Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-06
CHAPTER Xxx.


Snuer the I1neS.
1t was a day that would be dark an houl
before it's time. Hollywood rode out under
the gate at the castle of Sagan as the las,
trooper clattered down the rocky roadway
in the rear of the dukes carriage, for upor
the arrival of the squadron from Revonde
he had received orders to remain behind. the
search for Collendorp having so far proved
unsuccessful.
Hollywood rode slowly down the shoulder
Of the mountain spur. Under the gray light
Of the afternoon the limitless swamps
stretching to the sky line looked cold and
naked under their drifted snow. From the
sky big with storm overhead to the scanty
grass that showed by the wayside blackened
by the rigors of the winter the whole aspect
OF the frontier was ominous and forbidding.
Before he plunged into the lower ravines
Rallywood turned to look back at the angry
towers of Sagan. He was thinking OF Col
lendorp. Under their shadow that lonely and
reckless life had come to its close. Why or
by whose hand might never be made clear,
but R%allywood's mind had worked Town to
the conviction that the count might be able
to tell the story.
Well, it was good to know that Collendorp
had not died in vain; indirectly, but none
the less surely, his death had brought about
the defeat OF Sagan's plot.
Then he rode away into the heart OF the
winter woods. where the branches groaned
and thrashed under the driving wind.
Through gloomy and pine-choked gorges he
wound his way to the riverside, for he had
decided that IL Collendorp had met his death
in the river his body would in time be
beached near Kofn Ford.
Between Rallywood and the ford the Kofn
widened cut into a big bay-like reach, upon
the further shore OF which the trees gath
cred thickly, their bare branches overhang-
ing the water. On the nearer side ragged
headed pines stood in sparse groups and
amongst their lofty, upright stems Rally
wood presently became aware that a strange
scene was in progress.
A small party OF people were moving about
the low-lying ground where the snow still
rested. On that bleak site at the foot of an
outstanding pine two or three men with
picks and shovels were hurriedly digging in
the frost bound earth. Close beside them
what looked like a long military cloak flung
at full length lay upon the ground.
The meaning OF the incident was manifest.
The clouding sky, the river, the broken
pine trees were looking on at a lonely
funeral, darkened by a suggestion OF fur
~tiveness and haste.
Rallywood put spurs to his horse and
galIoped down toward the burial party.
Another rider coming at full speed across
the open sheered off to intercept him. 1t
was easy to recognize Sagan by his bulk
and the imperious gesture OF the hand with
which he signaled to the younger man to
stop. But Rallywood rode the harder. There
was a shout from Sagan and the men ran
toward the black object on the snow, and by
the time Hollywood reached them the dead
body was already laid in its grave.
At the same moment Sagan on the other
side OF the grave pulled up his big horse
on its launches. The foresters stood rigid,
waiting on the counts wishes. He looked
over their heads at ~Rallywood.
"Collendorp has been found" he said
with his most surly bearing.
Rallywood glanced down into the shall
low grave; a lump OF frosty earth slipped
from the rugged heap above and settled into
q creviee of the cloak that covered COLLEEN
dorp.
MY men are burying him"
by your orders, my lord?"
by my orders. Can you suggest q bet
ter use 10 make OF q dead mana"