The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-02

lOop'He Company
CONTINUED
80 wish it were possible to make our
.uov hack TO Russia without our COM
ranops. " said Maurice. "They arc both
sard characters. / am certain Of that,
and they may intend to commit other
Or;mes We may find ourselves in
worse plight than we were in before"
az agree with You there" replied
phil "and, what is more, l have a
dreadful suspicion that it was Grodno
and Hamid who set the barge on fire. F"
"By Jove!' exclaimed Maurice sud-
denly. "Why didn't l think of that be-
fore? You are right, Phil; you are GER
tainly right These two scoundrels
started that fire in order to escape and
ran the risk of burning all those poor
wretches alive. What bloodthirsty fiends
thew must be! l declare I'm sorry we
left the barge at all. Why, Phil, if we
are caught now they'll probably shoot
Ms. We are equally guilty with these
two villains. Grodno says he can pro-
cure us other clothing, and as that is
absolutely necessary we will be COM
pelled to stay with them for few days
vet. but at the very first opportunity we
will leave them and strike out for our
selves. 1t is mighty slim chance, but
anything is preferable to keeping COM
pany with such men. 2"
"Hushr' said Phil. 81 believe they
are awake"
The boys had barely time to lie down
and feign sleep when Grodno sat up and
looked around him.
He fell back in a moment, and after
living awake for nearly an hour longer,
not daring to resume the conversation,
the boys finally fell into restless slum-
Der that lasted until daybreak.
Enough food still remained to make
the fugitives breakfast, and after
hunting up small stream, where the
boys washed their faces and quenched
their thirst, the march was resumed to
the westward.
So great was the aversion which
Maurice and Phil felt tow ard their COM
panions since the mutual discovery
made the previous night that it was i'm
possible to avoid showing it, Grodno
perhaps realized something of this, for
his repulsive face wore sullen aspect,
and he turned his whole attention to
Hamid, carrying OH an animated con-
versation, not word of which the boys
understood.
A few hours march through the
same monotonous forest brought them
to the edge of vast open plain carpet
ed with waving grass and numerous
wild flowers.
Along the edge of the woods ran a
well defined road. on which recent wheel
tracks were plainly visible, and less
than two miles distant lowered from
the plain couple of gilded crosses
shining in the morning sun and clus-
ter of low, gray houses.
As they stood gazing in CONSERVATION
on the distant village and the open
country Grodno fiercely motioned them
under cover.
Along the very side of the road lay
dense timber, with high grass and scat
tered rocks. Crouching down in this,
the boys could see vehicle of some
sort approaching rapidly from the direc-
ton of the village. AS it drew nearer
they saw that it was small wagon
covered with leather hood and drawn
by pair of black horses.
peasant in a red shirt was driving,
and behind, with folded arms, sat mil
ltary looking man in a blue coat.
Grodno, who was under shelter of a
Dig rock, slightly in advance of the
boys, turned round and fiercely COM
manded them to lie low and make no
noise.
he deliberately drew back the trigger
OF his rifle and thrust the muzzle out
through the branches, whispering as he
dld so to Hamid, who at once cooked
MS revolver and crept a foot closer to
the path.
Inc wagon was now within 30 yards
Vi the spot, rafting smoothly over the
grassy road. and still the boys failed to
realize the dreadful significance OF
urodno's preparation. When the awful
ruth did flash into Maurice's mind. the
mext instant. it was already too late.
taxing careful aim, Grodno pulled the
Trigger, and sharp report echoed over
'ne plains, followed by puff of white
smoke.