Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1910-03-31


without the absolute certainty of be-
ing shot down. There was no othen
way. 1t would not have been pos
sible for Stenka's friends to reach
that cross without all being picked
Off from the woods. He cast one
glance at the shore, measuring the
distance with the keen, accurate eye
OF the marksman. Then he removed
his glasses and wiped the moisture.
tears, perhaps, from his eyes. Re-
placing them, he aimed at Stenka.
and prayed:
Receive his soul. o Cod" He
fired. The head stopped that dreadful
moving from side to side, and Hardy
could feel, even at that distance, that
the eyes were fixed on his own, in
comprehension. He will believe, to
his dying day, that there was graft
tude in them He had missed, how
ever, and now the Chinese, graspine
his purpose, began shooting at him in
earnest, and several of the horsemeu
urged their steeds into the waterI
With the bullets scattering all about
him, Hardy set his teeth and fired
again.
Poor Stenka's sufferings were over
His chin fell forward on his breast
and the body collapsed Imply on the
wooden peg thrust between his ttighaI
Thank Cod" cried Hardy, and
turning, he ran back toward the boat.
ran madly, desperately, as he had
run but once before, and that was
the time when he heard the princess
scream and saved her from the brig
ands.
On he ran over the hard sand cow
cred with sheet of ripping waterI
carrying his rife low and bending at
the hips. He realized that every step
was taking him farther from those
savages on the shore, was putting q
greater distance between himself and
their rifles. He scarcely believed that
he could get away without being
wounded. If they would only kill him
outright, or would hit him in some
spot that would not prevent his rum
ming! He listened, as hare before
the pursuing hunter, for the sound OF
the guns, and still he ran on.
But the Chinese did not shoot again.
and now from the Pushkin came half
a dozen men to the rescue, deployed
in open formation, like troop OF
trained soldiers, with their eyes fixed
on something behind him. They were
shouting to him, but Hardy could not
understand. ..-..-
He turned, looked, and knew why
the enemy had ceased shooting. They
feared killing their own horsemsn.
who were between him and the shore,
and bearing down on him rapidly.
There were at least dozen of them.
and in minute more three, better
than the others, would have
been upon him. These were bending
close to their horses necks, and were
armed with long swords to cut him
down. The American aimed at the
horses and fired rapidly. three times,
One of the animals, MORALLY wounded.
sank to his knees, while the others.
stung and maddened by the bullets.
became unmanageable and ran snort
ing back toward the Manchurian
shore
The Cossacks now came up, and.
turning in a volley on the mounted
brigands, emptied one saddle and
the entire party to retire.
which they did slowly, shaking their
swords at the Russians and yellina
They were destined
however, to lose one more of their
The man whose horse Hardy
had killed was making frantic but UNI
successful efforts to get away. his len
being pinned down beneath the dead
animal. To him one of the Bouriats
ran up and. wrenching the mans own
sword from his hand, cleft his skull
with 1t and left him there with hia
dead steed
When Hardy again reached the
deck OF the Pushkin, the general and
the captain each shook his hand in
silence, and the princess. her beauti-
ful eyes red with weeping, said to
him:
ut was an act of mercy, my friend.
Tor which we all thank you. Tho
soul of brave Stenka, now in heaven,
will be grateful to you"
1T was hard thing to do" replied
Hardy, faint almost to falling, but
could not endure the sight of the
,gony-I could not bear to have you
ook at it. 1t is what should have
wanted some one to do for me-" he
added, as though further extenuation
we're necessary
Then" said the princess with q
'ad. solemn SMILE" it was a Christ
ike act, deed of sublime courage.
md 80 / shall ever regard it. But
'ou are faint, my friend. Go and lie
Town and be sure that the Virgin and
III the saints approve what you have
ust done"
Thanks. thousand thinks" MUIR
nured Hardy. IF you approve, 1 am
Iure that 1t was right"
And still there were M uiUuo -