Warren sheaf., 1901-08-08
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" 7 es," returned the gulde>

;s Well, I'm glad he's here, but ]
| don't believe Orsa is fit to move.' .
said the first speaker. And then,
turning to Ruric, he said Il Ss &
"But I'm glad you've q come, sill,
Tor the lieutenant wishes, tossee YOU
very much. This way, sir9' W. s5s
phiS was all SO frank and prompt
that the young man began to think
he had been a fool for being fright
Eoned. He followed the man with
the lantern into the hall, and from
thence down a long fight of stairs
into a basement. The lantern did
not give much light, but it was suf1i-
cient to reveal 1.-The fact that the
house, was an old one and not very
large, for Ruric could see windows
upon the opposite side Of the hall
which looked out of doors AS he
reached the, foot Of the stairs he
found himself upon a brick floor,
and he saw the walls were of stone.
IA little farther on a door was open
ed, and this led to a small apart
ment, within which was a fireplace
and good fire burning. Iu Ju @nto4
4sf<There, good sir,'''' said the, sec
ond guide, sEtif you will wait a few
moments I will 60 and see how the
lieutenant is" ~ .'''' ','.',' 20 l, ..,'''>,
As soon as Ruric was left alone
he looked about him. The room
was Of moderate size for a small
house, and the idea Of inhabiting
the cellars was a4common one in
Moscow during the winter season.
The windows, two in number, were
close up to. the ceiling and very
small and were patched with pieces
Of board in two or three places.
Ere long the man came back, and
with him came three Others, one of
whom the youth recognized as the
Individual who had conducted him
to the house. ~l n tnf' c'.5~rt~s~
"Orsa will see you, sir,'' said he
with the lantern. >. ..n..t u Il .t..:.
m Ruric arose to follow him, the
other three men approaching the
fire. as though they would remain
there. He had reached the door
and passed through into the room
beyond when he thought he heard
footsteps behind him. It was a slid
ing, shuff1ing sound, and he turned
his head to see what it was. AS he
did $50 he received blow which
staggered, him: and which would
have felled an ordinary man to the
floor, He gathered himself quickly
up, but before he could fairly turn
about he received a second blow,
heavier thai" the first, ~ which
brought him upon his knees. In an
instant all four of the men we're up
on him. and he could see that they
had dropes in their hands with which
ltotbind him. With all his might he
threw5the fellow who held his right
hand back against the wall, and an
other he sent in, an opposite direc-
ton, and in a moment more he
would have been upon his feet, but
just at that instant a moose was
adroitly slipped over his head, and
|as the rope frightened about his
neck he was drawn back upon the
brick floor again. odt o4H! - a2oq |
I14 scNow, resist any more, and we'll
choke youfas sure as, fate = cried the
man who had held the lantern and
now had a hold upon the rope. |.
ooh" -groaned R11ric, while the
massive, cords worked like cables in
his arms and shoulders, ''*giye me a
fair chance!t Let me Up and free :
then lock your doors, if you please!''
@i .sNo, no, good sir replied the
ruman, with a wicked smile. 'FfWe
know your power, and we are not
disposed to test it further. We have
had trouble enough already. Shall
we'''- ,,i1@. .,lt L. ,--.,,..c ...ft.. +
' !lili ta!FF s+s!ysf 'lt}t
The man stopped speaking, for at
that moment another moose was
slipped down over Ruric,s head, and
ere he could avoid it il. had been
drawn tightly about his arms. He
was now at the mercy Of his captors,
and, having rolled him over upon
his breast, they proceeded to secure
his arms behind him, which, being
done, they. bade him. to rise. OF
course he could have no desire to lie
there upon the cold bricks, and he
got upon his feet as well as he could.
''Now, Ruric Nevel, I will conduct
you to your own apartment" said
the leader Of the gang. ..,..., Ill.,
'% '|But wherefore is this ?" the gun
maker q gasped,, rendered almost
speechless with the mingled emo
tions of surprise and anger. j<'<Why
have ye done this? Whose hirelings
are ye that ye thus iwaylay and seize
Il L