The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-10-30


risen. The bridge was. carried away at
daybreak.
'.rhose two travelers?' Il demanded
eugeriy. Did they get across in tfme9n-
mo, Captain. They started for the
upper bridge
Then we'll have them yeti" cried
Call out tho guards at once. Don't lose
second"
buckled on my sword, seized my
cloak and hat and rushed to the door
where my horse already awaited me.
My own men were mounting in haste,
and the Cossacks sat motionless in their
saddles.
A moment more would have seen us
off, when solitary rider came In sight,
far up the road and presently refined up
before US painting and breathlcss.
"orders from the Gar" he cried,
vaul ling from the saddle ''Havo Ivan
Brosky and Vladimir passed this sta
tionp'
Il briefly explained the situation.=-
They must be arrested at all haz-
ardsl" he cried "They left St. Peters
burg with forged passports. 1t was dis
covered only yesterday"
"And who are these menu asked.
7"They are Shamerin and Kharkoff,"
replied the messenger, 1.-THE assassins of
General Orley."
1t was Of Agrave Importance, indeed,
that they should be captured, and,
mounting In haste, we dashed away at
full speed, leaving the Cars messen-
ger to enjoy the comforts of the station,
for he had been riding all night and
badly needed rest.
Our course led eastward to the Vistula,
and thence turned off to the south, fol-
owing a rugged and little travelled road
through the hills, which led eventually
to another bridge over the Vistula, some
twenty miles further down the stream.
1t was bad enough for horsemen; for
sleigh it was terrible.
Irode in advance, side by side with
Captain Karaman, the commander of the
Cossacks.
We Numbered at headlong speed
over the frozen ground. sure of our
prey-for, on tho road before US, fast
freezing up in the morning air, we're
the tracks of hoofs and runners I'M
printed in the slush. At intervals,
through the hill gaps we caught sight
of the Vistula, o turbid, yellow mass,
swirling past with its burden of floating
ice
We must travel still faster. The
upper bridge was heavier, more solid
structure, little likely to be carried off
by even such a, food as this. We must
overtake them before they reach It
We drove the spurs into our painting
horses and the forest and barren hill
sides shot past US in one flying piano.
rama as we galloped like tho wind over
the frozen ground, rounding bond after
bend, only to see the same empty gilt
| tering stretch of road fading in mock
cry into the frosty atmosphere
Furiong after furlong. mile after
mile, and still they kept ahead with q
speed that seemed incredible.
.Lookp'= cried Captain Karaman.
under his frosted beard, 1.-The tracks
are still soft. We shall soon see them"
Struggling houses came in sight, and
the people ran to their doors in wonder
as we swept past like the whirlwind-
| Karamans 8. Cossacks of the Volga, somber
and stern in their great black cloaks
and shakos; my dragons a trifle more
picturesques with their green uniforms
and waving plumes
We galloped through the little vii
lage Of Kapan-only five miles to the
bridge and, as we swept round the
brow of hill, in the distance we saw a,
| black speck on the frozen road
Even as Karaman pointed it out 1t
vanished over bridge numbered
on in hot pursuit losing sight of it.
sometimes, but all the while gaining
steadily, until from vague, dark OBJ
ject 1t assumed shape and form, and we
could very plainly make out sleigh
and two horses.
With fierce Joy saw 1T drawing
closer and closer They were lashing
4 the horses with furious desperation, but
the poor brutes were fast giving out.
Barely quarter. of mile lay be-
| tween us, and now the distance was
diminishing very rapidly. We were
going down gentle. slope, when sud
denly Captain Karaman exclaimed:
1.-The bridge! Do you see the bridgep"
Crossing the road far ahead o. as was
a cleaning bit of water. SPAWNED by
narrow wooden bridge. 1t was not the
Vistula, but .puny mountain stream
one Of the tributaries of the Vistula,
whose existence l had forgotten.
1t was possible, l thought, to overtake
the assassins before they could reach it;
and even If we failed 1t mattered little,
for the Vistula was still a mile or more
away. We swept over the icy ground at
a. dangerous speed, and l felt like
shouting out with triumph, for the
sleigh was running slower and slower,
and the capture Of the men seemed GER
| tain.
| called them to surrender, but they
made no reply, though they must have
seen how hopeless their situation was.
The bridge was now very close, and
saw at a glance 1t was giving way, for
the stream was high and swollen, and
greatcakes Of ice were crashing against
the wooden piles
Look out, they are going to fire"
cries Karaman, suddenly. And as he
! spoke the smooth-faced man half rose in
his seat andFturning round pointed the
gun directly ateus.~ heard the report
and felt the whiz of the bullet past my
ear. Then came puff Of white smoke
and a second shot; and with cry OF
pain the Cossack behind me sprang up
from his saddle and rolled down on the