Evening journal., 1892-11-15

very violent; Janko will not come"
"Janko," replied the blind boy, "Janko
Is not afraid of the wind"
"But the clouds get thicker and
thicker"
"In the darkness it is easier to escape
the coast guard.
"And what if he gets drownedT
"You will have no more bright rib
bons to wear on Sunday"
AS | listened to the colloquy, / re-
marked that the blind boy who had
spoken to me in the Little Russian dia-
ct, talked quite correctly the true Rus
sian language.
"You see" he continued, clapping his
hands. II was right. Janko fears neither
the sea, nor the wind, nor the fog, nor
the coast guard. Listenl 1t is not the
breaking Of the waves 1 hear. No, it is
the noise Of his oars"
The woman got up, and with an anx-
ious look tried to pierce the darkness.
"You are wrong" she said, 81 hear moth
ing"
also tried TO see whether there was
some sort of craft in the distance. but
could distinguish nothing. A moment
later, however, a black speck showed
itself among the waves, now rising, now
falling. At last l could make out the
form of boat dancing on the waters.
and rapidly approaching the shore.
The man who was guiding it must
have been bold sailor TO cross ON such
night an arm OF the sea some fourteen
miles across, and must have had good
reasons for Drawing so much danger.
watched the frail little craft which was
now diving and plunging like q duck
through the breakers. 1t seemed as
though she must the next moment be
dashed to pieces on the shore. when sud
| denly the slnllful rover turned into a
little bay, and there, in comparatively
calm water effected landing.
The man was Of middle height. and
wore ON his head cap Of black sheep
skin. He made sign with his hand,
when the two mysterious persons who
had been talking together Joined him.
! Then the three united their forces to
drag from the boat a burden which
seemed to be 80 heavy that cannot
even now understand how so light a
craft could have supported such a
weight They at last hoisted the cargo
ON their shoulders, then walked away
and soon disappeared.
The best thing for me to do now was
to return to my resting place. But the
strange scene l had witnessed had 20
struck me that waited impatiently for
daybreak.
My Cossack was much surprised when,
ON waking up, he found me fully dressed.
| said nothing 30 him about my noe
turnal excursion. remained for some
little time looking through the window
with admiration at the blue sky, studded
with little clouds, and the distant shore,
the Crimea, stretched along the horizon
like streak OF violet, ending In a rock
above which could be seen the tower ol
a lighthouse. Then | went out and
walked 10 the fort of Chanagora to ash
the commandant when l could 60 L
Ghelendchik.
Unfortunately the commandant could
give me no positive answer; the only
vessels in port were stationary ones. and
trading ships which had not yet taker
In their cargo. Perhaps" he said
sin three or four days n mail packe
will come in. and then something car
be arranged"
went back IN very bad humor K
my lodging. At the door stood tn,
Cossack. who, coming toward me Will
rather a scared look. said inquiringly:
BAD news?'
"Yes." l answered. "Heaven know
when we shall get away from here"
At these words the anxiety Of th'
soldier seemed to increase. He came
close to me and murmured in a Low
voice:
This is not a place to stop at. me
Just now Black sea Cossack Of my &C
quaintance-we were serving in the sam
detachment last year When l told hiu
where we had put up: Bad place, h
said; bad people. And what do yol
think Of that blind boyg Did any ON
ever before see n blind person running
about from one place to another; goinl
to the bazar, bringing in bread ant
water? Here they seem to think nothing
oft"
Has the mistress Of the place com
iny
This morning, while you were out
an old woman came with her daughter
what daughter? Her daughter
away"
81 don't know who 1t is, then. Blu
look. there is the old woman sitting dow
in tine cabin"
wens in. a good fire was shining il
the stove. and "a breakfast was being pre-
pared. which. for such poor peopl,
seemed to me rather luxurious one
When spoke to the old woman she toll
me that she was stone deaf.
1t was impossible, then, 10 talk to hei
turned TO her blind boy, and tallin
him by the ear, said:
Il say, you little wizard, where wer
you going last night with that parcC
under your arn?"
He at once began to moan and cry
and then sobbed out:
where WIS ! going last night?
went nowhere. And with a parcel
What parcei:"
The old woman now proved that he
'ars when she so desired, were by n
.tnnna cloeo1