Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-23

deep wood ana there lay down to sleep.
1t was hunger that Weakened Darrell,
and his first consciousness was of ar
anxious attempt to remember when
had last had food. 1t seemed n Sc
of weeks. He threw Il bit of ~, Il at
kevski, who was slumbering !. r'lv
on bank of moss, and the Russh.
sitting up, with blinking eyes, laid
hand upon the region of his empty
stomach and groaned.
kevskl struggled to his feet and
stumbled up out of the little hollow in
which they had slept. He vanished
among the trees. but returned present
ly to say that he had got his bearings
and believed that he knew where food
could be obtained.
"Wait here" said he, "and | will
bring You some. If we both forage,
we shall never meet again, for you do
not know the country. II is necessary,
therefore, for you 10 remain in n place
that l can find again"
Darrell agreed, and Kevslli struck off
among the trees mt Il good pace. An
hour passed. Darrell began to expert
ment with the bark of n tree that had
an agreeable odor, but was not particu-
larly nourishing. The time dragged
along until Darrell felt sure that it was
past noon. The situation was becom-
ing serious. He ventured out of the
hollow little way in the direction that
hevski had taken, but could gain no
hint of what had become of him. The
sun began to sink toward the west.
Darrell was positively starving. 1t
seemed impossible to wait longer. Ell
Their Kevski had been captured or had
hopelessly lost his way.
AS evening approached Darrell left
his hiding place and struck out in the
general direction taken by Kevski. He
proceeded with caution, for in reality
he was between two foes. If captured
In that region by the Circassians, he
would be taken back to Gredskov,
Where his fate was certain, and IL by
Russian troops advancing. or moving
toward any point of concentration, he
stood the chance of being identified as
an escaped prisoner, with consequences
not much preferable to death.
His progress was slow, but bit by bit
he opened wider the space between
him and Gredskov, going always to-
ward Vladikaukas. Hour after hour,
with his senses alert, he kept on, till
he reached road.
1t was starlit night, and careful
search proved that there were no SOL
diers to be seen in either direction. He
took the road, but kept within the
shadow of some trees that marked the
boundary Of pasture lands along it.
After travelling a few miles in this
way he came to a farmhouse. He had
not had morsel to eat since the bonn
bardment Of Gredskov had commenced.
Danger lay within the farmhouse, but
starvation lay without. He crept near
er and nearer, listened for dogs, but
the place was wrapped In the silence
Of the tomb.
The door Of the house was wide open.
He knew that folk of any kind if Sleep
ing there would not have their doors
open when armies swarmed around.
He walked boldly in.
Darrell had no matches, nor did he
find any. The light from the stars
came in but feebly, and he CROPPED in
the darkness, seeking food, but the best
that he found was n half loaf of dry
bread. With this and water from the
well he made meal, and then, utterly
exhausted, he threw himself upon q
rude couch and went to sleep.
He awoke with the sun and began a
search through the house. 1t was n
rude affair of mud and kind of baked
clay. 1t consisted of story and low
attic above. In cellar which was q
mere hole in the rock upon which the
house was built he found some dried
meat and fish and few bottles Of ma
tive liquor, strong and harsh. 1t was
not difficult to remember n better meal,
but few had ever satisfied a greater
need.
Refreshed by the hard fare, he was
about to continue his way toward Via
dikaukas when suddenly he was
aware of the trampling Of many hoofs
on the road that ran before the house,
and through window he beheld a
considerable body of cavalry advanc-
ing. Among the officers at the head of
the column he deserted. to his utter
amazement, the burly form and harsh
countenance of Prince Kilziar.
This road must be n main highway,
but what had brought Ililziar out of
Gredskov? AS this thought ran through
Darrell's mind he saw the column halt
directly before the house, and Kilziar,
dismounting, walked straight toward
the door.