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


The noon of the following day saw
Charlie Balgonie-after an anxious and
almost sleepIess night-proceeding on
foot along the road that leads southwark
TO Tosna, n little town which stands on
stream of the same name, n tributary
of the Neva. but some ten miles distant
from Schlusselburg.
Before him rose the tall fir trees of
the forest where he was TO meet Olga
! the wood of the honey tree" as it was
named. There. as Balgonie approached,
all was still save the voice of the wood.
cock, and the hum of insects; he fingered
| for a few minutes on the outskirts. just
where the highway to Tosna dipped
down into the deep and gloomy dingle of
intertwisted branches, which formed a
species of leafy tunnel overhead.
To the northward he could see the
place he had left, the gloomy Castle of
Schlusselburg, moated round by the Neva
and Lake Ladoga, jutting into the latter
on its rock, its towers wearing a somber
brown tint even in the MONDAY sunshine,
as if no light could brighten them; and
the white flag of Russia was 1uttering
on the summit of the keep, where Ivan
was pining away the years of youth in
silence and seclusion.
Balgonie heard a voice waking the
echoes of the dingle; three notes were
struck on a tambourine. as q signal to
him, and Olga approached singing.
II have kept my appointment, Olga"
And | mine," she replied gayly, while
tripping toward him in 4 playful man
ner; 'now follow me, Hospodeen, and
| shall take you to those who will be
right glad to see you"
First let US be sure that we are I'M
watched"
Right" said she; and STOPPING in
her earnestness, her keen, dark and gilt
tering eyes swept the whole landscape
that lay between the wood and Schlusse-
burg, and glanced keenly beyond the
stems of the trees into the dingles and
vista; but. save the birds on the branches
and the gnats revolving in the sunshine,
no living thing was visible.
Follow me, Hospodeen," said the gyp-
sy; I'VE have not far to 60"
They descended into the dark dingle
or hollow. and then quilted the highway;
Olga gathering up her skirts that she
might tread with greater facility among
the thick gorse and long rank grass. She
explained to Balgonie that, as there was
no path to guide them, her chief clews
were set of notcheS. cut to all appear
ances carelessly, as if with woodman's
ak, on the bark of the great pine trees.
These marks seem fresh. and recently
cut-who made them?" asked Balgonie.
The Hospodeen, Basil Mierowitz,"
she whispered.
Poor Basil!' responded Chq,,ie. in
low tone.
After toiling through the dense forest
for more than half an hour. they arrived
at the feet of a gray granite cliff, the
face of which was screened, or nearly
covered, by masses of depending ivy,
creepers and green lichens, forming
y back round which, at a little distance,
blended with tie l;reenery of the woods.
I'VE have arrived" said she, turning.
with a flush on her dark face which
made it radiantly beautiful. She struck
three strokes on her tambourine and
shook its bells.
Charlie thought * her kinsman. Mich
olas Paulovitch, and instinctively grasp
ed one of the pistols at his girdle. on see
ing the dark and bearded face of a man
appear among the ivy leaves some twenty
feet above him. A rope ladder was low
cred, and whatever doubts or miSgivings
were in his mind. he felt himself con-
strained now to go through the adventure
to its end.
He clambered up, and on the great
screen of ivy being lifted aside. found
himself face TO face with his old friend
Basil Mierowitz. the subaltern OF his
company. who. grasping both his hands
with kindly warmth of manner. led him
into cavern or grotto, one of a series of
many. into which the granite rocks had
there been followed by some long past
CONFUSION of nature. Another hand was
instantly laid on his. a smaller and softer
one-and two beautiful dark eyes were
bending tenderly on his face.
Natalie" he exclaimed. In a tremu-
lous voice, and would have pressed her
to his breast. but for the presence cf
Basil and several other men.
Amid the twilight of the cavern. he
could perceive its rough natural walls
and arch. with haEy but sunny rays that
Streamed family in the background.
athwart the obscurity. as if the vault
communicated with other galleries in the
rock. through which the upper light Of
day stole in by the crannies and chasms
He was also enabled 70 see that. with
Natalie. her brother Basil. and her cousin
Usakoff. who had been a lieutenant in
the Nalikolutz GrenadierS. there were
about twenty men in the place. all clad
in sheepSkin coats. the invariable dress
of the Russian peasant, and nearly all
had red serge breeches. rough boots and
girdles of rope or untanned leather.
Though attired ike woodmen or labor
irg serfs. all these men had Enthusiastically
the bearing OF well-trained soldiers; all
were strong. active, and resolute in as
peet; and Balgonie had no doubt shat
they were those natives OF the OSarine, |
the deserters from the Livonian frontier.
OF whom BernikofT had spoken; for |
against the walls Of the cavern were
ranged & number OF muSkets and hayo- |
nets. with sets OF Announcements. sabers /
aud pistols. There. too. stood regi- |
rental drum. decorated with the impe- |
rial arms. and the forbidden name OF
the Emperor Ivan, Every moment seem |
ed to increase the perils that surrounded /
the luckless Baigonie. for now he was /
in the very den Of the conspirators-
"Oh. Basil-U sakof-my friends. IL /
indeed may yet dare to rsll you 50 and !.