Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-30
CHAPTER NNIII.

CHAPTER NNIII.
Bcrnikof, whose wounds had been In
famed to gangrene. was ut that moment
actually on his deathbcd. with Father
Chrysostom knecling by his side. The
old sinner was in all the ngonies and ter
rors of reviewing his past life on one
hand and anticipating the coming change
on the other. Bcrnikoff was dying In
the habit of friar, with cowl. cord.
beads and sandals. hoping even on his
deathbcd, ms Ivan the Terrible hoped.
when similarly nrrayed and disguised.
. TO cheat the devil II that dread person.
age came for his sinful soul
Leaving this scene. Balgonie present
ell the order Of Gen. Weymarn and that
Of the treasurer to Captain Nlnsticf. who
was now In command, and to whom he
stated that "the prisoner referred to was
Afademoiselle Natalie Microwna."
carl lvanovitch." said the captain.
''you cannot think Of leaving tonight in
such n storm Of wind and rnin!'
1--WE seen worse In Silcsia," said Bal.
gonie. looking to the locks Of his pistols.
what Of thatT'
But the verbal order Of the general
was most peremptory."
"Ah! and you have brought wagon
for the money!
"A wagon for the prisoner also--so be
quick. captain"
"'Tis large sum In roublcs," unused
the other
II am In haste to he gone! the pris-
oner---yOu hear me, sirY" said BalgOnie,
impntiently.
'You seem more anxious about the
prisoner than the treasure" responded
Vlasfef. sulkily, hut still delayed to
move.
''You have my or,icrs--I come In the
name Of the cmpress-Det there be no
delay. Captain Vlasfcf." was the curt
reply.
Bring In two Cossacks Of the escort
the money II here In seventy bags, each
containing u thousand roubles."
Excuse me, hut the order Of the Inn
perial treasurer says expressly eighty
sealed bags OF n thousand each" said
Balgonie. trembling with anxiety. yet
compelled to appear to take an interest
when he really felt none.
"Ten thousand are missing" said Was.
fef, leisurely. Suppose" he added. In
q whisper. suppose we divide the lost
sum and offer a thousand to the treas
urcri"
"Imposible, sir" said Balgonie. with
q fiery aud impatient manner.
"Well, well-there are the other ten
sealed bags" added Captain VlasAef.
with dark and stealthy frown Of greed
and hate, az the COssacks tossed the
whole among the straw Of the wagon.
ut matters little; but I hope you may
not find the road beset. aud 10 lose the
whole"
"To he forewarned. sir. Ia to be fore.
armed" said Balgonie. touching his pis'
tolls, for he quite understood the treach.
cry implied. mad only trembled lest Il
might mar his dearest plans. And now,
cir. for my prisoner"
III she be not drowned, for the lower
vaults are apt to he flooded on such a
night az this" said Vlasfef. spitefully,
Writhing under the keen glances Of
this lOwbOrn Muscovite. Balgonie felt
that all now depended upon his outward
and assumed bearing Of GOODNESS and
carelessness. Night favored him In this
and his face was almost concealed. Could
anyone then have rend his heart. az he
JJsakoff, two COssacks and two soldiers
Of the main guard made their way down
down through dark and Shiny passages
and stairs, till they were foot deep aud
then knee deep In the water that flooded
the low and humid corridors. off which
were the arched doors of numerous cells
corridors where spiders spun theil
webs, rats were swimming AMI terrified
bats flew wildly to and fro!
Ere long they reached the door
through the crannies of which despair
Ing cries and painful gnspings had been
heard. and after unlocking forced II