San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-21


"Who aods shooting2" demanded Phil.
to explain now. What l have done for
you was only a debt. You saved my
life. 1 hope / have saved yours. Re-
member your identity is unknown to
me. 1t is even possible that the authori-
ties will not discover for some time who
my strange passengers were. Your dis
guise is effective, and the fact that
third man was concealed in the sledge
will never be known"
In spite of Platoff's continued en-
treaties, Poussin remained firm.
Holding the horses with a skilled
hand, he urged them on unsparingly,
and the sledge skinned over the frozen
ground at a speed which made the land
scape ON each side one dizzy blend.
Hour after hour passed on. The dark
sky paled gradually, and gray light
stole over the frozen plain until the dis
tant hills were dimly seen. Morning
was close at hand, and yet no trace of
the pursuit was visible. Eastward tie
rugged hill tops were fiecked with pale
crimson-a rosy mist beneath which
the morning sun was creeping upward.
The atmosphere was clear and radiant,
revealing every tree and rock for miles
around. Still the horses sped on untir-
ingly, their nostrils white with foam,
their glossy TANKS damp and steaming.
Platoff and Poussin were on the front
seat, Maurice and Phil behind. All
were grave and silent, scanning the
landscape intently, straining their ears
to catch the slightest sound.
1t was Maurice who sounded the
alarm. His sharp cry echoed on the
frosty air. His arm pointed straight to
the northward, and, turning quickly, all
saw ON the rolling crest of distant hill
a single black streak moving in ser
bentine course down the slope.
'Cossacksp" calculated Platoff. "a
whole company at least. They are com
ing at full speed.
''Be calm," said Podssin. "They are
fully two miles distant. The time has
come to part. ="
He touched up the horses, and they
dashed at furious gallop over the lev
ell ground. His companions, turning in
their seats, watched the approaching
soldiers until they gained the plain and
vanished behind the gentle undulations
of the road. A moment later the sledge
swept over ridge, and Poussin drew
up the painting horses in the hollow of
wooded ravine. A bubbling mountain
stream poured down from the hills and
emptied into the Ussum, some yards
distant.
''There is no time to lose, )" said Pous
sin as the fugitives sprang to the ground.
'"Take these provisions, take a rug
apiece, strike back into the heart of the
hills and wade up the bed of the stream
until the road is out of sight. Make a
wide detour to reach Vladivostok. God
be with you and help you to escape!
There will be plenty of vessels in the
harbor at this time of year. Vladivos-
tok is now but ITO miles away by the
road. Do you need anything else?"
"No," exclaimed Platoff. 1--WE have
everything. Heaven grant that no harm
comes to you'll have known many brave
men in my time, but none that would
have dared to do what you have DONE
"Gop' said Poussin huskily. Don't
delay. Remember must lead your pur-
suers far off the track that you may
have time to escape"
One at time they clasped the brave
merchants hand feryently and with
tears in their eyes.
"Goodby, goodbyp' they called out
chokingly.
FAREWELL" said Poussin. "God be
with you'll And, bringing down the
whip on his restless horses, he swept up
the ravine and vanished from sight over
the pine crowned ridge.
The halt had been of less than two
minutes duration. The Cossacks were
still two miles in the rear, and the
chances Of escape were good.
The fugitives had climbed out of the
sledge on some loose stones that border
| ed the stream.
Platoff led the way carefully down to
the waters edge, and, stepping fearless
ly in, they waded briskly up the shallow
channel, thus leaving no trace behind
to show that the sledge had been re-