Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-29
CHAPTER VII.

sion wound down the aisleS or the pine
forest, struggling dismally among the
Uttered debris of the woods. At the
head strode dark, heavily mustachcd
man IN the uniform of an officer of
Russian infantry. Beside him, carry
ipg coal bags, were dozen figures.
AS he surveyed their strong exertion
under the weight they bore he smiled
.compiaccntly and stroked his chin. lie
eysa their burdens greedily. Then his
glance strayed to the tail of the pro-
cession, where, handcuffed and roped,
score and half Of captives skunk be-
tween as many guards. He chuckled
aloud in his glee and once, MS Preobes-
las raised his head and shot a fiery
glance at him, lifted his cap and sa-
luted him mockingly.
''Soyez le blenvenu, mon cousin; So
yez lie bienvenu!' he called ironically
and pointed before him with laugh.
An imprecatiOn shot from between
the coloners teeth, and he whispered
to his companion, Desmond, who
stumbled beside him: "rhe dog! My
life for his IL have but luck But my
Hilmar, my Hilmar! II l did but
know of her safetyr'
HE can't possibly have captured
her." muttered the other. "D'you sup
pose he wouldn't have been throwing
It in your teeth and glorying over you
by now if he had? She has found
refuge among your people somehow.
You may be sure of 1t. 1t must be so,"
he continued iercely, insistently. He
doesn't even know of her being here.
He thinks her left behind at Stock
holm"
who can tell?" sighed the colonel.
"He is fit for any devilishness. My
God, IL she should be In his hands! But
she knows how to die, as do all Polish
gentlewomen. She has her little pis-
tol."
Don't" .shuddered Desmond. "for
Gods sake! can't bear to think of 1t.
/ should go mad"
The colonel turned to him. What
can 1t be to you compared with me,
her father, on whose responsibility her
coming rests? Curse those fools of
yours who let themselves be surpris-
ed!' he burst out with the sudden irrl-
tation born of utter despair. "'Tis
ever an Englishman who in his thick
hided concelt believes himself beyond
the possibility of an overreach. But
for them we might be sailing All,
forgive me, my friend!' as Desmonds 8
white face and .haggard eyes showed
his silent misery. II am an old man.
She was my one hope. am unstrung
babble / know not what. The fault
IL mine, mine alone! Forgive One
Of the guards turned and hit the speak
er across the shoulder with his ramrod
"Silence!" he shouted. .'Silence, you
muttering old reprotate! Name of all
the. saints, can't you obey the COM
mands, of your superiorT' And he
glanced to the head of the procession
for approval.
Desmond's face flushed passionate
crimson as he saw this outrage on the
father of his hearts desire. With a
roar Of reckless rage he leaped at the
fellow and, bringing his fettered hands
above his head, smote his handouts
with fearful force into the others eyes.
a stream of blood burst from the
wound and flooded the battered face
Blinded and stunned, the scoundrel
staggered back into the arms of com
panion. Paul Preobeslas turned just
In time to see the blow. With snarl
oe rage he snatchsd a rife from the
soldier beside him and, scarce taking
aim, hred point blank at the English
man as he stood across his foe. As
the clatter Of the shot died into the
echoes Desmond flung up his hands
and spun round. With thud he fell
upon his face, rolled half over and slid
back again. AS his body settled into
the angle between two powders a
shiver twitched his shoulders. Then
he lay still.
A groan rose from all the captives as
they stood paralyzed by the sudden
tragedy. The groan became shout
and they flung themselves desperately
upon their guards and fought, swing
ing each his fettered wrists. A vain
STRUGGLED Within Ave minutes all were
battered and roped into utter subjec.
ton, and the long line of bruised
wretches was stumbling anew down
the track, half blinded, bleeding, smit
ten and cowed. At the head again the
leader ragged, venting furious curses,
while between two of his fellows the
d!shgured soldier was led, bemoaning
his sightless eyes, over which the blood
caked continually us it welled from
his SCARED cheeks.
Before they left they raised and
looked at the prone figure between the
stones. A red ooze was spreading over
Desmond's side. His face was color
less. His inert body was limp and the
clothes hung haggard about him. The
breath was silent between his white
lips.
"A cursed shrewd shot, captain"
said the sergeant. "This cock will
crow no more.'
1.-THE English dos!' answered the
officer. Let the carrion rot. A fit
meal for the forest. Let wolf eat wolf.
There'll be little left of him by morn
ing"
They flung the body back among the
stones and continued down the faint
forest track. For some few minutes
the crackle of their tread among the
underwood was heard, and the CLEAN
Of the bayonets showed through the
pine needles. Then quiet fell again