The Washington times., 1910-02-22

! noise thut might have been made other
wise. The air was bitterly cold.
Presently ] became conscious Of the
fact that my opponent was striving
with all his might to force me in a
certain direction, and I correctly con
jectured that ne had been able 60 dis
cover the location OF the sword and
was making an attempt to reach it,
So 1 bent my energies TO avoiding his
effort. Ny life had been largely one
OF adventure. and ! had taken part IN
many combatS. bul never before in one
like this where II was simply matter
of endurance, where neither part to
the fray was suffering injury, and where
the nope OF success was 50 evenly di-
Nlded- odd as II may seem, While pin
ioninE him thus so that he could not
act on the offensive. / began 10 con-
lecture how long we might hold out.
and the probability of assistance arriv-
ing 10 end IL; and II was the uncertainty
OF the nature of that assistance that
concerned ma most
have said there were not half "A
dozen confessed dlhiiiSts remaining at
liberty IN St Petersburg. but there were
hundreds, say, thousands of nihilistic
sympathlZers. aHd there were hundreds
OF others who had become allied TO the
nhlliSts In some eXtrinsic way who
We're In sympathy with the order even
If only passively SO. II one or more Of
such were TO happen along the assist
dnce would surely be upon the side Of
my enemy, and certain defeat and death
would be my portion. II a mere Citi-
zen were 90 interfere, the captain who
still wore his uniform, would secure the
prOuered aid, not q. He would be be-
lleved. not J. and hence I understood
that whatever advantage there might be
IN the way Of interference. was on his
side. Approaching these facts. ] eNerted
my strength TO the utmost TO turn the
tide of battle i'm my favor but 1 could
accomplish nothing. He was as strong
as /, though not more powerful. and
50 / TelapSed again into the mere effort
To hold him helpless, and 10 take INC
chance Of wearing him out before as
SiStauCe should come.
It seemed to me rs though an hour
passed fEus; in reality, 81 may have
been only few moments, Tor minutes
are long under such circumstance:
and then there came an Interruption
and q strange one.
With whom are you struggling. Cap
tain Durnief2' / heard a voice say.
'Zara.' L exclaimed, before DurDief
could reply.
with an assassin who has shot our
horses. murdered the yensChik and
who would assassinate you. princess"
painted Durnief.
'.zara-' / called to her again 1T is
I-DubTaVuiL-'
heard her gasp, and although could
not see her. I was conscious that she de-
Aberately walked around us. probably
10 OBTAIN a better view or me- ana IN
that moment 7 think I doubted her; but
I frightened my grip around the man L
held. and waited Grimly for events To
shape themselves.
"Dubravnik2" she said. in low tone.
as II she we're not convinced. but I
did not speak again. and the captain
also remained silent. Minutes, which
seemed Ike hours, passed in another
deatnlike silence, broken only by the
painting OF DuTnIef 1 wondered II cara
had tainted. or had gone Cor help. or
what There seemed TO be no good rCa-
son for the silence, and the waiting
Why did she not grasp the sword. and
send its point through one OF us2 IL did
not much matter 10 me. then, which
one she might choose for its sheath
Soon. however. ] heard n sound d.
rectIy abOve-a sound which a stick
might make I'm shifting the ground, and
] felt that DuTnief shuddered- In
another instant il came again, and his
arms relaxed. but only TO tighten about
me the more cOnvulSively- Then a short
pause. which was followed by the thUd-
ding sound Of a blow heavier than its
predecessors. and instantly following II,
The tensiOned muscles Of Durnief re
Taxed. His arms zen from their clasp
around me I pushed him aside as
though he were dead. and for mo-
ment I believed that he was. then
SprinEiug upright. TO my feet. I was
lust i'm time 10 catch the lettering form
OF nv princess, who, though not uncon-
scious. had spent her last remaining
strength I'm that third blow. Her left
hand held DuTniefs sword In her
right was the mujiks whip. and 1
saw that she had used the stock OF Il
10 aid me-N