The Washington times., 1903-03-29
CHAPTER XXX.
WHAT RFFFLL ANnRF


afternoon.
He knew that IL must be Friday. and
without rising from his snug bed he
could see the sun going down behind the
I hills on the opposite side OF the river.
He was still weary and drowsy-so
much So indeed. that before he could
make up his mind TO rise and examine
the place in which he had taken refuge.
be was sound asleep again
When next he awoke IL was night. and
the oavern-for such it now appeared 10
be--was In darkness. except for a ray Of
moonlight that sbone through the
crevice by which he had entered.
and another feiat glow some yards
on that seemed 10 come from q
long. low orifce close to the ground
probably second means OF communica-
ton with the outer air
The sense OF WEAKNESS had left An
dre- He felt vigorous and wide awake.
and was conscious OF gnawing hunger.
The discovery that he was in a fair
sized cave aroused his curiosity. and he
determined 10 make an investigation.
He irst felt around him for his pistols
and the little packet OF food but not
hnding them he concluded that they had
been lost on the night that he so nearly
perished in the snow.
search through his pockets revealed
some matches. and he was just about %
light one OF these In the vague hope Of
| inding the missing articles. when the
sound OF human voices fell on his ear.
and the match dropped from his nerve
/ less fingers
--CFva me q Tfeb4 V-fb~-- 90 ---s-s . -
voice Il have a little tobacco left. IL
viii make the time pass more easily
until daylight"
Here you are. answered the Other,
and the next instant a yellow fame lii
I up the darkness.
/ Not a detail Of the scene escaped An
dre's eyes during the brief time that the
I light lasted The cavern was ten yards
/ long and half as wide end at the farther
end. on pile OF straw. sat two men.
One was big. massive fellow with a
black beard. a long purple scar across
his forehead. and more recent cut, raw
and bleeding, on one cheek His left arm
was wrapped IN a bloody bandage. and
with the other ne held the burning match
TO a short black pipe between his teeth
His companion was Of smaller build.
Z and had but one arm Behind the Two
was the dim shape OF some object. and
/ between them and Andre. forming a sort
OF a barrier before the latter. were three
large square blocks looking TO be OF
stone or wood
J The match went out before Andre
could make a clearer inspection His
curiosity was greater than his fear.
and crawling noiselessly back a foot OF
two. he waited 10 hear more
/ He already had a pretty strong sus-
picion OF the large mans identity. and
| il was confirmed second or two later.
.'Baranok. those are pretty ugly
/ wounds you have" said the man who
had been addressed as ValbOrt- How
did you say it happened? I did not hear
/ you clearly before
Il told you once" grOwled the other.
What more do you want2 I met
sneaking Cossack at the mouth Of the
valley. We both had knives. and use'i
mine to better advantage That's AK
The body went down the river
II saw the marks Of the struggle when
I passed by said Waldorf. 1T was
an odd weapon for Cossack 10 carry
IA knife"
Not at all. muttered Baranok, fierce
" He had right to carry a knife.
hadn't he9"
The other made no reply. and there
was silence for little while. during
which Andre was alarmed b. the loud
beating Of his heart.
We'll" said Waldorf finally. what
next2 Do you really intend 10 set The
girl free2"
p,re,ol. laughed barshlv.
SET her free No, i have a better
plan than that. and YOU shall share il.
nv friend When daylight comes we win
take as much OF the gold as we can car
~ and &c down the river 10 place that
know we'll Then we viii send a mes
sage 20 his excenency the governor. Of
fering 10 restore his daughter on condi-
tion that he gives US both pardon. he
will consent. never fear. and we shall
both return safely 80 Russia, laden with
wealth
But our companions ." said Valbort
hesitatingly. DO you mean 10 hetray
and desert them -
what VIC do won't matter much 0
them now" replied Baranok griulv II
they left the cavern. as YOU say they In
tended 10 do. the COssacks have over
taken them long ago. and made 7hort
. work Of them
I sciously lowered their voices. and Andre
was unable 10 hear anything for "A long
while
Al length the conversation was re-
/ sumed Ia a louder tone and the very
first sentence caused the listeners heart
I to leap wildly
IT you had done your work well with
Serge Maslon 80 throwing a peculiar EN-
phasis on the name. this misfortune
would not have happened Your blum
der makes it all the more necessary mat
I should gel back to Russia az once.
r The whole affair NAV come cut ar any
, time now since the rascal is helping the
soldiers.
= can hardly believe that if was he .
( replied NalbOrt sulleCly. though Sat
e kin declares be recognized MIN amous
/ the CossaCks. Can a man cC-ue &c life
e after falling from hundred foot prcei-
: / pice into the riyer2
= Baranok's reply 10 this c0nundrum was
- inRudibio. buJ II mattered little 10 An