Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-26
[Ch>pt@



an old soldier, a good rider and shot.
The rest were sturdy young men Of
Volseni, once destined for the ranks of
the Prince Of Slavna's artillery. LukO-
witch and Peter Vassip led them. Not
q married man was among them, for.
to his intense indignation, Zerkovitch
was left behind in command Of the
city. Sophy would have this SO, and
nothing would move her. She would
not risk causing Marie Zerkovitch to
weep more and to harbor fresh fears
Of her. So they rode without incum-
brances." as Dunstanbury said, laugh
Ing. His spirits rose inexpressibly as
the moment of action came.
Their horses were all that could be
to the dash. The little band paraded
In the market place on Friday after
noon. There they were Joined by So
ply, who had been to pay last visit
to monseigneur's grave. She came
| among them sad, yet seeming more
serene. Her spirit was the happier for
striking a blow in mOnseigneur's name
The prospect Of the expedition went
far to blot out the tragedy of the past
and to veil the threatening face Of the
| future. AS dusk fell they rode out of
| the city gate.
Miklevni lies twenty miles up the
course of the river from Slavna, but
| the river flows there nearly from north
70 f,,r 70
or five miles above the capital. You
ride. then, from Volseni to Miklevni al
most in a straight line leaving Slavna
away on the left 1t is distance of no
more than thirty-five miles or there
abouts, but the first ten consist of a
precipitous and rugged descent by
bride path from the hills to the valley
Of the Krath. No pace beyond walk
was possible at any point here, and for
the greater part Of the way it was
necessary to lead the horses. When
once the plain was reached there was
good going, sometimes over country
roads. sometimes over grass. to Mi
klevni.
1t was plain that the expedition
could easily be intercepted by force
issuing from Slavna and placing itself
astride the route: but, then. they did
not expect force to issue from Slav-
ma. That would be done only by the
orders of General Stenovics, and Le-
page had gone back to Slavna to tell
the general that his message was being
considered-very carefully considered
/ In ox,ino
understood him rightly, would not
move till he heard more. For the rest
risks must be run. If all went well.
they hoped to reach Miklevni before
dawn on Saturday. There they were to
lie in wait for Stafnitz and for the big
guns which were coming down the
Krath from Kolskoi to Sla WA.
Lukovitch was the guide and had no
lack Of counsel from lads who knew
the hills as we'll as their sweethearts
faces. He rode first, and. while they
were on the bride path, they followed
In single file, walking their horses or
leading them. Sophy and Dunstanbury
rode behind, with Basil Williamson
and Henry Brown Just in front Of
them. In advance. soloe hundreds Of
yards. Peter Vassip acted AZ scout
coming back from time to time to ad-
wise Lukovitch that the way was clear
The night fell fine and fresh. but it
was very dark. That did not matter.
The men Of Volseni were like cats for
seeing in the dark.
The first ten miles passed slowly and
tediousiy. but without mistake or mis-
hap. They halted on the edge Of the
plain an hour before midnight and took
rest and food. Each man carried provi-
sion for two days. Behind them now
roae the steep hills whence they had
come. before them stretched the wide
plain. away on their left was Slavna,
straight ahead Miklevni. the goal Of
their pilgrimage. Lukovitch moved
about. seeing that every man gave
heed to his horse and had his equip
ment and his weapons In good order.
Then came the word to remount, and
between II and l. with a cheer hastily
suppressed. the troop set forth at q
good trot over the level ground. Now
Williamson and Henry Brown fell to
the rear with three or four Volsenians
lest by any chance or accident Sophy
should lose or be cut OF from the main
body. Lukovitch and Peter Vassip
rode together at the head.
| To Dunstanbury that ride by night
through the spreading plain was won
derful. a thing sunhcient in itself with
out regard to its object or its issue
He had seen some service before, and
there was the Joy Of that. He had
known the comradeship Of a bold en-
terprise: there was the exaltation Of
that He had taken great risks before:
there was the excitement Of that. The
night had ere now called him to the
saddle. and 1t called now with all its
fascination. His blood tingled and
burned with all these things. But
there was more. Beside him all the
way was the figure Of Sophy dim in
the darkness and the dim silhouette Of
1 A.