The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-06-23
VOL. XXXVIII---NO. 25.

was brave. of course, but to die at
eighteen-'tis sudden. But youth
and fatigue finally yielded to the APP
proach of sleep and he was soon bu
ried in profound slumber.
He had slept perhaps two hours
when the door of his dungeon opened
slowly and some one entered with
cautious steps, hiding with his hand
the light of lamp. The visitor bent
over the prisoners couch, the hand
that shaded the lamp touched him on
the shoulder, and Il sweet and silvery
voice-a woman's voice-asked him,
HDo you want eat -
The young Pole, awakened sudden
ly by the glare of the lamp. by the
touch and words OF the female, rose
up Oh his couch and with eyes only
half opened said in German. What
do you want ?''
'Give the man something to eat at
once" said Castanos, when he heard
the result of the first experiment,
land let him go. He is not French
man. How could he have been so far
master of himself? The thing is i'm
possible"
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food he wa detained a prisoner.
The next morning he was taken to a
spot where he could see the mutilated
corpse of the Frenchman, who had
been cruelty massacred by the peasan-
try of Truxillo. and he was threatened
with the same death. But the noble
youth had promised not TO fail, and
not a word, nor an accent, not a ges-
ture or look betrayed him.
. Leckinslli, when taken back to his
prison, hailed it with a sort of joy
For twelve hour he had had nothing
but gibbets and death in its most hor-
rid form before his eyes-exhibited
to him by men with the looks and the
passions of demons. Heslept, however
after the harrassing excitement of the
day, and soundly, too, when in the
midst of his deep and deathlike slum-
bers the door opened gently, some one
drew near his couch, and the same
voicewhispered in his ear
arise and come with me. We
wish to save your life. Your horse is
ready" ID -'
And the brave young man, hastily
awakened by the words, I'VE wish to
save your life; come" answered still
in German, "What do you want ~
Castanos, when he heard of this ex-
pertinent and it's result, said the Rus
sian was noble young man; he saw
the true state of the case.
The next morning early four men
came to take him before a sort of
court martial, composed of officers of
Castanos' staff. During the walk
they uttered the most horrible threats
against him, but true to his determi
nation he pretended not to understand
them. re- ..l .-............... .
When he came before his judges he
seemed to gather what was going on
from the arrangements of the tribu-
nal and not from what he heard, said
around him, and he asked in German
where his interpreter was? He was
sent for, and the examination COM
menced. t.s d -t. .
1t turned first upon the motive of
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon
He answered by showing his dispatch
es to Admiral Sinivan and his pass
port. Spite of the presence and the
vehement assertions of the peasant,
he persisted in the same story and
did not contradict himself once.
ASK him." said the presiding Of
ficer at last ''if he loves the Spaniards,
as he is not a Frenchmen - l.....
Certainly" said Leckinski, Il
like the Spanish nation, and l esteem
it for its noble character, wish our
two nations were friends" ~.
Colonel" said the interpreter to
the president, 1.-The prisoner says that
he hates us because we make war like
banditti; that he despises us, and
that his only regret is that he can
not unite the whole nation in one
man, to end this odious war at a sim
gle blow"
While he was saying this, the ewes
of the whole tribunal were attentively
watching the slightest movement of
the prisoners countenance, in order
to see what effect the interpreters
treachery would have upon him.
But Leckinski had expected to be put
to the test in some way, and was de-
termined to battle all their attempts.
Gentlemen" said Castanos, sit
seems to me that this young man can
not be suspected /; the peasant must
be deceived. The prisoner may pur-
sue his journey, and when he reflects
on the hazard of our position he will
find the severity we have been oblig-
ed to use eXcusable."
Leckinski's arms and dispatches
were returned, he received free pass,
and thus this noble youth came vic
torious out of the severeSt trial that
the human spirit can be put to.