match
and put it into q beam. Thus the smoking,
flitterinc light illumined the hut at least
after fashion. No other light is known in
the Siberian villages.
"Why does he not appear?" Nicholas
continued his musings. II have been wait
ing an hour now. What can have hap
pened to him?"
He waited half an hour longer. As no
one came, he thought it high time to return
home, so as to cause no suspicion of his Fro
longed absence.
He went to the door, opened it, and
started back with cry of surprise and
horror.
Colonel Palkin was standing on the
threshold and behind him he saw several
men who were walking up and down.
"Colonell You here!" he exclaimed.
TIE colonel walked up close to him and
pushed him with his whole strength back
into the room.
Are you surprised?"
"Where is the Count? What do you want
here?"
"Ha! hal The inquiry begins! Well, I
can give you an answer. I am here to take
those documents which 1 need Out with
theml The Count will never return herer'
"Why?"
Unnecessary curiosityl Out with those
papers or"
''That is treacheryr'
"Call it what you choosel / have no
time for discussion. Hand me the rapersl'
Now Popof saw clearly that he had been
caught in trap, and that Palkin was his
enemy. With the strength of despair he
seized the Colonel by the throat, crying:
"You shall at least paw for the othersp'
The Colonel, however, a man of herculean
strength, pushed the poor, weak man easily
back, seized his hands and pressed them till
his joints cracked and he sank down on the
floor.
"Hel People! HereI'
In a moment two gendarmes had seized
Popoff, who was crying for help with all
his might, hoping to attract the attention of
neighbors or passers by, and bound him with
ropes
tNow search him accurately! This time
nothing shall escape mer'
Nicholas, however, when thus confronting
imminent danger. had recovered his presence
OF mind, and a scornful smile even PLAYED
on his lips. The gendarmes began to search
him. He was stripped of his clothing;
pockets. boots, even his hair was thoroughly
searched. Nothing was found but a tobacco
bag and penknite. Palkin was foaming
with rage.
"You think, perhaps, you will cheat me
once more. Well, we'll see. All has not
been tried yet. And if have to kill you 1
must have those papers. Speak, where are
they hid?"
Nicholas silently shrugged his shoulders.
This gesture made the Colonel furious.
''Tie him to that bench and fetch q ma
yaika."
Nicholas turned deadly pale. The na-
yaika is knout, o strap of leather with two
Knots, the end of which is forked, like the
ongue of a serpent. After 100 blows the
flesh is generally gone from the bones, and
10 man is able to bear 500 blows.
Nicholas was tied to the bench, and they
,nly waited for the man who had been sent
'or the knout, which was kept at the in
'pector's house.
"Obey mel' said Palkin to Popoff. "You
have a moments time yet to consider.
Don't be obstinatel Tell me your secret"
"You may murder me, wretched hang
man," replied Popof; "but you shall never
earn my secret I'd rather bite off my
.ongue, you wretched spy and traitor! I
hall vet live to see you overthrown."
Palkin laughed cruelty and sat down,
facing the bench. The nagaika was brought |
"welll Now begin and strike slowly, so
ne may have time to reflect and give me the |
Inswer want"
The knout whizzed through the air and |
ell upon the bare back of the wretched vic |
i'm. Instantly a dark blue mark appeared, |
md Popof uttered heartrending cry. He |
ut into the wood of the bench and did not
omplain further.
After the twentieth stroke the blood
,oured forth in streams, and large fragments
f flesh were torn off. The pain was too
lis teeth had made deep indentations and
'egan to cry madly. Palkin was calmly
moking his cigar.
"At lastI' he exclaimed. Have you
pened your mouth at last? Perhaps you
Till now be kind enough to answer"
With gesture OF the hand he ordered the
to stop. The fellow coolly wiped
he leather strap with his fingers. Pieces
f flesh came of, which he coolly threw
side. Popof's throat ratified like that of
dyiEg man.
"Where is the paper want?" asked the
,olonel. Nicholas turned his face to the
ruel man, and in his bloody, tearful eyes
nvincible resoluteness still spoke clearly.
You shall get nothing from me, cursed
angman," he replied.
"Well, let us seei'
And down came the nagaika again. The
orture was all the more cruel, as it had
cen interrupted. At the first blow Popoff
ttered perfectly fearful heartrending cry.
'alkin laughed At each blow Popof's
rIes became less violent, his trembling less
erceptible. At last he hardly breathed.
'alkin thought the gendarme was tired.
"Strike betteri" he ordered, 'or you share
'opofs fatei"
The gendarme struck with all his force.
lie struck the backbone. Popoff uttered
nch terrific cry that the soldier himself
-as terrified.
will you answer now?"
"NeverP breathed Nicholas, who was
ying.
"StrikeI strikel say" shouted Pslkin.
Below, at his legs and feeti Make him
,el the nagaika"
At this moment the door opened and DR..
[aas entered. He slowly walked up to
akin.
"where does this man come from9"