The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-04-12

On the slender chance Of finding any
peast that man might ride he visited
several deserted farmhouses. securing
enough food for his needs, but no cat
Tie. He was In such a condition that
sound OK would have seemed good
mount, but there was none 10 be had.
In one OF the houses he was greatly
surprised to discover a gun, almost the
last thing he would have supposed
that fleeing tenant would abandon.
II was muzzle loading weapon OF the
type Of many yefirs ago; but as there
was supply OF ammunition, Darrell
thought the gun worth taking.
During the day he made very little
progress, being twice compelled 10 lie
hidden while Russian scouting parties
were about. Sunset found him far to
the west OF the highroad, uncertain OF
his way and suffering both from ex
haustion and the injury that he had
sustained on the previous night, He
came AT last TO road that was scarce.
ly more than trail through the woods,
Dad by the side Of 1t he sat down 10 eat
such food as he had and 10 rest He
fell into a doze. with his back against
the moss covered stump of a tree. and
IT was dark when he awoke.
Something had startled him. He
felt thrill of vague alarm as he strug
gled back TO consciousness. and the
rusty gun that he had taken from the
farmhouse was IN his hands without
an effort OF volltion. He heard the
- nj fYnt,apIf.
ately the beast and his rider came into
view, dim In the starlight
without thought In his half waken-
ed mind, except that he needed horse,
Darrell sprang ont into the path, With
the gun In his hands, and cried out,
"Haltw 1t was the horse that obeyed
the order The rider continued to adj
vance. by the law Of inertia. and he
came 10 rest like sack OF meal on the
soft moss by the roadside. Darrell in
stantly pounced upon him, but it was
wholly unnecessary, for the man die
not move He was lying upon his face
unconscious.
A hasty glance assured Darrell thai
the horse would not run. The pool
beast was standing as II on wooder
legs driven into the ground. Satisfied
In this particular, Darrell looked agnii
to his prisoner and became suddenl!
aware that he wore Circassian OH
GERS uniform under long and ragge,
d coat In another instant he had turn
ed the man upon his back and wa
gazing into the face of Korna.
There was no sign of injury. Korni
had fallen limp as a drunkard am
with n drunkard's immunity from bro
ken bones. 1t was the mere shoe
that had robbed him Of his wits Oar
rell was at loss to understand hoy
SO good a horseman had been so easil
thrown. and yet the manner Of the IA
gave some hint Of the explanation, S
that Darrell was not wholly surprise
when Korna had regained his power 9
speech TO hear him mutter I'm Russia
(for he fancied that he was addressin
Russian soldicrsl. Don't make m
move I'm too tired to stand on m
feet"
II required some minutes for Darrc
to make himself known and 70 cxplai
his act Finally Korna sat W. an
looked at the American with a glanc
OF comprehension.
"I've scarcely been ont OF the sat
die since ] left YOU he said "and
was almost played ont then There's
little village IN the hills TO the west (
Grcdskov and the mouth If the pas
II is out OF the way OF everything,
quiet and beautiful place. You wouldr
- believe there could be anything Ike
IN this region. There two years az
l met the girl who will be my wi
Z some day. To that quiet spot when
began this war | sent my moth6