The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-16
CONTINUED !

& do not think this wound is
mortal" the surgeon reported as he
carefully felt his way along the
course the steel had taken. TT has
passed below the right lung and on
ly severed some Of the smaller blood
vessels. I think, with proper care,
he may recover"
ssThank God." fervently ejaculat-
ed Ruric, with his hands clasped.
sBut why so anxious ?" asked Ur-
gen. @You were ready enough to
accept his challenge"
ave, else YOU would have called
me coward" returned the gunmak-
er, with flashing eve. ''Had | re-
fused to meet him that fatal word
would have met ne at every turn. |
knew that such man as he was no
cope for me al any game where
strength Of arm and sleight Of hand
were required. So I meant to dis
arm hiEl and then give hlm up MS
life, believing that such q move
would end the combat. You know
how l labored to spare him. But |
could not. Yet would not have the
life Of fellow being, countryman:
upon my hands in such quarrel.
Nv father died fighting for his coun-.
try, and 50 would I die if my death
must come from the hand Of man.
But to die thus would be curse
upon my name, and to inAict such
death upon another would be curse
in my memory"
q believe YOU, my scn," the monk
said. "Only if the count dies you
should not allow such feelings as
YOU mention to overcome you. IN
no way are you to blame for this.
"True. father. You speak truly"
added the surgeon. '.The young
man has acted most nobly, and 10
blame can be attachedto him"
Ruric seemed somewhat relieved
bv these assurances, and, having
seen the counts wound dressed and
assisted in bearing the insensible
form to the sledge, he took Alaric,s
proffered arm and proceeded to his
own team.
"Who is that monk" asked the
lieutenant as they entered their
sledge.
q only know that he is called
Vladimir, " returned Ruric. Il have
only seen him once before. Have
you ever seen him ere this %
eyes; several times about Our bar
racks. He has been there when
some Of our poor fellows have been
sick and dying. He seems to be a
good hearted man and, I judge,
quite intelligent"
'G agree with you there" our hero
said. IT think he is good man, but
there is nevertheless a mystery
about him which / cannot solve.
His countenance is familiar to me,
and yet cannot tell where nor when
have seen him."
"Aye," added Alaric quickly and
eagerly; t'that is precisely the case
with me. I am very sure that have
seen that man IL, or different cir
cumstances. And others OF our COM
pany have thought the same"
The two men watched the move
ments of the monk while they thus
spoke, and they noticed that he en-
tered his sledge and drove off to-
ward Borodino.
"Ruric," said the lieutenant after
they had ridden some little distance
and at the same time gazing Won
deriacly into his companions face.
:voa handle the sword like ln":ej-
e;:::::,. Ry ny soul, I'd give al oW'a
at this present Eo:::en5, MY coGn2iz-
SION "2t. ali, II coIlu Aandte thc
swcrd as yoa can.
y 90 understand the weapon
passing wei. returned the youth
modest y. ''but | have worked hard
to e3ia the science
~. lis nct al science, the otli-
Ger ADDED ''Ehat wondroas strength
oil yours is host in itself
Ard vet" sad Rurlc, 4 have
seen weaker men than myself who
would overcome me- easily or, at
least, who might overcome me.
,'2ut they were not III this city,
suggested Orsa, with peculiar
shake Of the head.
'''i'ruc, Alaric. | am not in the
habit Of mentioning my own powers.
bat vet | may say that there IS no
man in Moscow who is my superior
in tie use of any sort of offensive
arms
The lieutenant readily admitted