The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-28

moon had just appeared, SO the nights
were still dark.
Well" thought Shelin, to-day we
must run away" and said so to Koste-
| lin.
Kostelin was frightened. show can
we run away? We do not know the
road" %.
Il know the road"
Kostelin thought awhile and said:
"Well, then, let US try it."
Shelin crawled into the hole and made
1t bigger to let Kostelin through. Kos
telin caught his foot in stone and it
rolled down with loud noise. The
master had a very cross watch dog. a
speckled beast called Ulashin. Shelin
had made a friend of it by giving it
bits to eat. Ulashin began to bark and
run UP with other dogs. Shelin gave a
low whistle and threw the dog a cake.
1t stopped barking and wagged its tail.
"Well, now, on, in the name of God. -
They made the sign of the cross and
set off again. They crossed the yard,
down the steep to the river, crossed the
river and went down the mountain.
The fog was thick, but It hung low,
and over their heads the stars were
bright. Shelin observed by the stars
in what direction they were going.
1t felt cold in the fog and easy to
walk, only their worn-out boots were
uncomfortable. Shelin took his of,
threw them away and went bare
footed. He sprang from rock to rock,
keeping the stars in view, Kostelin
Jagged behind.
''1f you cut your feet" Shelin said to
him, they will get well again, but if
they catch US we viii be put to death"
They reached the woods which they
entered. They tore their clothes to
shreds on the briars. AT last they
struck foot path. The stars were set
ting. Daylight was near, but whether
they were going in the right direction
or not they could not tell. Shelin
thought that he had come by this road,
and he thought that his friends must
be about ten versts away But there
was nothing to make him sure, and as
it was dark he could not tell. They
came to a meadow, kostelin sat down
and said:
''You can do as you like, but as for
me, l cannot go any further, my feet
will not carry me-"
/ every well, I'll go ON alone then.
.Good-by"
Kostehn got up and followed him.
They walked about four versts. The fog
in the woods got thicker and they could
no longer see the stars.
Suddenly there was sound of
horses hoofs in front of them. Shelin
lay fat on the ground ON his face TO
listen.
1T is so, horseman is coming to-
wards u.s."
They hurried away from the road |
and sat down in the bushes waiting. /
Shelin crept over to the road and saw 4
mounted Tartar coming along, driving /
a cow and mumbling something to him
self. The Tartar passed by. Shelin re-
turned to KoStelin.
'Well, we are safe this time. Come,
get up and let us 90 on"
He was a heavy man, putting and
sweating. and what with the cold fog
in the woods and his bleeding feet, was
quite broken down. Shelin tried 90
help him to rise. Kostelin groaned out:
''Oh! how it hurtsl7 Shelin stood still
as if petrifed.
We'll" he said. get up, III carry
you If you cannot walk"
He put Kostelin on his back and
;aught hold of him by the fat thighs,
md entered the road dragging him
along.
For Gods sake don't put your arms
about my neck Rest on my shoulders. a."
1t was q heavy load for Shelin. His
eet We're bleeding, too, and he was
ired. Every now and then he had 20
top to lift Kostelin into place, when
lie sliDped. and then DRAGGED along