The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-11
and then, slightly iatigued by the brisk
morning walk, dropped lazily ON the
short grass for brief siesta.
CHAPTER XIV.
BEsIEGED BY A TIGER.

BESIEGED BY TIGER.
When Maurice awoke, some time later,
both of his companions were sleeping
soundly. The sun was far to the west,
and the air was chilly and piercing.
He threw off the rug and sat up. A
rustling sound not far away attracted
his attention, and, looking across the
forest, he saw deer-a big buck with
branching DEMONSTRATING past an open
glade, 30 yards distant.
With sudden excitement he extended
trembling hand for his revolver and
rose to his feet. He was hungry for
fresh venison, and here was too good a
chance to be neglected. The canned
food and musty cheese put up by the
starosta was beginning to grow weari-
some.
He delayed for moment, uncertain
whether to awake his companions or
not.
"Better let them Sleep" he thought.
81 won't be gone long"
The deer by this time had crossed the
glade and vanished in the forest be-
yond, SO Maurice started off briskly,
intending to make wide detour and
get ahead of his victim.
He ran up the valley for nearly
quarter of mile, keeping close to the
base of the hill, and then crept eau
tiously down into the hollow, peering
ahead through the leafless branches OF
| the trees.
In this sheltered retreat patches Of
snow still lay here and there on the
ground, and through one such spot-an
open glade - Maurice tramped heed
| lessly.
| Still he saw no trace of the deer. He
paused and listened intently, but the
forest was very still. He drew back in
to a clump of bushes and sat down on a
fallen log.
The minutes passed on without in
terruption, and he had about made up
his mind to return to his companions
when a sudden crash echoed through
the forest. and he sprang to his feet in
wild excitement just in time to see the
frightened deer go past him like q
streak.
Something had scared the animal
badly.
The possibility that tiger was Turk
ing in the vicinity made Maurice
blood run cold, but on second thought
he was inclined to believe that his com
panions were awake and searching fol
him.
Under this impression he was about
to leave his hiding place and start NJ
the valley when sight met his eyes
that caused him to crouch deeper in tht
bushes with shudder.
Through the forest, less than Al
yards distant, came burly Cossack, re
splendent in his green uniform.
In one hand he held rifle, and will
the other he led his horse.
: Close behind him was second sol
der, also on foot and leading his steet
by the bride.
J They advanced into the open glade
: bending over the ground and apparent
( ly conversing. Like fash the trut
l entered Maurice's mind. They had DIFF
covered his footprints in the patches {
I | snow and were following up his trail.
For a moment he gave himself up fc
lost. The Cossacks were between hi
0 and his companions, so that retreat
: the valley was cut off. The footmarl
: showed the direction he had taken, an
o he was in danger of discovery at an
Q moment.
: He had presence of mind enough
: remember the steep and rocky hillsic
: behind him. If he could gain that an
o climb up the face, he might escape aft'
r all. The Cossacks certainly could NJ
r follow him ON horseback, and on fo'
J. the chances were even.
d Thrusting the revolver into his bel
J, he dropped ON hands and knees al
Il crawled off into the forest until the en-
J. my were out Of sight. Then, rising
his feet, he dashed off across the vale
n at full speed.
r A short run brought him to risir
ground, and he pressed on up the slol
n faster than ever and soon reached
g level stretch at the base of hill. II