New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-24

| roaAs: the vehicle stands ont against the snow
like bit of ebony on field OF pearl. dnc r th
stirred by the wind, moan and creak dlshaily Wy
| boughs rub and grind each other win uuIl
crunching sound. The horses snort the smothered
cries rise still from the bottom OF the sleigh' o.s
Timothy, quietly. $1,000, .lo
- How far are we from the Green Lake - the
! prince responds.
Nearly five miles this road leads there
direct winds around the ake,cdge and His DTo osGs
itself in the stcppe on its way to 'ne iisi-io'u'
Nine Novar still impatient, interrupts with the
order: Make the pig cry" .,,.,-, ,nare
1T would he better to wait, Il lii , e., ~ horo
replies. This road turns sharply out from mere
and the bitches are deep; granting even s""' We
! are able 10 keep the margin OF the pond uo
! Peace, fool. cries Nine. Novar' no as ~" "i'
Ana instantly there sounds from the sleigh
hidden medley of squalls, squeals' ana ear
prums. such Ms only pig has power 10 u''cI; anu
| whether bleeding 10 death Or merely haN!hs hs r'
! pulled his gamut Of notes is always me same
| Nine Novar smiles trumphantly: the heutch9utt
looks at hcr, then turns his eyes with shsh' h''
Of the shoulder.
All at once the horses rear. Timothy braces
himself like rock in his seat me euse vi ine
| forest CLOVIS now with line or Hcry spatNs'
! prtcnish and changeful-thc phosphoissccht eye,
| balls of the wolves advance guard heenS anu
| skulking but always returning with stupDorn
obSlinacy towards the sleigh and It's tempting
| freight Timothy looscns the rcins, ann ihc
middle h0rsc starts off with his long sWlhSIn8
stride trotting steadily, without has'c or sPui,sl
and always restraining his companions. co'erc"
| vita sweat and quiverng in every muscle
The wolves, seeing their prey thus escape theml
hurry TO pursue. There II score aIroauS' an.
their numl cr adily increases ihey ru. III graz a
leaps, two and three together, greedy, pay nov !u.
bold. urged on more by curiosity thah ic'ooiou'
Nine. Novar, calmly elated, her hand on her
rifle. awaits the signal TO IRE. -, ne prime
straight and rigid knlis his brow with sonpI ar.
The lieutenant watches Andre teasing the pig 10
make il squeal louder Inc wolves how ar
scarcely twenty feet distant ,r IRON t nnicrns iis
pace the side horses stranng al the Dit WIN luii-
Gus energy.
Suddenly one Of them trips, falls but gains his
footinp with "A frantic bound, at the same tlihe
uttcrng stranglcd neigh; the siclsh IcrkS io"SIN
then follows With rush. But even tins ni'ei
check has brought the wolves dangerously near;
thcv rnn-wolves and horses side by side now,
the wolves waiting for the horses 10 give Out ~
this close approach OF the hrutes the krainc
horses wild with terror, longer know WHAT thcN
are doing The time las cOmc-with sharp
crack tiIe guns 20 off, and four wolves fall Their
comrades ling themselves or their painting Dodles
and crunch them fcrcey. ., -
IL Meanwhile the sleigh has gained a little, but
the smel. and taste Of blood have made the wolves
rabid and filled them with mad thlrst lot
siam%hter: the gap is soon closed between them
again the guns crack: only one WOlI IaIis til1
fi1nc hnt falls with a snarng yclp that sends the
side horses off in a frcnzied run. The middle
horse with the wisdom Of an old hunter, tnoush
for some time exhausted and painting. ana no longer
able to control ms yokc-nate7, aiIo"S DiSoli ~ "
borne along.
