Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-03-15

The day was hot and suffocating.
The air seemed to be laden with some
thing more than the scent of new.
mown hay and pine--a flavor so com.
mon on July day in Northern Russia.
The grown people said: "The at.
mosphere is impregnated with elec.
tricity," and although we boys of
twelve and thirteen years did not
know what that really meant, we were
sure that, sooner OF later, storm
would come, for the old shepherd had
said so, and he always told the truth
In the afternoon black cloud rose
over the horizon in the northeast.
An hour later dark bank covered
half the sky, and we heard the far
away rumbling of thunder.
Rain began to fall in large drops
and we, standing on the grass-cov-
cred porch, amused ourselves in
watching the chickens run, the ducks
dive in the pond, the workmen hurry
home and the cattle rush for the
stables.
An unexpected clap of thunder made
us jump, and we quickly obeyed the call
OF my aunt to come into the house, as
we had no desire to stay outside any
longer.
1t grew darker and darker. r',o
fiery zigzags of the lightning thu '
a yellow tint upon the people and fu..,
niture in the room, and the thunQ +
following quickly on the flashes made
the old mansion culver to its founda-
tions.
"A binding flash, with Edeafenine
crash almost at the same instant,
seemed to make the old castle sway.
Surely that struck somewhere
near" said my uncle, jumping to his
feet sand stepping to the window.
eyes, it is Michael Kubarkin's hut
Just across the river" he exclaimed.
81 must go at once and see that the
fire is put out" He turned ito us.
"Boys, you had better come along. ]
may need YOU"
No need to ask US twice. We felt
overhonored to be allowed to be OF
use at such an important moment. In
an instant we were in our high boots
and rubber coats, and started for tie
fire.
About twenty peasants stood around
the burning house, lamenting and
praying, but not one offering to lend
helping hand.
"Quick," called my uncle. "Take
some buckets; form chain; try to
put out the fire."
"Your Lordship," said one of the
men, lightning struck this house.
Only milk will put out the flame"
"Obey me-" thundered my uncle,
"aud get to work, or Til put you on
bread and water until you forget how
milk tastes"
Reluctantly the man started. My
younger cousin, Alexey, was sta
toned to watch the superstitious
crowd, with orders to report at once
If any one refused to work or tried to
steal away.
''Now, boys" SECUTED my uncle,
''let us see if there are any people in
the house."
Bravely we followed him into the
smoke and heat Of the slowly burning
hut. We soon discovered the dead
body of Michael Kubarkin and car
ried it out. Again and again we faced
the danger. We rescued two women
and baby. They had been merely
stunned by the shock. While bring
ing tho child out I had noticed
a. form lying near the door. In
the darkness and smoke I could not
distinguish whether it was a human
being OF dog.
L hurried back. My uncle called
me, but L rushed in, dropped on my
knees and crawled toward the spot
where [ had seen the form lying. 1t
was boy. He had been Oh his way
home in the next village and had
sought shelter in the house from the
storm.
dragged lin out, and was about
fifteen yards from the house when
there was an explosion. Kubarkir
had bought ten pounds of powder al
tho last fair and had kept it in the
large brick stove.
The hut collapsed. Some of the
bricks whizzod by my head, uncom.
fortably close, but tho boy was saved,
and with the aid of fresh air he soon
came out of his stupor.
Ten years had passed. I was lieu.
tenant in the body guard of the Czar.
Before Plevna we were forced into
active service.
One morning I was ordered to take
private dispatch from the Emperor
TO General Todleben. A guard oi
twelve men escorted me when started
from headquarters. 1t was q bright
morning after several days of drizzline
rain. The road through the forest
was very soft, and we could make bu
very little progress. At about ter
O'Clock we reached an open valley.
nv6ara1 q holt tn Jan,1a 10 ala,1