The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-08-08

alarm. With great effort he hastened
with all his strength his halting steps, At
that moment red light cleaned in his
eyes. In the quiet of the night the report
of gun rang out startlingly and rolled on,
repeated by the echoes of the woods, till it
finally died away The moment after the
shot Zinka stumbled as if he had been
struck by lightning. In the light of the
moon his form stood out black against the
gray meadow, close by thicket Several
times he mastered himself by an effort, but
at last rolled over, as stifled groan broke
from his lips pressed against the damp
moss. Then everything was quiet and the
dark body lay still.
Near the place from whence the shot was
fired short whistle sounded and was an
swered from the other side of the mere.
1t was the sign of the gamekeepers that
their hunt was ended.
At the head of the mere tho gamekeep-
ers and woodmen gathered in a knot round
one who whispered
"That limping beast will give us no
more trouble"
"Skokan ?'' asked one
"He rolled over; didn't you see ?"
cat last !" said another.
None OF them went near the wounded
man, lest he should recognize them and
give evidence against them, or, more likely,
try to revenge himself Leaving the mere
they took their way home through the dark
woods.
The report of the gun made the three
| L.,
of them knew that one their companions
had been shot at. Skokan and Jarosh,
hidden under the dam, knew that the shot
must have been fired at Zinka or Novak
Novak, being nearer was sure that it was
fired at Zinka.
Nearly an hour passed. Novak listened
anxiously to assure himself that the game
keepers were really gone, and hearing moth
ing more of them ventured at last out Of
the thicket. He was soaked to the skin
and shivering with fear and cold eau
tiously he looked around the meadow, and
suddenly stopped, rooted to the ground
with horror About forty STEPS off man
with uncovered head sat in the moonlight
near thicket. He was pressing both
hands to his face and moaning, as he
rocked himself from right to left, 80, my
God, my God !" Then he fell fat on his
back, and his hands dropped powerless at
his sides
The moonlight shone out more clearly
and Novak recognized Zinka. A few steps,
without considering whether he was in
danger or not, and he knelt on the grass
by his side. In stihed voice Zinka was
whispering to himself "Jesus, Maria, Jo-
seph p that cry of the peasant in his mo-
ments of agony.
Suddenly Novak remembered his wonted
caution of poacher. Quickly passing his
left arm beneath Iinkas knees and his
right around his shoulders, he lifted him
and ran with him to the woods. There he
laid him down again upon the moss and
asked him
"Where are You wounded p
'0n the right side, in the ribs, whis-
pered Hnka, and added Nothing has
happened to the rest of you, please Godl''
After time he whispered, pressing his
hand to his breast II shan't live; they
have settled me-.
Novak put his thick, swollen hands to
his lips and initiated the cry of an owl,
"Tu-whoo, tu-whoo p
Bending down again over the wounded
man he took out of his pocket wefl-corked
bottle, opened it, and said
"Taste a little powder, mate. 1t will
drive out the sting"
Zinka took the bottle in his weak left
hand, lifted it to his mouth, and poured on
his tongue a few grains of gunpOwder rolled
them in his mouth for few moments, and
swallowed them. That is with the Bohe-
mian poachers favorite preventive against
the evil consequences of wound.
at is no good, whisped Zinka. With
sad smile he went on "The shot has
gone into my lungs" Aud as he spoke he
coughed, and the blood ran out of his
mouth.
Again Novah initiated the hoot of an
owl, and this time the cry was answered
from short distance The boughs of the
pines rustled, and presently Skokan ap-
peared pushing his way through the un-
derwood.
''Zinka has received the whole charge in
his lungs Navak whispered into Skokan's
ear. alt seems to me they have finished
him"
Skokan bent over Zinka, saying: "Its
l, mate, Skokan."
Zinka, feeling with his left hand in the
dark, touched Skokan's face. 1t was the
touch of hand of ice, and he spoke dis
jointedly.
"Mate-you're alive-please God-for-
give-for Tommy's sake--only child-four-
teens years-the gauntlet"
He could say no more. There was dull,
rattling sound in his throat. Skokan could
find no meaning in his words. Leaning
towards Novak, he whispered: "He does
not know what he is saying-he is delir-
ious. Spread out the nets, and We will
take him home"
They spread out the nets, taking them
from their necks and laying them out one
above the other on the grass Opening
them to half their breadth they laid the
helpless Zinka in them, lifted up the ends
of the nets, and proceeded into the depth
of the wood. There they found narrow
path which wound like u snake Many
time had they taken their way along it,
bending under the weight of the fish they
had stolen. Five times they had led or
carried home wounded eomrade
Zinka half lay and half sat in the net
Now and then be sighed, and the rafting
sound was audible in his throat They
proceeded thus for half an hour through
the thickest part of the wood, where the
rays of the moon We're unable to pierce the
branches, though she shone now brightly.
Presently, again, Zinka began to murmur
some unintelligible words
"Keep quiet, mate" said Skokan.
"Youll be all right presently"
1t seemed that Zinka heard, for he re-
mained STILL The poachers hastened as