Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07
CHAPTER VII.


In che gray of the dawning a process
sion wound down the aisles of the pine
forest, struggling dismally among the
Uttered debris of the woods. At the
head strobe dark, heavily mustached
man in the uniform of an officer Of
Russian infantry. Beside him, carry
ing coal bags, were a dozen figures.
AS he surveyed their strong exertion
under the weight they bore he smiled
complacently and stroked his chin. He
eyed their burdens greedily. Then his
glance strayed to the tail of the pro-
cession. where, handcuffed and roped,
q score and half of captives skunk be-
tween as many guards. He chuckled
aloud in his glee and once, as Preobes-
las raised his head and shot a fiery
glance at him, lifted his cap and sa-
luted him mockingly.
''Soyez le bienvenu, mon cousin; So
yeZ le 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: THE dog. My
life for his il have but luck. But my
Hlmar, my Hilmar. If / did but
know Of her safety"
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 it, 1t must be So"
he continued fiercely. mistakenly. He
doesn't even know of her being here.
He thinks her left behind at Stock
HOLM
"Who can tell?' sighed the colonel
"IIe is fit for any devilishness. NY
God, if she should be in his hands, But
she knows how to die, as do all Polish
gentlewomen. She has her little pis-
toll"
Don't" shuddered Desmond, "for
Gods sake! can't bear to think of it.
l 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 irri-
tation born of utter despair. IT'S
ever An Englishman who in his thick
hided concet believes himself beyond
the possibility of an Overreach. But
for them we might be sailing All,
forgive me, my friend. as Desmond 3
white face and haggard eyes showed
his silent misery. II am an old man.
She was my one hope | am unstrung.
l babble l know not what. The fault
/ is NINE mine alone! Forgive'- One
of the guards turned and bit the speak
err across the shoulder with his ramrod.
"Slence." he shouted. "Silence, you
mutterng old reprobate. Name of all
the saints. can't you obey the COM
mands of your SUPERIOR And he
glanced to the head of the procession
for approval.
Desmonds face flushed passionate
crimson as he saw this outrage on the
father of his hearts desire With n
roar of reckless rage he leaped at the
fellow and, bringing his fettered hands
with fearful force into the others eyes.
A stream Of blood burst from the
wound and flooded the battered face.
I Blinded and stunned, the scoundrel
staggered back into the arms of COM
panion. Paul Preobeslas turned Just
in time to see the blow. With a snarl
Of rage he snatched a rifle from the
! 70 l. N q
aim, fred 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 a thud he fell
upon his face, rolled half over and slid
back again. AS his body settled into
the angle between two powders 4
SILVER 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
struggle Within five minutes all We're
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
distigured soldier was led bemoaning
his sightless eyes, over which the blood
caked continually as it welled from
his Scared cheeks.
Before they left they raised and
looked at the prone figure between the