The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-02-28
CHAPTER XVIII.
STRANGE AND COMPLICATED.

gained view of the commander OF
the opposing army, and he saw that
it was the Duke of lula. Yet the
duke had an enormous hump upon
his back, and instead of the usual
uniform he wore the garb of a
priest. This was very strange-at
least so ran Ruric's thoughts in the
dream. Soon the engagement COM
menced, and the loud mouthed ar
tillery opened It's thunder. The din
was deafening and strange, and Ru-
ric shouted in vain to his aids, for
the roar of cannon drank up his
words direct from his lips. Louder
and more loud grew the crash, and
finally Ruric started for the charge.
His horse was shot under him, and,
with quick leap, he reached his
feet.
'Ruric, Ruric, my masterp
Slowly the youth opened his eyes,
and Paul stood by him in his night
clothes. He gazed about him and
found that he had leaped from his
bed and now stood shivering upon
the floor.
Don't you hear that racket at
the door?" asked Paul.
"What? Ha! There is some one
knocking" Ruric uttered as he
heard the sound.
Sand have you not heard it be-
fore %
no"
"Why did you leap up thus?"
Il was dreaming"
81 thought twas the noise below.
Why, they've been making a perfect
thunder of noise down there. Shall
go DOWN."
eyes, 60, Paul, and I will dress
as soon as possible. What time is
it?"
cit must be near daybreak."
And thus speaking Paul turned
and went to his own room, where he
threw on an outer garment, and !
then he went down. At the door he
found stout man wrapped up in
furs, while close by stood sledge /
with two horses attached to it. In
the east the golden tints of morn
were already visible. !
"a gunmaker named Newell lives
here, does he not ?" asked the appli-
cant after having first made some
passing remark on the trouble he
had had in starting some one up.
Paul feared that there might be
something out of the way, but he
dared not tell falsehood where it
could not possibly be of any use, so
he answered in the affirmative.
"Then let me see him as speedily ,
as possible"
Gle is preparing to come down,
sir. If you will walk in, you may
see him very SOON"
The stranger followed the boy in
to the kitchen, where it was quite
warm, the fire in the furnace hav-
ing been burning all night. Ere t
long Ruric came down, and the Wis ,
itor started up.
How uttered the gunmaker, t
starting forward and extending his
hand. "Demetrius ?"
"Aye, my friend" the Greek re- S
piled, with a smile. 81 am an early
visitor, eh ?"
81 should say so. But early or s
ate you are welcome"
"Thank you. But we must not l.
spend much time here now. My 7
'ledge is here at your door, and |
wish you to accompany me-" t
"But wherefore is this ?" asked
he youth in surprise. "What has Z
nows' S
'1'll tell you. Last night Olga,
he duke, came to see the emperor.
had just been giving his majesty II
ONE exercise at the sword, so |
vas present at the interview. The II
luke wished for power to arrest you, s.
md in explanation of the request e
lie stated that you were at the head =
f band of robbers here in the city 81
nd that you had already committed 81
everal robberies. / needn't tell you
il he said, but he made you out to 8
e most unmitigated villain, and
9Th this the emperor granted his :,
equest. Olga wished for power to y
xecute you at once, but Peter would m
o, 20 80 lar as iiidi. lie gave the =,
over of arrest. but ordered the r
uke to bring you before him" CT
Ruric stood for few moments r,
Ike one COMPOUNDED. II
'"Then lie must carry me to the
he said at length. r.
"Ah," returned Demetrius, with a IA
ubious shake of the head, ''be not
20 sore of that. ! saw look upon
is face when he turned away that IN
Ieant more than he dared to speak. 81
a,,.. 80. f.k~ H. .o.1, .L..k | IL