The Holly chieftain., 1903-03-06


and fell with thud by the wayside.
Relieved of his burden. the horse re-
covered his footing and plunged for
ward out of sight.
was stunned by the fall. I be-
came conscious of a burning sensa-
tion in my throat, then an excruciat-
ing pain In my head, then another in
my back: my arms and legs tingled
rs II filled With needles. felt some
thing pressed to my lips. and again
the burning in my throat. Ny mind
grew calmer. opened my eyes.
Vision had returned to me.
Bending over me was q monk.
you are wounded. son." he said, in
q voice that was soft and almost
womanly.
"Yes, father" I replied. my own
voice coming only in q whisper. II
have been shot"
The monks face was very pale
unnaturally white, / thought. He
looked at me through his goggles q
moment before answering.
you are wounded in the back,
son." he said. .Is it the work of an
assassin
II will tell ypu the truth, father"
I said. WEAKLY. II am prisoner Of
the state. The brother of the prefetto
was murdered. I was accused Of the
murder. and though I knew nothing
about 1t. was convicted. l was at
work on the public road to-day and
escaped. A fellow prisoner fred at
me with the guards rife and wounded
me. They will be after me SOON"
"Alas, son! This is bad busi-
ness"
The monik, as he said this, glanced
nervously around, as IL apprehensive
Of detection in. thus succoring pris-
,oner Of state who had escaped.
He put his hands under me and
lifted me gently from the ground. l
seemed to be but child in his arms.
Holding me across the back of his
mule. he easily mounted. and, speak
ing to the animal, we were soon NOV
ing up the mountain side.
We did not travel far in this way
perhaps quarter of a mile Then
We had come to a thick portion of
the forest, and we were in rugged
mountain region. The monk had
been peering from side to side, as If
in search of something, and suddenly
halted his mule before tall, white
barked tree that stood near the edge
OF the, road.
Il thought knew the place." he
murmured to himself. THAT is GER
tainly the tree"
Sliding from the saddle to the
ground. the monk took me in his
arms and carried me into the forest.
He spoke to his mule and the animal
followed him.
He carried me carefully over rocks
and fallen trees and through seeming
ly impossible places. He seemed to
know fully every foot Of the uneven
ground, and to be looking for some
particular spot
"Ah!" he exclaimed at last. "It
is here. The soldiers OF the prefetto
will have to work to fnd you here"
And you will not betray me,
father? asked.
Nay, know full well the ease
with which the prefetto imprisons
falsely. You are safe here And you
will be fed"
II thank you. father" said. in
gratitude.
We had entered a grotto. The air
inside was cool and sweet. could
hear the murmur and ripple Of a
spring and mountain stream near by.
felt sense Of rest and security,
and my trust in the monk was firm.
Soon delicium set in.
was now at the circus and gazing
with wonder and admiration at Nita
BarIotti, the trapeze queen, and at
Maubikeck, the lion tanner, in their
respective acts.
courts rooms and the discovery of
the photograph was as vivid in my
mind as on the day it actually oc-
CURED. And so on, lived over and
over again tho stirring scenes of my
last days In New York, and the de-
parture of Maubikeck and myself on
the steamer.
And then the accident; Maubikeck
rushing into my room and carrying
me on deck; and there standing on
top Of wave. still in the glare OF the
light from heaven, stood Maubikeck,
and above him, in red letters, seem.
ingly Of fire floating in the air, ! saw
the words, III you are saved and I
am not. save Nita from Maligni!"