Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-04-26
The Secret Dispatch
BY JAMES GRANT
CHAPTER XIX

horror of which was enhanced by TIE UNI
certain light in which it was exhibited,
and which impaired a wavering and al
most life-like action to the corpse, as
with its long hair floating, head and arms
pendent, 1t swayed to and fro in the
morning wind against the castle wall
THE Lord have mercy upon us!' cried
Basil Mierowitz, covering his face with
his hands, and permitting the musket
with Which he had armed himself to fall
to the ground with a clash, which, to-
gether with his most mournful exclama-
ion, clone broke the silence.
Behold" said Bernikof, in cruel tri-
umph. This is your emperor-now let
him head your troops. Doubtless he will
make a fine figure on the imperial
throne"
"Oh! Bernikoff," exclaimed Basil, you
are like Judas, as we may see him at
the Kazan Cnurch-one hand on the
mouth deaoting treachery, and tire other
on a bag OF money"
Thou hest, lieutenant! my fingers
know more of the grip Of steel than Of
gold" said the other furiously, as he
hurled the hilt of his broken saber at
the speaker.
"So-so-this has been your work and
decision? Thou art a cruel judge; but
remember the law of Peter the Great"
(which makes the judge answerable
for his decision. Then shall / content
me, traitor, ana be answerable for my
decision as We'll as for its execution. l
have done my dcty to the Czarina."
''You have done deed for which he'll
must blush and angels weep, was the
forcible reply of Mierowitz. who seemed
so overcome by grief and horror as to
lose all self-possession; for he now or
dered his men to dispense TO the woods
to seek safety in fight; and then calmly
taking off his sword and belt and sash,
he threw them on the ground, saying:
''Since my imperial master is dead,
further resistance would be vain in me"
He was almost Immediately afterward
struck to the earth and made prisoner
by Lieut.. Tschekin, who, with a party Of
dismounted Cossacks, had stolen through
the classmates and galleries to a postern
opening OH the rear of the drawbridge,
and these, after firing a confused volley
with their pistols and musketoons, fell
with their sharp crooked sabers upon the
now thoroughly disheartened adherents
of Mierowitz. Lieut.. Usakoff and ia
gouski alone made any vigorous resist
ance, resolving not to be taken alive.
Fighting desperately, almost back to
back, the former armed with the saber
of Mazeppa and the latter with a mus
ket, and both bleeding from many
wounds. they were driven through the
outer barrier toward the town. On the
pathway Jagouski stumbled over a COM
rade and was taken; but Apollo Usakoff,
with a shout in which triumph and de-
spair were mingled, leaped into the Neva,
the waters of which swept him away,
and he was seen no more by Eis pur-
suers.
When Tschekin's Cossacks joined in
the melee with the fugitives. Balgonie
sprang through the wicket. sword in
hand, resolved to succor his friend at all
hazards; and fortunately arrived just in
time to save him from the bulky giant
Nicholas Paulovitch, who, with a club
bed musket, was about to give him a
blow that must inevitably have proved
fatal.
Paulovitch he ran through the heart.
and spurning him off the blade with his
foot. hurled the snoring ruffian to the
assistance of a soldier and Lieut.. Tsehe
kin.
MADE prisoner, and by you, too,
Carlr' said Basil, reproachfully and in
a low voice, for he was faint with
wounds and bruises.
''By me, but to save you"
Seek rather to save Natalie, if you
can" he whispered; ''she is. she is
Where, where?' said Balgonie, inn
petuously and imploringly.
But there was no reply. Basil had
tainted. and was borne into the Castle
of Schlusselburg. a prisoner of state.
Balgonie never saw the face of his
friend again!
SO ended for time scheme. the inn
portance Of which was only equaled by
its bold recklessness-the scheme of two
subaltern officers to revolutionize the vast
empire of Russia, and to subvert the
firm dominion of Catharine H.: and such
was the terrible sequel TO the Secret
Dispatch" of Balgonie.
Day had completely broken when he
was summoned by Bernikoff. Shudder-
ing as he passed through the court of
the castle mad under the very window
mournfully to and fro in the morning
breeze. Charlie sought the presence Of
this detestabie parsonage. the thunder of
whose wrath he feared was about to de-
scend upon himself.
He found the colonel in his shirt
sleeves and almost covered with blood.
which was flowing from a wound in his
breast and another on the head. from
whence il was trickling to the ends of
his long and snaky-gray mnstaches To
both of these cuts the barber was about
to apply dressings, while the patient 40
laced himself by scheming out some
dreadful punishment for Jagouski, who.
with several others, had fallen into his
gentle hands.
Balgonie. whose thoughts ran chiefly
upon how to discover and succor Natalie.
was reused to attention by Bernikoff
saying grimly:
Carl Ivanovitch Baigonie, for aiding
in the capture OF the rebel Mierowitz.
l thank you: suspicious l had, but they
are gone. You are now. perhaps, TO re-
join the Regiment of Smoensko. and
shall bear a dispatchNfrom me to Lieut..
Gen. Weymarn and Lieut.. Col. CaSch-
kin. relating the affair OF the last twelve
hours. Vlashef shall prepare it. and
shall sign it. Place a feather in the
seal. lest the captain linger as he did at
Lougal Nay. look not at me thus, Scot.
God willed it that Prince Ivan should be
put in my charge: and the devil. together
with my duty TO the Empress, inspired
me 10 destroy him. What is done is
DONE and is the viii OF God; and you
know. or ought TO know. our Muscovite
proverb-the Car is high, and God IS
everywhere"
Three times has this old reprobate
mentioned that terrible name. and each
time bowling his sinful headt' thought
Charlie. with disgust and wonder.
"Elahr' resumed Bernikoff. pursuing
his own thoughts, and clenching his teeth
in rage and pain. did thar sucking OF a
lieutenant think to deceive mel. who
have been forty years in the Russian
army, and have to deal with the most