New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
SOPHY OF KRAVONIA
roupq
Continued from page 10

not. lie set OIL at q rOunO pace 10 Jnt
guard-room: he did not even stay TO notice
the white rope which dangled in the air from
a second-floor window. Had he stopped. he
would have heard Markart's invincIble drug
laden snoring.
Lepage had separated himself from his good
friend and ally, the mattress, and dIved under
water while the sentry blazed away. He wei
coined the current which bore him rapidly
from the dangerous nelghbOrhOod OF the Palace
He came to the surface fifty yards down
stream and made for the other side. He could
manage no more than slanting course; but
he was a strong swimmer, lightly dressed,
with an indoor man s light kid shoes. He felt no
distress; rather vivid, almost gleetul, excite
ment came upon him as he battled with the
strong cold stream. He began to plume him
self on the mattress. Only a FrenchTnan
would have thought of thati Il Slavna man
would have run away with unguarded hanks.
A Volsenian would have stayed TO kill the
sentry, and be shot down by Sterkoff's guard.
Only a Frenchman would have thought OF
the mattreSSi
He made land quarter of a mile below the
Palace. All, it was colder on the road there
than struggling with the cold water. But
his spirit was not quenched- He laughed again,
a tritie Historically, perhaps. In spite OF
Sterkoff, he was spending the evening out! He
set his feet for Slavna-briskly too Nay
he ran, for warmth'S sake, and because OF
what the sentry might even now be reporting
to Sterkotf, and through him TO General
NIcnON1CS. ne IHOuSuJ Drought ulIIl u q
standstill again; there might be a Gordon OF
sentries across the road! After moments 5
hesitation he broke away from the man road,
struck due south, and so ran when he could,
walked when he must, two miles.
He was getting terribly tired now, but not
Cold-rather he was feverishly hot inside his
Clammy garments. He turned along a country
crosS-road which ran west and passed through
a village, leaving the Hotel de Paris on the
main road far TO his right At last he reached
the main road south and turned up 1t, healing
again for Slavna and for the bridge which
crossed the South River. He passed the bridge
without being challenged, as the Cathedral
clock struck midnight from Saint Michaels
Square. The worst of his task was accomplish
ed. If now he could find ZerkOvitch!
But he was sore spent; running was out OF
the question now; he slung slowly and pain
fully along the south boulevard, clinging close
to the fences of the gardens, seeking the shelter
of the trees which overhung them.
Dragged, hatless, dirty, infinitely weary,
at last he reached Zerkovitch's house at the
of the Fountain meet. He opened the garden
gate and walked in. Spent as he was, he
breathed "Bravol" when he saw a light
burning in the hall He staggered on, rang the
bell, and fairly fell in a lump outside the door.
He had done well-he, man of peace, busy
with clothes-he had done we'll that night But
he was finished. When Zerkovitch opened the
door, he found little more than a heap of dank
and dirty rairnent; he hauled it in and shut
the door. He supported Lepage into the
study, sat him down by the fire, and got brandy
for him to drink, pouring out full half tumbler.
Lepage took it and drank the better part of
it at gulp.
The King died at five o'clock, NJ. Zerlo-
vitch!" he said: He drank the rest, let the
tumbler fall with a crash buried his head on
his breast, and fell into blank Inconsistencies.
He was out of the battle-aS much as Mark
art who slept the clock round in spite of