Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-02-10

climb into the latter, which proves to be
a cart laden with sacks of wool. Yerack
springs to the seat In front and away
we speed as only Russian "troka" can.
Nothing says Yerack to either Of US
until between US and Kovno lie many |
versts, and the barren land is all about |
us. Suddenly he observes:
"Well, brothers, so far, good. And |
now for the transformation scene. Thou, |
Vladimir Alex androvitch, as thy hands |
are white and thou hast something Of a
clerical air about thee'-here he gives
vent to a sly chuckle-"art to be trans
figured into Russian priest, with purple,
silk kaftan and flowing locks; not for
getting beard that would grace a pat
riarch. 1t rests with thee to play thy
new role well. Art thou satisfied with
itT
"Yerack, my friend, I have no words
wherewith to thank thee" l exclaim
warmly.
bah, I merit no thanks. If save
thee, It will be life for life. like to be
level with people. And for thee, brother
Kalatch, as the leopard cannot change
his spots, and thou art always Cos
sack confessed, every inch Of thee, l
have procured a Cossack's dress. In any
other thou woudst surely look like a
Cossack in disguise. With bushy beard
from ear to ear and a quarter Of ali
"archin" off thy mustache, methinks thou
wilt pass"
81 would thou wouldst make haste and
let me rid myself of these soaking duds"
replies Kalatch, with irritation, while
his teeth knock together like castanets
81 am certainly sickening of ague!"
He gropes among the sacks and brings
up two bundles which he presents to us
respectively. 1t is one of the most diff
cult things imaginable to make a COM
plete change of toilet in 6 cart on top
of a pile of sacks, while three horses
are tearing full gallop with you through
the darkness. However, necessity has
been known to make a man accomplish
wonders.
What bliss it is to lie still among the
sacks with a dry skin, after the wet
clothes have been slowed away, and
listen to Kalatch describing in his terse,
powerful diction, his adventure with the
warder! And how Yerack enjoys i'll
Good we'll done!' he interpo-
lates, slapping his leg.
| MednWnue uull, eluOhc-bIny spcoh
has been widening on the horizon, and
now l can make out the details of Ye-
racks dress where he sits before me on
the front Of the cart, and also the head
of Kalatch emerging from the sacks,
surmounted by the tall Cossack's cap.
, His profile is between me and the hori-
zon, SO that his hooked nose and the
bushy beard are marked out against the
growing light. Though they continue to
; converse together, no longer gather the
substance Of their conversation, for
think Of Maruscha, and how soon l may
get a letter dispatched to her. l cannot
help feeling a consuming anxiety about
. her, though keep assuring myself that
she Is safe from interference until the
inquiries subsequent to my trial In St
Petersburg should be instituted.
"Yerack," l say at length, where arr
), we at present? 1t is necessary that
u get to a post town as soon as possible
1--WE are about ten versts from Bor
Itch" replies Yerack, without looking
around.
II must send a letter from Borlitch,
, I say.
. "Bah-nonsense" exclaims Yerack
: impatiently. This is not time to write
letters! 1t Is bad-bad-to send writ
ing through the post! believe not IL
y this letter writing, 1t has lost many I
. mani
"Yerack, when l tell thee that tn,
% safety Of one to whom l owe my life ii
endangered through me and that the
c the individual knows not Of 1t, therefore
& without being warned cannot escape 1t
II thou wilt recognize that l cannot argu'
> this point with thee"
The Cossack gives a dissatisfied grunt
% but says no more about it. Present.!
J. he informs me that we pass through Bor
Itch on our way to wilma. Where tho'
l, wilt take train direct to Konigsberg," h
q adds quietly, as If it were the simples
" thing in the world my passing the from
e tier
;; ITO Konigsberg?" repeat in amaze
~ "Yes; that Is the program. And tho'
. wilt arrive safe and sound In the Prus
y sian town without n single hindrance
The officials at the frontier will dof
y their caps at thee and say, God spec
!, y, thee. Holy Father!"
A long silence ensues. Kalatch's 8 heat
disappears from the range of my vision
'e and ere long loud snores rise at inter
walls near me. Yerack slackens the pac
Of the horses to steady trot, and thu
8 we proceed until we come to lon
y, bridge thrown over a stream. He pull
" up at the side Of the road.
L Come, rouse thee, Kalatch," he cries
Get down and stand by the horses
heads"
w Kalatch, still half asleep, stumble
ID over the edge Of the cart, and mechan
ically does as he Is told.
Now give me the clothes, Vladimi
y Alexandrovitch."
y l dive among the sacks and fish II
d. the two wet bundles He takes theI
> from me, and looks anxiously up an
down the road. Having satisfied hin