The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-25

morning endorsements had entered tho city, bringing provisions In the camp of the Zaporozhians all was excite ment and movement. At first no one could account for the entrance of the Polish relieving force into Dubno But 1t turned out that a regiment posted before one of the gates had been caught asleep after the heavy debauch of the night before, and had been slain or made prisoners, quickly and quietly, almost to a man, in a surprise attack of the Poles. Many noble Cossacks were now prisoners in the city, and food was distributed to all the in habitants and to the famished soldiers of the garrison. During the morning old Taras wandered about looking for Andrii and wondering what had be- come of him. A Jew whom Taras had once befriended, and who now followed the Cossack army as a sutler, told him that he had seen his son.
 This was the story of the Jew, Yan- kel: When the relieving force had entered the city Yankel had slipped in with them to collect some debts owing to him there. Before he left the city he had run across Andrii, splendidly garbed and armed as a Polish noble, and in command of a body of Polish Tartar manner of fighting. Andrii had said to him. "Yankel, tell my father, tell my brother, tell the Cossacks all, all the Zaporozhzi. everybody, that my father Is no longer my father, nor my brother my brother, nor my comrades my comrades, and that I will fight them all" Taras nearly killed the bearer of these evil tidings, but when he be- came ca1mer he remembered that the night before he had seen Andrii passing through the camp in the company of woman, and he felt that Yankel's words were truth.
 The fighting around the besieged city now became a matter of almost daily routine, for the Cossac cks assaulted and the Poles made sorties. The Zapo- rozhians regarded Andrii as one lost. one doomed and devoted to destruction.
 
 felt deep sympathy. In one of the sorties Andrii came forth with the Po- fish troops, clad in splendid armor,' at the head of a large body of horse. He fought his old companions bravely, desperately, and went back through the city gates again unharmed. though many sought his life, Taras arranged | with the commander of body of Cos | sack horse that the next time Andrii came out he should decoy him to a small wood, the only one the Zapor- | ozhians had left standing, and Taras | would take care of the rest.
 | And so it was done. When the next sortie took place Andrii, following hot in pursuit of some fleeing Zaporozhians, suddenly realized that he was alone in a wood. He turned to go back when he be- held standing before him his terrible old father. His wrath and warlike rage van ished at once. He trembled all over, like a student who has been caught by the master in some mischief. Taras laid a heavy hand upon the brdle of Andrii s horse. Well, what are you going to
 
 made no answer. "Dismount." commanded Taras and Andrii obeyed. ''To think that you should be such a traitor; that you should betray your faith! Do not move! I gave you life. I also will kill you" Taras stepped back a few paces. and brought his gun to his shoulder Andrii stood still, white as linen. His lips mur- mured ono name; 1t was not the name of his mother, nor the name of his coun- try, nor the name of his brother-it was the name of the beautiful Pole. Old Bulba fired.
 As the old man stood looking down at the dead body of his son Ostap came running up. Father! Father! What have you done? Was 1t you who killed him?' Taras nodded. Ostep looked down sor- rowfully at his brother. Let us give him an honorable burial.' he said, that the foe may not dishonor his body nor the | birds of prey rend it." They will bury him without our help" replied Bulba
 there will be plenty of mourning and rejoicing for him." Just then a Cossack came riding hard in search of Taras "The Poles have been reinforced" he cried. we are hard beset. The Cossacks are seeking for you to lead them. They still stand their ground, but would not die without looking once more into your eyes," Taras and Ostap sprang to horse. but they had not made their way out of the woods when they saw that the enemy surrounded it on all sides. They were caught In trap and everywhere spears and swords gleamed through the trees. Ostep and Taras tried to fight their way through to their own lines. but the con- test was unequal. though they fought like fiends. Ostap, covered with wounds, was finally overcome. taken prisoner and se- curely bound, while Taras was rescued as he lay senseless upon the ground by one of his faithful followers. and regained consciousness to find himself far away from the scene of the conflict. His res- cuer was sitting beside him. They were alone.
 Thus far had the Cossack bore As mas ter on the road to the Ukraine. riding hard upon his jaded horse Now he had paused for rest and to rebandage the wounds of Taras. When Taras remem- bered all that had happened, when Tow katch, the faithful follower, told him that. the siege had been raised and the zapor- ozhian army defeated, he tore off his bandagess and wished to die. But delir- ium intervened and Tovkatch. replacing the bandages, bound Taras, rolled him in an OK hide, tied him on the saddle before him and pushed on for the Uk-