The Jersey City news., 1902-09-23

upon them tremblingly, his eyes vida
and staring. He sank upon the sand
appealingly.
"Mercy, captain, mercy! 1t is but q
little l store against the winter" y
The corporal smote his shoulder in
good humored ferocity.
''Son of dogr' he shouted. "As if
1 didn't know you and your waysI
Why should Stefan, the forester, store
good liquor out here? You want to
trade with the Lapps, thing strictly
forbidden, as well you know, you des-
perate old contrabandist! Now a great
fine will be due from you"
Mercy said old Stefan, groveling.
'Mercy, sir. 1t is little, little barrel,
and l am of the poorest. All mine is
yours if you but forpear the reporting
of me-"
"This," said Yaroslaff, picking up
the barrel, lis neither yours nor mine.
1t belongs to the state, in whose name
/ confscate it. But our Little Father,
the czar, always judges the laborer
worthy of the hire. l have exhausted
myself in tracking this foul piece of
smugglery. l need a tonic. Here
shall fad it. Whose vodki is it, o
wicked old manY'
'Tvan's," answered the old jaeger,
trembling, "but''-
"Ivan'sw yelled the corporal. you
waste on filthy scum of Lapps the
divinest elixir ever distilled OF a
surety Stefan, you are, imbecile as
well as particularly evil. I taste to see
if you lie."
He raised the keg ana took mouth
full. His eyes rolled. He gasped as
he set it down and slapped his chest
ecstatica!ly.
''Ivan's liquid fire, by all that's
holy!' he bawled Nay" as the 9th
ers crowded round, demanding their
share, may, lads! This must be vast
ed in no unMethodical swillings on
forsaken shore. Let us have it in well
ordered cups in the comfort of the
cabin. The court adjudges Stefan to
hard labor as watch on deck while we
dispose of the spoil" And, tucking
the keg under his arm, he marched
back to the ship, while the soldiers
rained their rude attempts at wit on
the old forester, who followed them
submissively.
The six staggered joyously across
the gangway and descended into the
cabin. Stefan they bade with many
imprecations to stay on deck and sum-
mon them if any one appeared. Then
shortly from the cabin came sounds
of the clink OF glass and boisterous
toasts and jestings, rising at last to
uproar as the hot liquor fumed into
their brains.
The turmoil lasted but a short time.
The jests grew less frequent, the
snatches CT song more maudlin. Final
ly both died away into incoherent NUT
terings. The corporars head began to
nod onineusly and suddenly thudded
forward upon the table. One of his
tipsy comrades solemnly emptied a
glass of the spirit over it. The fellow
never even moved The other five,
were leaden eyed and blinked stupidity
one upon the other, drinking still with
automatic insistence, clutching their
glasses with nerveiess hands. First
one and then another yawned, rubbed
his eyes, looked round gap;ngly and
then surged forward till he, too, like
his leader, rolled his head upon the
table and slept stertorously. Soon no
sound came up to the watcher on deck
save snores, a round chorus of heavy
gsunts that shook the tumblers on the
table and made the very deck pIanks
tremble.
Cautiously Stefan peered beneath the
open skylight and looked down on the
six motionless bodies below Satisfied
with his scrutiny, he withdrew his
head and descended into the cabin.
He examined each man carefully and
shook his shoulders, clapping his hand
upon them heavily while he bawled
aloud the name OF each torpid sot. No
answer came to his callings. Not one
of them SO much as winked an eye.
He came on deck again and went for
ward. Selecting coil of rope, he took
It back with him and with slow, me-
thodical action took out his clasp knife
and cut it into short lengths. With
these he bound each man securely
hand and foot Then, ranging them
in row upon the cabin Qoor, he
placcdsa cushion OF. footsteol beneath
each head and left them there, rigid,
uneaasatasr. lashad M tpfa TIA silili.