The prince, white as MARBLE whispers low
order in rimothys ear Nine Novar laughs no
more; her eyes shine ike cat :; she JOCKS ~ 'e
"'at e1pe i,I NIaenifccnt That old horse il
simply amazing HIS IN, nam p1aG @sue es n cnlSy
also permit me 20 remind YOU that our danger II
very, great. ,.ro,. ,.ou rasa not toll me II the
sic: IN upscts-weli, nothing Will remain or rs guy
arr Guns and the buttons of our clothes. fooh
trust 10 Faust-hc is a marvellous animal
BY Gods will, my prince says Timothy pn sol s4
be them cannot tell the lakc-cdse Is bad, rough
and slippery the descent very, very steep
$50 Take this, then the prince returns CIV
;rr Timottv his hunting-llnifc if we spilled,
/ am not 10 fall alive int" the Jaws Of these "c'-
II comprehend, your exccllcncy," Timothy re-
p".i And thou, Serge Nine. Noyar murmnrs. pale
but smiling a bewitching sInle INTO the leu
| tenants face. art thoa afraid
! j. madame. afraid p ne answers slowly. look
ing at her straight in the eyes aS Inc spoke; no.
! l{1i a useless death seems 10 me ridIc,lOus-cr1m.
! inal when imposed by the caprice Of wniul
woman-but submit to it,
Nine. Novar slIudders: for moment she seems
stunned. And YOU speak thus to me- serge
she questions. amazed.
| TO you Marta he answers for the first time
calling her nv her name.
| Something seems to break in her heart as she
i4iens-a Whimsical. thouehtless heart: little too
sure Of its power perhaps bat essentially tadG fcm 1h
danger 70 which they are exposed.
| And such danger. TOO! The horses beyond con
!
The wolves, relentless In their chase. are almost
on them Suddenly Timothy cries out hoar-"ly
THE lake, the lake; my prince We are there
Ieforc them the forest opens, broad, trcelcSs
space comes into view; il Is the road-thc roah
| barely visible, which slopes like sort Of rec
covered cpeh whose sdfs are s nray " fe wind
| Not even Faust attempts longer 10 check their
headong flight. He 100. Rms blindlv hinglng
ont his heels with the long. superb STRIDE OF
God protect us" murmurs the prince under
his rcatl-"tb The victims Of woman's .whim''
He signs, turns his bacl, on Nine. Novar ana
seats himself by tie coachman, the veins Of who's"
neck swell out like whipcord AS he pulls on the
lines with all his might ~, n,,noo 80. ,b.,, 90
| Timothy. No human power can aid Us now.
Holy Virgin, no; not Till the lake is passed
Timothy cries The scppes are Just beyond
Like bolt Of lightning the horses fly down the
slope TO the lake. seeing something ike SINK
| before him, Faust with lifted head and wide-open
| eyes, recognizes the danger confronting them. for
lie knows, like human, what his end will I've u
! his maddcncd comrades drag him over the brink
Of that trcachrrous spot He braces himself stiniy,
digs his feet deep in the snow. ond throws himself
10 side, thrusting the right horse with him and
forcing him 10 keep in the road edgng the water lr
Now Faust rcars forcing with bin the right horse
TO hIs launches Timothy, trusting 10 the instincs
| OF the old horse, holds fast with one hand.
stretches forward across the shaft and cuts with
one stroke the fallen horses traces. With a
neigh Of agony he instantly disappears under n
|
The sleigh flies on, the lake md wood are passed
and the broad highway OF the steppcs r. before
| them. The hunters arc silent and speak not a
word light CLEANS in the distance and Timothy
turns the slcaming horses toward it. 1t is the
poSt-staton in the midst Of the stcppc, They
enter the courtyard Ike a charging hurricane.
Faust for moment breathcs heavily and loud
staggcrs bndly, .whinni.s low and shuddcringly
| falls-nevcr 10 rise again. lie had broken
hlood-veescl in the effort he had made to krcp the
sleigh straight when The sidehorse fell, and,
| though bleeding inwardly all the while. the
strength and courage Of his race upheld him TO
the last.
/ Timothy, with bowed head and wet eyes makes
! no attempt 10 hide his sorrow The prince stands
lil,n q m Of Stone raLinr dnmhlN az his horse