Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-03-26
CHAPTER Kill.

fish captain; and though he neither rec
commended that Il should cease or inter-
dicted 1t, he made many mental notes
Whereof.
Though Baleonie sympathixed 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 vet 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 md his kinsman,
Csakof. already viewed as criminals;
md with the terrors Of despotism hang
ing over them ALL
Natalie a fugitive-and where? In
the wild forests, perhaps. where wolves
and outlaws lurkcd, what perils and pfi-
'vations might she not he suffering! Ma.
tale, 70 delicate, SO pure, 80 gently nvf-
tured, and so highly bred.
Balgonie was aware. also, that init
macy with the family Of Mierpwitz, and
the deep interest he had In their fate,
was frnught with personal peril to him
self In such land of tyranny as Russia.
Full Of such thoughts as these one fore.
noon. he was leaning on cannon In one
Of those deep embrasures NJ the fortress
which faced the drawbridge communicate
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. ms 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. Balgonic experienced a
species Of nervous shock. He could not
doubt that this fellow, 50 gigantic In
stature and powerful In muscular devel-
opment, In the coarse coat and lenthern
Rirtlle, with the long lock Of grizzled hair
dangling behind his right enr, was Mich
olas Paulovitch, the murderer Of Po-
datchkine. the gypsy woodmnn. and the
swindling mendicant Of the barrier ut
the Neva.
This man here In Schlusselburg,"
thought Balgonie. with indignation and
alarm; "here In earnest conversation with
Bernikoff. The spirit Of mischief seems
60 pervade the air again.
A few minutes afterward a COssack
named Jagouski, who had been severely
knouted by Bernikoff for pilfering 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 ut once repaired.
"Cnrl lvanOvitch," said Bernikoff.
who certainly had rather perturbed air,
"some suspicious characters are In our
vicinity, and have actually been lowering
In boats about the fortress. What think
you Of thatT'
Suspicious characters. sxcellency-
how2"
in the town one dropped this COMA
silver roubls Of the prisoner lvan-lvan
the Unknown Person. To possess one.
unless rs do this, for proof Of treason.
Is to court death or Siberia"
"And from whom had you this?'
"A spy" replied the colonel CURLY.
"The man who has just left your
''The same."
"Nicholas Paulovitch," continued Bal.
gonie, with increasing establishment ut
the others GOODNESS; 1.-THE assassin Of the
corporal-the wretch Of whom told you
when first arrived here!"
IAN that may or may not be-" replied
BernikofI, with a stern air. almost
amounting to rudcness; 'when I require
this fellow no more. you may impale him.
II you please; but modest him not ut
present"
II do not see. excellency. TINT all this
In any way concerns me-" said Balgo-
ME, haughtily.
1T does concern you thus far. shall
anticipate any attempt that may be made
ty 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.
whit faint voice, a. he knew not how
terrible or rcpugnnnt might be the duty
assigned him by this military despot.
"Well, you shall pass forth into the
town tonight, with q patrol Of twenty
men, armed with sabers and carbines.
Surround and search the main street.
and compel all therein who seem suspi-
ciOus, to produce their papers; and, II
they are without such, bring them to me.
and I shall question them In a fashion
Of my own"
"And I am to take twenty men with
mei" said Balgonie, after an unpleasant
pause.
ayes! the bridge will 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 whole
province. BE they who they may, by ev-
cry dome In sacred Mother Moscow, they
shall find me ready for them!"
Balgonie had no resource but to obey
In silence: and an angry sigh escaped
him NJ 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
ramparts.
Defiling In the twilight through the
streets Of Schlusselburg. he marched
straight to 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
himself-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
the porch, and when BalgOnie entered
with his sword drawn, passing along the
narrow way between the numerous ta-
blAs at which the prOuns were sa0ted