The Portland daily press., 1898-05-03
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUX,



and strobe out again across the boundless
| undulating steppe that stretched away as
| far as the eye could reach. The moon
had sunk lower in the sky and whitish
cloud appeared in the zenith which
seemed to shine with q phosphore scent
! light. Our trackless path wound between
low shrubs. and then after another hour S
weary lonely plodding across the grass
/ covered plain we came to a clump of trees
where the underwood was thick and tan
/ gled.
l paused for moment to gaze behind
at the great expanse of fiat uncultivated
| unlnhabited country we had traversed.
A mystery seemed to hang over the
! boundless steppe. The night-wind played
among the dry grasses, and sad thoughts
awakened in my soul
Hist! there was a slight rustling! A
reddish CLEAN in the moonlight SC
close to me that l could see the ears OF
fox and its bushy tail sweeping the
| ground. 1t disappeared between the trees
| and my heart beat faster as together we
went forward, bursting through the un.
derwood. The twigs struck me in tie
face; stumbled, gasped for breath, and
halted. The wall of a night bird broke
| the silence.
! AT that moment l saw my companion
bending at the foot of solitary tree that
stood alone amid the tangled under
growth. There was hole in its trunk
| from which he drew forth something and
placed it hastily in his pocket. Then,
turning towards me, he took out cigar,
cite and calmly lit it, saying:
| 1--WE have nothing now to fear
| He allowed the match to burn much
longer than was absolutely neces sary.
Instantly the thought flashed upon me
that this might might be signal TO some
of his nefarious companions.
| fnr y.,,rIo h.
jovial and amusing, L moody and thought
ful. His actions had aroused my sus-
picions. 1 glanced at my watch and in the
dim light distinguished that it was Just
past two O'Clock. We had already been
walking four hours.
Presently, chattering and laughing as
we proceeded, we left the wide rolling
steppe, and plunged into great wood.
| The forest was still as death. The moss
grown fr-trees stretched out their huge
arms as they waved slowly to and fro like
funeral plumes. Little light penetrated
there, but now and then we could see the
| bright stars between the branc hes as we
went along narrow winding track the
intricacies of which were apparently well
with the firm, confident tread of one
who knew the path. while I followed him
| closely, the dead branches cracking
| beneath our feet Once or twice a noise
fell upon his quick ear, and we halted.
he standing revolver in hand in an atti.
| tude of defence. Each time, however, we
ascertained that we had no occasion for
alarm, the noise being made by some
animal or bird startled by our sudden
intrusion. Then we resumed our mid
night journey in single file. During halt
an hour we proceeded, he leading the
| way, directing his footsteps by marks
upon the trunks of the trees, SO near
the ground that they would have escaped
the notice of any but those who knew of
their whereabouts.
Once, thought 1 detected dark figure
| between the trees, and fearing that it
might be one of the sentries, whispered
a word of warning to my guide. but he
treasured me by telling me that we were
skirting the frontier outside guarded ter
ritory therefore there could be no danger
Nevertheless, as he turned to me, I
Thought his furrowed face looked darker,
AID his teeth CLEANED whittier than usual.
We walked on. The forest was silent
save for the soft whisper of the pines.
Without uttering any word was follow
ing closely the Footsteps of my guide
when suddenly, how it occurred T know
not, I was conscious of being stopped dead
| by my evil faced companion who, with a
quick movement, brought up his ready
revolver to a level with my head.
Fate had played me an ugly trick. One
thought remained uppermost in the chaos
Of wild, feverish fancies that seized me.
the. thought Of the woman who was nv
wife.
Ito be continued