Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-28

llnm0defate generosity had he not eSpOuSe1
the cause Of the fuyitiyGs: II Il he not
suggested to Yegor the idea OF precipitating
the rock upon Yernac? M. Lafeur said to
himself that he evidently had not known
what he was doing, The strangeness Of his
! situation, his impulsiye nature and his good
| heart with its generous outDustS-he
| would have preferred death to the cap
ture of his friends through his passive at
| titude-such had been the moving causes
capable of impelling him to become uncon-
| sciOuSly the champion and defender Of q
! criminal act
All sorts of incoherent thoughts mingled
with each other now i'll his brain. He stop
ped himself at times, upon the point of re-
! tracing his steps to aid Yermac Who
knew! Perhaps the chief of police was not
yet dead? But would not that amount to
| delivering himself up to justice, to ac-
| cepting alone the responsibility of the
crime? No; that was impossible! Then
! doubling his pace, he breathlessly reioined
his companions, who asked him what was
the matter or if he had heard anything
''No, no, it was nothing" answered he.
IT imagined I heard a voice"
It was the voice of his conscience re-
preaching him for his conduct.
After a long ana toilsome march, the fugi-
| tiges saw with satisfaction the end Of the
defile. The moons rays, stealing through
! the interstices Of the trees, changed into
| columns Of silver the smooth and shining
| trunks of the birches and transformed
| into beautiful velvet draperies the vines
! clinging to the branches Of the pines and
| larcheS
Leaving behind them the valley slumber.
ing amid perfect quietude, they crossed 8
slope beneath starry sky. The massive
elevations of the Verkho-Y ansl1 Mountains
raised to the right and left their pyramids
of stone, which newly-fallen snow covered
as with mantle Of ermine.
At daybreak the fugitives reached wood.
ed plateau, which offered a sight favorable
to camping and cOncealment.
It was the forest Of Ostrovoye.
Overlooking Il ravine, at the bottom OF
| which flowed torrent this plateau was
| protected on its three remaining sides by
the lateral extensions of the chain of noun
tains; the thick forest which covered il
| and was at least six or seven miles long
made it like the centre of an impregnab.e
| fortress.
Yegor, who had profited by short halt tc
explore the spot and study its position in
the double point Of view of flight and lie,
fence, held a council and expressed the
opinion that the place was a suitable one
In which to await the winter, the speedy
arrival Of which was announced in various
| ways.
While they We're encamped in the forest
the Yakoute Tel1el could go on foot to Zach
| ivcrsk, little town situated on the right
bank Of the Indiguirlza, to procure two
sledgeS drawn by reindeer. These sledges
were indispensable to continue the journey
in winter, over tho marshes and rivers lev.
eled by the snow which falls in abundance
| in these regions.
Tekel would bring back with him second
sledge driver and the party would start i'm.
| meliatCly for the country of the Tchoulkt-
CHS. nominally under the control of Russia,
from where it would be possible to reach the
Gulf of Anadyr in the spring.
M Lafleur made no opposition; he hoped
that all opportunity for him to return tc
Yakoutsk might present itself. Yermao
dead, from whence could trouble arise
for him? There had been only one witness
OF his complicity-the chief Of police him
self!
The trees Of the forest of Ostrovoye were
too close together to permit the cart to be
taken with them. But they could not aban,
don it, Iegor, aided by Tekel, demolished
! it, and the provisions as well as the baggage
were carried to the place selected for the
encampment. The horses were loaded WITH
the coverings and tents and led with much
difficulty into the midst of the forest, where
the trunks of the pines and larches formed
a kind of palisade.
+In f1,rri+ holt -o11-
in security they remembered that they had
not eaten since the previous day. They
were dying with hunger, having walked al
night.
The Yakoute cut some dry branches and
| kindled a fire over which was prepared q
! solid repast, thanks to the provisions brought
from Yal1outsk in the cart. Then, without
loss of time. the encampment was begun.
Yegor, armed with his Ratchet, commenced
to plant the stakes for Nadege's cabin.
Little Ladislas brought branches, and Yego1
interlaced them and strengthened the walls
with earth and turf, after the fashion of the
Yakoute yourtes M. Latleur. always gal.
lant arranged a quantity of skins to serve
as beds for Nadege and Ladislas.
Yegor and NJ Lafeur built hut fol-
themselves in common, under a colossal
like a protecting roof.
The next day, at dawn, Yegor gave his
Instructions to the Yakoute together with q
small bundle of paper roubles, which he had
| carefully kept in reserve, ever since his de-
parture from Kieff hidden in the lining Of
! his boots.
Telzel departed for Zachiversk, bearing
with him all the hopes of the fugitives On
his return depended the success of the es-
cape which had already presented so many
| difficulties.
Gegor accompanied the native as far as
the border of the torrent, which had hol.
| lowed out for itself at the extremity of the
valley. a tortuous bed through the thickets,
tborns and stones. He made with his
| Ratchet, which he now constantly carried
together with his carabine and two revol-
vers, few notches on the poplarS on the
verge of the stream
'They will enable YOU" said he to the
native, Ito tell where you are. The torrent
will be frozen in two weeks. Call out and
we will answer"
In two weeks I shall be back" said Te-
KEEL, and, crossing the torrent by leaping
from stone to stone, he waved his hand tC
Yegor in token of farewell and vanished in
the forest.
The exile returned towards the camp; his
dog preceded him. running among the bushes
and joyously wagging its tail.
Suddenly the animal stopped, as if it had
seen or heard something.
Yegor stoppe-. also, and, grasping his
Ratchet in both hands, stood motionless.
Around him nothing stirred: there was not
| "a no, Of hi,,9