Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-15
I Ch>ptu
! Thirtyoe

an Olu soldier, good rider and shot.
The rest We're sturdy young men of
Volseni. once destined for the ranks of
the Prince Of Slavna's artillery. Luke.
witch and Peter Vassip led them. Not
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 lnexpressibly as
the moment of action came.
Their horses were all that could be
mustered in Volsenl of mettle equal
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
serene. Her spirit was the happier for
striking blow in monseigneurs name.
The rest Of them were in high feather.
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
to south, turning to the east only four
or five miles above the capital. You
ride, then, from Volseni to Mikevni al
most In straight line, leaving Slavna
away on the left. 1t is distance of no
more than thirty-ive miles or there
abouts, but the first ten consist of a
precipitous and rugged descent by a
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 Lee
page had gone back to Slavna to tell
the general that his message was being
considered carefully considered
in Volseni. General Stenovics, If they
understood him rightly, would not
move till he heard more. For the rest
risks must be run. If all went we'll.
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 Slavna.
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, some hundreds of
yards, Peter Vassip acted as scout,
coming back from time to time to ad-
wise Lukovitch that the way was clear.
The night fell fine and fresh but 1t
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
tediously. 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
rose 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
Then came the word to remount, and
between u and l. with a cheer hastily
suppressed. the troop set forth at 0
good trot over the level ground. Now
Williamson and Henry Brown fell tt
the rear with three or four Vosenians
lest by any chance or accident Sophy
should lose or be cut off from the mar
body. Lukovitch and Peter Vassil
rode together at the head.
To Dunstanbury that ride by nigh
through the spreading plain was won
derful. thing sufficient in itself with
out regard to its object or its issue
He had seen some service before, ant
there was the joy of that He hat
known the comradeship of bold en-
terprise; there was the exaltation O
that. He had taken great risks before
there was the excitement of that. Thu
night had ere now called him to tn,
saddle. and 1t called now with all it
fascination. His blood tingled ant
burned with all these things. Blu
way was the figure of Sophy dim il
the darkness and the dim silhouette O
her face-dim. yet. as 1t seemed. hard
ly blurred; its pallor stood out even II
the night She engrossed his thought
and spurred his speculations.
What thoughts dwelt In her? Di,
she ride to death and was 1t dealt
she herself courted? If SO, he wa
sworn In his soul to thwart her. eve
to his own death. She was not foo
for death. his soul cried. passonatel
protesting against that loss. that I'm
poverishnient of the world. Why ha
they let her come? She was not VIC
man of whom that could he asked
therefore 1t was that his mind so hun