Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-04-05
CHAPTER XIII

DGIHihOA NleNeus the growing intimacy
between his prisoner Ivan and the Scot
fish captain; and though he neither rec
commended that it should cease or inter
dicted it, he made many mental notes
thereof.
Though Balgonie sympathized with
Ivan to the fullest extent, he knew too
well the danger of doing more; and he
felt that he had his own share Of secret
sorrow and anxiety, and might yet have
greater to endure. The girl he loved was
already a political fugitive; her father
and cousin were prisoners, and perhaps
In chains; her brother and his kinsman,
Usakoff. already viewed as criminals;
and with the terrors of despotism hang
ing over them all.
Natalie a fugitiye-and where? In
the wild forests, perhaps, where wolves
and outlaws lurked. what perils and pri-
vations might she not be suffering! Ma
tale, SO delicate, SO pure, so gently nur-
tured, and so highly bred.
Balgouie was aware, also, that init
macy with the family of Mierowitz, and
the deep interest he had in their fate,
was fraught with personal peril to him
self in such a land or tyranny as Russia.
Full of such thoughts as these one fore
noon, he was leaning on a cannon in one
OF those deep embrasures Of the fortress
which faced the drawbridge communicat-
ing with the land. The guard was in
the act of lowering the bridge to permit
a man to pass out. This person was just
parting from Bernikoff, with whom he
had been for some time in close and earn
est conversation, and from whom he was
evidently receiving money-an unusual
circumstance, as that distinguished field
officer generally lavished more kicks and
cuffs than thanks or coins.
On beholding this man, as he bowed
humbly. cap in hand, cross the bridge
and disappear among the houses of the
town beyond, Balgonie experienced
species of nervous shock. He could not
doubt that this fellow, so gigantic in
stature and powerful in muscular devel-
opment, in the coarse coat and leathern
girdle, with the long lock of grizzled hair
dangling behind his right ear, was Mich
olas Paulovitch the murderer of Po-
datchkine, the gypsy woodman, and the
swindling mendicant of the barrier at
the Neva.
This man here in Schlusselburg,"
thought Balgonie. with indignation and
alarm; here in earnest conversation with
Bernikoff. The spirit of mischief seems
TO pervade the air again.
A few minutes afterward a Cossack
named Jagousk who had been severely
knouted by Bernikoff for pilfering a pipe
full of tobacco, came forward with tot
tering steps, and looking painfully thin
and feeble from recent suffering, and
with the crouching bearing of the Mus
covite toward a superior, said that his
Excellency the Governor wished to speak
with him in his quarters, whittier Bal
gonie at once repaired.
Carl Ivanovitch," said Bernikof,
who certainly had rather a perturbed air,
some suspicious characters are in our
vicinity, and have actually been lowering
in boats about the fortress. What think
you of that"
Suspicious characters, excellency-
bow?"
''ln the town one dropped this COMA
silver rouble of the prisoner Ivan-Ivan
tie Unknown Person. To possess one,
unless as l do this, for proof 4 treason,
is to court death or Siberia"
And from whom had you this?'
"A spy" replied the colonel CURLY.
1.-The man who has just left your
The same"
Nicholas Paulovitch,' continued Bal
gonie. with increasing astonishment at
the others GOODNESS; 1.-The assassin of the
corporal-the wretch of whom told you
when first arrived here!"
"All that may or may not be-" replied
Bernikoff, with a stern air, almost
amounting to rudeness; when / require
this fellow no more, you may impale him,
il you please; but modest him not ut
present"
II do not see, excellency. that all this
in any way concerns me" said Balgo-
ME. haughtily.
"It does concern you thus far. l shall
anticipate any attempt that may be made
by those lurkers. whoever they may be.
You must remember" he added, lowering
his voice, "the tenor of the dispatch you
brought me.
Perfectly" replied Charlie, in a some
what faint voice, as he knew not how
terrible or repugnant might be the duty
assigned him by this military despot.
well, you shall pass forth into the
town tonight, with n patrol of twenty
men, armed with sabers and carbines.
Surround and search the main street,
and compel all therein who seem susri-
rious, 10 produce their papers; and, if
and | shall question them in a fashion
Of my own.
"And | am TO take twenty men with
meY' said Baleonie. after an unpleasant
pause.
Yes, the bridge viii be lowered for
you after sunset. Whoever these Turk
ers are. they have been seen and over
heard; and this coin is proof sufficient to
warrant the transportation of a whole
provinee Be they who they may. by ev-
ery dome in sacred Mother Moscow, they
shall End rue ready for them,'
Baleouie had no resource bat TO obey
In silence; and an angry sigh escaped
him as he stuck his loaded pistols in
his girdle when the sun sank behind the
green painted roofs of the wooden town
and the evening gun doomed from the
FampartS.
Defiling in the twilight through the
streets OF Schiusselburg. he marched
straight 10 where he knew that the prin-
cipal tea house was situated; and while
his heart sank within him in fear of
whom he might arrest--perhaps Natalie
,imsalf-he AT once surrounded the
building TO prevent all egress. and to the
evident alarm and perturbation OF all
Who were within.
When the crooked saberS Of the dis
mounted COssacks were seen flashing in
he porch. and when BalSonie entered
with his sword drawn. passing along the
harrow way between the numerous Ia
sles. at which the groups were seated,
imid an oppressive odor OF strong tea.
.oarse tobacco and Russian leather
rom boots. caps and girdleS-many a
peasant in his canvas coat. and many a
tout merchant in his fur cloak felt his
aeart quail with apprehension. he knew /
DOT OF what; aud every saucer-the tea
not drunk from cups-was set down |
Intasted. while one or two men nearly |
ihoSed themselves with their humps of /
ngar, for usually it is not put into the I
ga. but is retained in the mouth OF the |
lrinker. so that. in spirit Of economy. /