Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-09-03

We had only moment ago been seat
ed. They shouted wildly as they sprang
to land after us. but our guide. who
had been born and bred in these for
ests. knew well how to travel In a
circle. and how to conceal himself. II
was race for freedom-nay, for very |
life.
So dark that we could see before us |
hardly foot we were compelled to |
place our hands In front OF us to avoid |
collision with the big tree trunks.
while ever and anon we found our
selves entangled in the mass OF dead
creepers and vegetable parasites that
formed the dense underground. Around
us on every side we heard the shouts
and curses OF our pursuers, while
above the rest we heard an authorita-
tive voice. evidently that OF sergeant
of the guard. cry;
Shoot the man, but spare the wom-
an! The colonel wants her back Don't
let her escape! We shall be we'll re-
warded. SO keep on. comrades! Meme
edemmaski!"
puN INC gill ihc
heard nothing, and perhaps indeed 1t
was best that she could not hear.
II was an exciting chase in the dark
ness, as we gradually circled round
our prisoners. for we knew not into
what treacherous marsh we might fall.
Once we saw afar through the trees
the light of lantern held by guard,
and already the sweet-faced girl be-
side me seemed tired and terribly IA
tigued
At last. breathless, we halted to
listen We we're already In sight OF
the gray mist where lay the silent lake
that held so many secrets. There was
not a sound We crept along the wa
ter's edge, until in the gray light we
could distinguish two empty boats
that of the guards and our own. We
were again at the spot where we had
disembarked.
Let us row to the head of the lake."
suggested the Finn. I'VE may then
land and escape them" And mo-
ment later we we're all three in the
guards boat, rowing with all our
might under the deep shadow OF the
bank northward, In the opposite direc-
ton to the town of Nystad. ! think
we must have rowed several miles,
for ere we landed again. upon low,
fiat and barren shore. the first gray
streak of day was showing in the east.
Elma noticed It, and kept her great
brown eyes fixed upon II thoughtfully.
1t was the dawn for her-the dawn of
new life. Our eyes met; she smiled
at me, and then gazed again eastward
with silent meaning.
Having landed, we drew the boat UP
and concealed 1t in the underground
so that the guards, on searching
should not know the direction we had
taken, and then we went straight on
northward across the low-lying lands
to where the forest showed dark
against the morning gray. The mist
cover path in forest forty miles
wide is a matter of considerable diff
Guilty. and for hours we wandered on
and on. but alas! always in vain.
Faint and hungry, yet we still kept
courage. Fortunately we found, little
spring, and all three of us drank ca
gerly with our hands. But of food We
had nothing, save small piece o.
hard rye bread which the Finn had In
his pocket, the remains Of his evening
meal, and this we gave to Elma, who
half famished. ate 1t quickly.
How many miles we trudged have
no idea. Elma's torn shoe gave hel
considerable trouble, and noticing he
limping, induced her to sit dowi
while took 1t off, hoping to be abl'
to mend 1t, but, having unlaced 1t.
saw that upon her stocking was ;
large patch of CONCEALED blood, wher,
her foot itself had also been cut.
managed to beat the nails of the sho,
with a stone, so that its sole shoul,
not be lost, and she readjusted II
allowing me to lace 1t up for her ant
smiling the while.
Forward we trudged, ever forward
across that enormous forest where tn
myriad tree trunks presented the sam
4 dismal scene everywhere, forest vi
| save Ny Wiiup
bermen. My only fear was that W
should be compelled to spend anothe
/. night without shelter, and what 1t
S effect might be upon the delicatel
E reared girl whose hand held tenderl
d In mine. Surely my position was
t strange one. Her terrible Athletic
e seemed to cause her to be entirel
dependent upon me.
T. Suddenly. just as the yellow SUI
a light overhead had begun to fade, tn
8 fiat-faced Finn, whose name he ha
told me was Felix Estlander, erie
a joyfully:
II "Polushaite! Look, excellency! All
h The road at last!"
And as we glanced before us "
10 saw that his quick, well-trained eye
lie had detected away in the twilight,
a some distance. path traversing oil
~ vista among the tree trunks.
Elma made a gesture OF renewe
lie hope, and all three of us redoubled OF
n, pace. expecting every moment to con
x upon some log hut. the owner OF whic