The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-02-14
(cHAPTERx XIV CoNTINUED.)


again, and, with a quick, decisive
movement, the man advanced. Ru-
Eic made a movement of the body as
though he would bow his head for
the stroke. Every nerve and muscle
of his frame was set for the trial,
and for the instant his heart stood
still. Quick as thought his body
bent-his right knee was brought
almost to his chin-and then, with
all the force he could command, he
planted his foot in the pit of the
assassin's stomach. The effect was
electrical. The wretch bent like
broken stick and sank down without
asingle sign of life.
The second man uttered an oath
and sprang forward with uplifted
club, but Ruric easily lodged the
blow, and then, as the thought for
the first time flashed upon his mind,
he darted to where the lantern stood
and overturned it. He had noticed
an open passage close at hand which
seemed to lead to some sort of a
dressing room, and, guided by his
memory alone, for it was now dark
as Erebus there, he glided swiftly
into it. When he knocked over the
lantern, ne ,ha0 upset column and
all, and just as he reached the pas
sage he heard a heavy fall, and he
knew that his enemy had stumbled
over the fallen column. He heard
the. curses, loud and deep, which
dropped from the lips of the baffied
man as he picked himself up, and in
a moment more he was edited by
conversation between the two, for
villain No. / had revived, though
the tone of his voice plainly indicat-
ed that he had severe pain still
lingering with him.
Michael, Michael!' groaned No.
i, and as he spoke Ruric could hear
him scrambling up on his feet.
eli, Oriel!" returned No. 2.
'Have you dropped him?"
"Now cried Michael, with curse
which we 10 not choose to tran
scribe. "He's perfect devil!"
''But where's the lanterq?" |
''He put 1t out"
''But you ought to have knocked
him down, you clown"
$50 had YOU"
"Me? Why, he kicked me over"
"Well, he lodged by me and kick
ed over the lantern"
"But where is he now?"
Giles gone. Hank! Ha, | guess
they've caught him. Don't you
hear"
eyes; they've caught somebody"
"And of course it's him. He went !
that way. Let's 60 and fnd"-
lie did not finish the sentence, for
at that moment a voice came up in
thunder tones, and it said:
"Ruric! Ruric!"
"Good God!" gasped villain No. l.
'<What is that?"
"Ruric! Ruric~
"By the living gods, that is not
from any of our men!" uttered the
second ruffian. ella, they are COM
ing this way!"
"Ruric! Ruric!"
''Thcre is but one place." return
I'd Oriel. "Here in the little draw
ING room. Come, let's find it. Oh,
curses on that gunmaker's head! If
nc be not the very devil, then he's
bound partner of his. Have you
found the entrance, Michael ?"
"No. It's near you somewhere.
Can't you- Ha! In, in"
At that moment the glare or
tanning torch flashed through the
gloom of the place, and the two vii
aims stood revealed. A dozen stout
men, all well armed, appeared in the
'nly passage by which they could
.scape, for to have fled into the
lrawing room of which they had
poken would avail them nothing.
"Ho, villains" shouted Vladimir,
he monk, raising his flaming torch
Ugh above his head with his left
land, while in his right he waved
'eavy sword. "Where is Ruric Ne
eel ?"
"Here, herew cried our hero,
tarting forward into the larger +;
DOM.
"What! Safe-alive-well ?" ut F:
cred Vladimir.
"Aye, my noblest of friends. But, 4:
h, cast off this accursed bond from
ny arms. 1t eats into the flesh" J
The rope was quickly taken off, |
nd then the youth embraced his de- !
verer. No questions were asked |
here. Only few sincere thanks !
'ere uttered, and then attention |
as turned to the two villains, who !!
ct stood trembling near them I
hey had not attempted an escape, !
Dr. the way was blocked up. They 7