The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-01

"dS seeu tHdt he mao not escaped from
the battle with the wolves unscathed.
His great-coat was ripped at the left
shoulder and stream of blood
trickled down from what was evident
ly severe wound, for the arm hung
almost powerless by his side.
Lift him." said the courier, speak
ing to the Cossacks.
They raised the man on the chair.
Here, drink this, my brave fellow,
and you are all right and SO saying,
the courier placed the bottle to the
rescued mans lips. Try a little-a
swallow or two; it will do you good"
The sufferer made an effort. He
succeeded. He did take swallow or
two-in fact he took dozen, for the
fiery brandy went down his throat as
if 1t had been smooth as milk. His
eyes opened; half smile passed over
his face; with an effort he straight.
ened himself up unassisted and re.
marked: That's great stuff"
Cobb"
The word came simultaneously from
the lips of the karsicheffs, father and
son.
Cobb here!
Cobb, the man who had been, as
the letter said, devoting himself to.
ward securing pardon for his friend
and their enemy.
Had Alexis recognized him, too?
ies-for he. was making an effort
to attract his attention.
But the gag prevented him from
speaking.
Cobb. for it was our American
friend, after feeling the brandy cours-
ing through his veins, and after giving
it his personal endorsement, half me-
chanically, suddenly gazed at the cou.
rier with look of fearful anxiety.
Then his breath came thick and fast,
and his voice, broken with painful
agitation, trembled as he spoke with
feverish haste. MY wife-she is safe
my wife-are we-saved? Speak
L speak,"
Yes, yes" interrupted the courier,
'she is safe, you are safe, all is we'll"
"But-but the other"
MY God; Is there another?' ex.
claimed the courier.
Cobb paled-a horrible picture rose
before his mind, his eyes closed, his
features relaxed, and he fell helpless
into the arms of the Cossacks.
Take him there" shouted the couri-
er to the Cossacks, pointing to the
room where he had taken the other
who was, in fact. the baroness. Take
him there and follow mel"
The man obeyed and bore cobb
from the room.
The courier started for the door but
he had scarcely taken one step when
the blood from his wound poured forth
in perfect torrent, and he staggered
and would have fallen but for the
friendly aid of the Nachaln!k. To re-
move his coat and get bandage was
the work of only minute, but that
minute seemed hours.
For the bowling of the wolves, now
growing nearer and nearer, had in
creased to a volume that indicated
that the pack was growing larger all
the time. AS the demoniac chorus of
the famished brutes was borne to his
ears, the courier made another effort
to start to the rescue. But it was
useless. He was faint from loss of
blood.
MY God! Russians-men," he ap-
pealed, do you not hear the wolves?
Do you not know that some poor crea-
ture is being even now, perhaps, torn
to pieces. Will you not try to save
him?"
The soldiers remained silent.
Two or three of them showed marks
on their hands and faces where the
brutes had torn them in their brave
rescue of Cobb and his wife. They
were brave men enough, but even the
bravest man might well quail with
fear at the prospect of a horrible death
by being torn to pieces by the fam
ished wolves.
1T is certain DEATH" said the Ma
chalnik
"Ay, certain DEATH" said two or
three of the Others
God of Russia. exclaimed the couri
er again, making an attempt to rise,
will nobody dare-oh! if | had but
the strength" and he sank into the
chair, weak and helpless. Hear
that" he continued. as the bowling
of the wolves became louder. make
an effort men-try! try to make a
rescued"
But among the convicts there was
movement, and before Karsicheff or
Nicholas could prevent him Alexis
Nazimoff staggered forward and. SILK
ing on one knee at the foot of the
courier, raised his shackled hands to
the gag in his mouth. Then turning
to the direction from which came the
howls of the wolves, he flashed a look
of pleading appeal into the eyes OF
the courier
"You?" gasped the courier.
Alexis nodded his head quickly.