Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-10-11

tore them open. They were made out |
to Ivan Brosky and Vladimir Pogram,
The rascals have escaped!' cried |
angrily. "They passed through not two
hours ago, and | dared not detain them" |
"And is it too late to overtalke them"
cried Alexis Zamose.
"Too late. They have crossed the Wis
tula an hour ago."
"The government shall atone for this"
the two men cried out together. They
would see If travellers were to be robbed
with IMMUNITY on the czar's high road.
| was vainly endeavoring 10 pacify
them, when soldier entered the room.
captain" he said, 'sthe Vistu1a has
risen. The bridge was carried away at
daybreak."
"Those two travelers?" / demanded
eagerly. "Did they get across in timer
"No, captain. They started for the
upper bridge"
"Then we'll have them yet!' l cried.
"Call out the guard at once. Don't lose
second"
l buckled on my sword, seized my
cloak and hat, and rushed to the door,
where my horse already awaited me.
My own men were mounting in haste
and the Cossacks sat motlonless in their
saddles.
A moment more would have seen us
of, when solitary rider came in sight
far up the road, and presently refined up
before us, painting and breathless.
"Orders from the czarl'' he cried,
vaulting from the saddle. "Have Ivan
Brosky and Vladimir Pogram passed this
stationg"
briefly explained the situation.
"They must be arrested at all haz-
ards!' he cried. "They left st. Peters
burg with forged passports. It was dis
covered only yesterday"
"And who are these menu" / asked.
"They are Shamerin and Kharkoff,"
replied the messenger, ''the assassins Of
Gen. Orloy."
/ 1t was of grave importance, indeed,
that they should be captured, and mount
ing in haste we dashed away at full
speed, leaving the czar's messenger to
enjoy the comforts of the station, for he
had been riding all night and badly
needed rest.
Our course led eastward to the Vistula
and then turned off to the south, follow
ing rugged and little Travelled road
through the hills, which led eventually
to another bridge over the Vistula, some
twenty miles further down the stream.
1t was bad enough for a horseman; for a
sleigh it was terrible.
rode in advance, side by side with
Capt. Karaman, the commander Of the
Cossacks
We Numbered at headlong speed over
the frozen ground, sure of our prey-for
on the road before us, fast freezing up
in the morning air, were the tracks of
hoof and runner imprinted in the slush.
At intervals through the hill gaps we
: caught sight of the Vistula, turbid,
yellow mass, swirling past with its bur
,, den of floating ice.
We must travel still faster. The up
per bridge was a heavier, more solid
structure, little likely to be carried of
: by even such flood as this. We mus
l overtake them before they reached it.
: We drove the spurs into our painting
q horses and the forest and barren hill
sides shot past us in one flying PIANO
rama as we galloped like the wind owe
the frozen ground, rounding bend afte
: bend only to see the same empty, gilt
9 tering stretch of road fading m mock
Q ery into the frosty atmosphere.
: Furlong on furlong, mile after mile
and still they kept ahead with a spee'
:. that seemed incredible.
u "Look!" cried Capt. Karaman unde
h his frosted beard. 1.-THE tracks are stil
g soft. We shall soon see Them"
{, Struggling houses came in sight, an
q the people ran to their doors in wonde
as we swept past like a whirlwind--Kara
n mans Cossacks of the Volga, somber an
}, stern in their great black cloaks an
IS shakos; my dragons trifie more plctul
re esaue, with their green uniforms an
a waving plumes.
st We galloped through the little villae
of Kaban--only five miles now 10 u
ID bridge-and as we swept round the bro
ID of n hill in the distance we saw blac
r speck on the frozen road.
a Even as Karaman pointed it out
as vanished over ridge. We Numbered
to in hot pursuit, losing sight OF it som
times but all the while steadily gainin
a until. from a vague dark object, it
n, su,ned shape and form. and we cou
w plainly make out sleigh and two horse
with fierce joy saw it drawing CLOS
de and closer. They were flashing the hors
a with furious desperation, but the Pc
Oh brutes were fast giving out.
vn Barely quarter of a mile lay oetwe
MS now, and that distance was dlmlms
to ing very rapidly. We were gong GOV
ire gentle slope, when suddenly oal
nit Karaman cried: "The bridge! DO y
see the bridget"
VI Crossing the road far ahead OF us "
l q cleaning bit of water spanned py
cit narrow wooden bridge. 1t was not
mt Vistula, but puny mountain stream ~
be- nne of the tributaries of the Hlst'
1t whose existence had forgotten.
r. was possible, l thought, to overta
len the assassins before they could reach
OF and even if we failed it mattered hI'
my for the Vistula was still mile OF Ia
WI away. We swept over the icy grouno
OF a dangerous speed, and l felt like sho
Ugh ing out with triumph. for the sieign
ure running slower and slower ana 'he Cd
az ure of the men seemed certain. !,
nen Icalled to them to SURRENDER pu' "