The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-01-15
i THE EXILES.s
ATRUSSIAN STORY,
CHAPTER xx.-A LITTLE HERO.

ceeded in crawling under bush which
served him as refuge.
The next day, after night of watchfuE
ness and anguish, he courageously set out
in the direction it was probable the sledges
had taken. He knew that the fugitives
were going towards the north, and had
learned how to tell where he was by study
ing certain fluctuations of the snow formed
bv the wind But the plain stretched out
in its terrible solitude beneath the winding
sheet of winter
A few stunted birches and willows, which
arose here. and there, uesembled white
monks at prayer upon the marble of tomb.
The sun disappeared below the red horizon
it seemed to have melted in a confagra-
fion-and great pink reflections ran shiver-
ing over the silvered ground. The night
game on and Ladislas had not seen living
creature He sought shelter in forest
After having eaten a little frozen bread
which he found in the pockets of his pelisse
and drunk few drops of brandy from the
small flask he bore about him, he fell asleep
overcome with fatigue, at the foot Of tree
behind an old trunk about which the heaped
up snow formed sort Of rampant
Very early awake, he saw the day return
after long and cruel hours of waiting, and
was much surprised to perceive at short
distance a reindeer browsing on the tender
portions of the branches of the birchcS,
He ran towards the animal. To Judge
from the saddle and leather bride it wore,
it was a reindeer prepared for mounting,
which had strayed away. In fact, it allow
ed itself to be approached and seized by
strap.
The child climbed upon it, and thought
himself saved, when, trusting to the in
stinct of the intelligent creature, he realized
that, instead of going heedlessly forward, it
was following path leading to some inhab-
tied spot.
In a few hours. he found himself in the
midst of a YakOute village, half covered by
the debris of the recent pourga. The huts
of this village were scattered about upon
the snow as if thrown there by chance.
They were, nevertheless, constructed with
exceptional solidity of trunks and branches
of trees.
The villagers spoke a little Russian, and
LaGiglas received from them the most cor
dial hospitality. They warmed him, gave
him an abundant repast, and helped him,
the following day, to make with some birch
limbs and straps a little sledge to which he
harnessed his reindeer. He asked of them
information concerning the country and
what direction it was necessary to take to
reach -Kolimsk-the sole means, by
leaving that station to his left, thought he,
Of again finding Yegor and Nadege, who
were to pass to the east of that town.
Two hours later, he started on his jour-
ney, driving a sledge for the first time in
his life. This vehicle was of the most ele-
mentary description. Well wrapped in his
furs, the little Pole held in his hand the rod
which serves to direct the reindeer and to
stop them in case Of too rapid descent on
snow-covered slopes. He went with ex-
treme swiftness, hoping to reach Yegor's
nartas on the morrow. He took NO rest at
night, and, as the sky was clear, guided
himself by the polar star.
OF all these things, Ladislas told only
what he judged proper to tell to the i'll
looking men by whom he was surrounded,
VINO questioned him with curiosity, greatly
astonished to meet child and foreigner in
these frightful solitudes.
land the wolves?" demanded Dimitri OF
hir-''the wolves that were bowling behind
yoT, ready to devour yOus Were you moi
afraid of them?"
The wOlves?" said the child to the lat
ter, whose red pantalOons, ornamented with
silver and numerous and varied weapons,
sufficiently indicated the chief of the band
1.-THE wolves that were pursuing me? They
were behind me for know not how many
hours !"
'.They numbered at least two hundred!'
said Ivan.
SAT first, p" resumed Ladislas, ION turning
around, I saw one-one only-which did not
brighten me much. 1t trotted along, always
tho Coma 6ic+opoa 1ncco0inC or
increasing its pace according to the speed
of the sledge. But d second wolf that !
noticed on the top of a small hill joined the
other. A few minutes afterwards, on look
ing in their direction counted three of
them! Then there were four, then five,
then six, then eight, then ten, then twelve,
and then twenty. [ dare not look again. ]
could no longer count them, so largely had
their number increased! But I urged on
my reindeer, exciting it by every possible
means. At last, I saw from a long distance
the fire of your encampment. hoped to find
beside that firez-but, no matterl You have,
indeed, saved my life, my friends, and am
very grateful to you'll"
The young lad spoke with an assurance
that delighted these fierce men, deprived of
all family joys. They set before the child
the best provisions they possessed-their
dainties, so to speak.
Where are you going?" asked Dimitri of
him.
The chief of the brigar.ls had a mild and
intelligent countenance which pleased Lad
islas.
Nevertheless, he hesitated to reply.
''You can speak" said Dimitri, taking the
lad a little aside "You have nothing tc
fear from me, despite my array of sabres
and pistols. 1 belong to an honest family,
and my father who died but recently, left
behind him a reputation for rectitude. AT
Moscow. everybody knows Yermac's worth
This name struck the lad.
81 knew, bearing that name," said he,
''the chief of police of Yakoutsk."
1.-The chief Of police9 Well, child, he was
my father"
"And he is dead" cried Ladislas, alarmed
for Nadege and Yegor But only three
days ago he was still with Isl"
'Howl with you?-with whon?"
with my adopted sister and the man who
is going to marry her-and with NJ. Lafeur.