The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-01-13

! tended to rob me just like the dea
Turk, and if l had not regained cor
scionsness he would have robbed M
and left me to die alone in the road
abandoned to the tender mercies of tn
hyenas and the jackals.
And here I was tied to this man. an,
orr lives hung on the same thread.
knew he was walking by my side.
conld not see his face, but felt sure i
was horrible TO look at He said h,
knew that he had done wrong, and hi.
voice sounded sad; but do not thinl
he was penitent for his sin. He may
merely have said so because he thought
that God had punished him now that
he had lost his way. but if he had no,
lost it he might not have even given Il
thought.
"Hushl Stop!" suddenly whispered
the Cossack, interrupting my medita-
tions.
What is it?" asked, feeling scared.
There are people here" he whis-
pered again ''Do you not see that fire
over there? 1t must be bivouac,"
Let us go there quickly"
stop, stopl Snpposing it is a Turk
ish post? Yes it is as thought-they
are Baschi-Bazoulss."
could feel the blood freezing in nv
veins
What makes you think SOP" said /.
hardly daring to breathe.
II can tell what they are by certain
signs. What terribly bad luck we
have. Get down QUIETLY want to
kill the horse"
why should you kill it?" asked.
wonderingly, at the same time dis
mounting.
Because he is still young, and sun
posing he were to neigh, why, we
should be lost" he explained, while he
helped me to get down.
"Who knows? They may not be
Turks after ALL" said, trying to reas-
sure myself.
God grant it, only fear am right"
At this juncture loud neighing was
heard coming from the direction where
we had seen the fire. The Cossack
'prang like a cat at the throat of his
'teed, but just as he was going to cut it
he brute whinnied loudly and merrily
n answer. sank down on, the turf
helpless, while the Cossack remained
landing. with bis hand raised as if he
lad been turned to stone.
He has ruined us, confound the
'rute, Kissed he, angrily, between hi
eeth.
What shall we do now?" asked I.
He thought for second, and then
aid-speaking quickly, like one who
as no time to lose:
Listen to me. We shall be discoy-
red all the same whether they are
'iends or foes. l have sinned and l
lust answer for my sin. Why should
e both perish if God will save you?
on hide here among the bushes and
eep perfectly quiet, while go straight
to them with my horse. If they are
lends we shall come back for you, but
they are foes-why, then, pray for
soul, for am dead man."
"But couldn't we escape together?"
"Escape-where to, pray? They are
ing to surround us presently. can
them stirring already. If they see
alone with my horse they will never
arch for you. i shall tell them that
all alone. You wait here, and when
is quiet creep back as far as you can
they are coming up-there they are
We have stumbled on an outpost.
sten!" He quickly drew from his
cket and handed to me several gold {
ICES. Il found this money on him.
with it what you like must tell
the whole truth. He was alive
unded, but still alive. He struggled
perately. and that was how Lost
bearings; not when found You. I
~ for me, won't you? Farewell
inc! My name is Nicodyme. The +
I'd grant that you may safely oct |
ny from here, while suffer for my I
Try to find my regiment and tell s
men it is the" But he could not 6
On, for the enemy was coming down t
ckiy upon us, and after repeating o
e more in whisper: pray for Mic d
me-" he took his horse by the bride a
went boldly up to meet the men ON Il
setback who were drawing near. o
" a iouu CdlI-OuL IL was IN n "a
nge tongue-not in Russian. We g
evidently been surrounded, for / v
soon after two soldiers on horse p
< riding past me in the direction of Il
fire. "
tier waiting for long while
It back, straining the little strength *
ID left to get as far as possible. W
do not know how far succeeded CT
vo weeks later 1 awoke to con- n
1sness in the hospital. where W
Mt that had been picked up the q.
day by our battalion, which hav- M
been joined by fresh forces on that Ia
ful night drove the enemy back 70
the depths of Turkey. y
two months l was once more at
e in Russia, in the bosom of nv ~
ly The gold pieces which I had 70
we'd from the Cossack were dulv Pc
ed over by me to the fund for u
ers' widows and orphans, and nv ue
mother still prays for the souI ~ 90