The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-01-26

What does your highness wish me
 to promise?"
 Tt is more than a promise that
 want. You must swear to me, by all ! that you hold sacred, that you will not let me fall into the hands of the inf dels! I would rather have your sword , plunged into my breast than the hand of a Mussulman on my shoulder" Stefanitza met her earnest gaze | without f1inching.
 T had already thought of that" he
 answered, simply.
 l Finally they reached the huge cavern which was their destination. "Saved!"
 murmured Helena, as she fell on her
 knees and prayed to heaven for her husband, who was now being hunted
 like some wild animal, and who would have to continue his dangerous and
 difficult Journey.
 Fortunately there was plenty of | game to be found on these mountain
 summits, where no human beings ever
 came, The want of bread was their
 greatest hardship. and, indeed, a few
 ears of wheat would have been more precious to the two fygitives than all
 the treasures in the world. Stefanitza
 decided to go down t3 the valley one | day and bring back some wheat and salt, and also see If he could hear any news.
 When Stefanitza had gone Helena
 berries and other wild fruit, so that her faithful protector might be refreshed on his return.
 | Suddenly she heard some strange
 sounds, and in her terror she felt her self growing dizzy. Making a supreme effort, she ventured to look around, and
 then, to her great consternation, she
 saw a huge bear.
 | Terrified though she was, she fled to- ward the summit of the rock. At length she got safely out of the wood
 and not daring to turn her head, she started on her upward path. l Fear lends strength, and she strug-
 gled courageously on until at last she
 reached the top of the almost perpen- dicular rock.
 1 When once there, she remained
 kneeling, for she dared not stir: the 1 terrible precipice below made her so giddy that she could not venture to | ot1iiu up. oiIC liOW loOhC0 uOWh iiLO l the wood to see what the bear was do- i ing.
 First he went into the cavern and de- voured all the provisions s.he found
 there, and then he roamed about for
 nearly an hour and finally disappeared again within the cavern. As she looked down to the plain below her a new fear seized her.
 1 When Stefanitza came back how was
 she to warn him of the danger? And
 what was she to do if he did not come
 back? He had been such long time away!
 The sun was getting low In the hori- zon and the shadows of the trees were lengthening. Supposing he did not re-
 turn before nightfall Suddenly she saw movement under the trees, and
 in another moment Stefanitza ap- peared, holding in his hand sheaf of corn
 | Helena waved her handkerchief, but | he did not look up. She shouted to | him as loud as she could, but in vain; l he continued his way tranquilly to- ward the cavern. He was just at the opening and was about to enter, when
 she saw him start back throw down
 his sheaf and draw his sword. | The wild beast rose up on his hind
 legs with a furious growl, but the man
 stood his ground and thrust his sword into the bears throat up to the hilt. | The next instant man and beast had fallen together to the ground. Wild with terror Helena slipped
 down the rock and darted like a flash
 of lightning to the cavern. Stefanitza
 had disengaged himself from the bears
 grip and had risen from the ground. | At first he refused to own that he
 was hurt, but Helena was sure he was
 in pain and insisted on binding up his
 wounded arm.
 | '@The prince is safe and has reached Ciceu. He is getting an army together
 and in a few days will be here for us," 1 Stefanitza announced. Do you know what became of poor 1 Tonaa, who gave up his horse to me?" ! Helena asked.
 He let himself be taken purposely.
 He made the Turks believe that he was
 the prince, and they turned back, talk ing him with them as a prisoner. They
 had gone some distance when the idio-
 tic peasants. who can never keep their | tongues still, must needs let the Turks know that they were being deceived. They were naturally furious and in
 their anger they tortured the poor fel- low and put him to death.'
 Poor fellowI" she murmured, with
 tears in her eyes.
 | The wound which Stefanitza had treated as of no consequence proved to | be very serious, and during the next | few days he was feverish and even de- | lirius. When he was unconscious he | talked all the time of the princess | Fruit was not enough to sustain them
 and at last in desperation she started l out in search of game.