The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-01-13
oner's couch, the land that shaded the


oner's couch, the land that shaded the
lamp touched him on the shoulder, and
a sweet and silvery voice-a woman's
~voice-asked him, "Do you want eat?:'
The young Pole, awakened suddenly
by the glare of the lamp, by the touch
and words of the female, rose up on 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 a Frenchman. How
could he have been so far master of him
self? The thing is impossible"
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food he was 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 cruel
ly massacred by the p~easantry of Truxil-
10, and he was threatened with the same
death. But the noble youth had prom
ised not to fail, and not a word, not All
accent, not a gesture or look betrayed
him.
Leckinski, when taken back to his
prison, hailed it with a sort of joy. For
twelve hours he had had nothing but
gibbets and death in its most horrid
forms before his eyes-exhibited to him
by men with the looks and the passions
of demons. He slept, however, after the
~harrassing excitement of the day, and
soundly, too, when in the midst of his
deep and deathlike slumbers the door
opened gently, some one drew neal hia
couch, and the same voice whispered in
his ear:
"Arise and come with me. We wish
to save your life. Your horse is ready"
And the brave young man, hastily
awakened by the words, eve wish to
save your life; come" answered still in
German, "What do you wantT"
Castanos, when he heard of this expert
ment and it's result, said the Russian
was a 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 C~astanos'
staff. During the walk they uttered the
most horrible threats against him, but
true to his determination he pretended
not to understand them.
When he came before his judges he
seemed TO gather what was going on
from the arrangements of the tribunal
and not from whathe heard said around
him, and he asked in German where his
interpreter was? He was sent for, and
the examination commenced.
tt tI,rna1 OF ErC% J,ron tho ,,nf;1,a 80
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon. He
answered by showing his dispatches to
Admiral Siniavin and his passport.
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 officer
at last, ''if he loves the Spaniards, as he
is not a Frenchman?"
Certainly" said Leckinski, II like
the Spanish nation, and | esteem it for
its noble character. l wish our two ma
lions were friends"
Colonel" said the interpreter to the
president, ''the prisoner says that he
hates us because we make war like ban
ditti; that he despises US, and that his
only regret is that he cannot unite the
whole nation in one man, to end this
odious war at a single blow"
While he was saying this, the eyes 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 determined to baf-
file all their attempts.
"Gentlemen," said Castanos, "itseems
to me that this young man cannot be
suspected; the peasant must be deceived.
The prisoner may pursue his journey,
and when he reflects on the hazard Of
our position he will find the severity
we have been obliged to use excusable."
Leckinski's arms and dispatches were
returned, he received a free pass, and
thus this noble youth came victorious
out of the severest trial that the human
spirit can be put toll. K. in New
York News.