Year: 1860

teT Leda. The GlpSy father5 crafty; but Whai
man could ever outplot maiden when striving for he
| lovers safety?


CHAPTER II.


BLooD-HoUNDS!
| Sometime near the middle of the day man came
down to the cell, and brought Fabian some food ant
drink 1t Saul. the robber-or, in Gpsy parlance
the oStladOr. He seemed fitting to stand in thu
shoes of the dead Cover and surely he ready ant
| expert tool in the hands of the Gpsy king.
The prisoner had thought of poison in his mind, bu
it did not prevent him from eating; though he did no
relish the food quite well he might otherwise have
done Saul waited little while though from curl
osty, and then left When Fabian had eaten what h,
pleased he walked about the CELL feeling his way along
by the wall, talking with himself as he went. In this
manner he had spent an hour more, when he dis
turbed in his reflections by the approach some one
wards his place of confinement, and shortly afterwards
his door opened, and Saul again his appear
ance but he did not this time come alone; his compan
ion, Anselmo, bore him company.


'Wel my MASTER, spoke the former, chow would you


like to smell the fresh air, and the stars We have
come to lead you out of this place. and shouldn't think
you'd feel many regrets in leaving it


That may depend upon what gain by the exchange,
replied Fabian.


Il guess the exchange will be all in your favor-that
is, if you improve it. However, We'll see by and by


When the party reached the upper hail. instead of turn
ing towards the main part of the building, they moved
on to the rear and passed out by the stables small
yard, where they were joined Jasper rufan whom
have once before noticed In this yard
large powerful blood hounds which leaned furiousy
at hero he entered but their chains
ed their reaching him Nevertheless was startled by
their savage movements he knew their spostion too
WELL and he withdrew to the further of the enco
sure. Jasper spoke to the brutes, aud bade them be
quiet. They obeyed him in a measure by crouching
away towards their kennel and lying down. but they still
kept their fiery fixed upon the youth and their low
deep growing seemed to tell that they did not fancy the
presence Of the interloper.


In the meantime ostiladors conyersed apart
and finally Saul and Anselmo approached the prisoner
and informed him that he was to accompany them.


1--WE have learned the kings WILL said Saul, land we
know now exactly what to do. We shall go with you n
little way, and when you know object don't think
you'll want to make any fuss. So don't be fright
enedn


81 am not used to being frightened sirs!" said Fabian,
quickly and proudly.


Il didn't mean that you were, responded the villain
81 only that you shouldn't have any us for
thought you looked and acted though you ancied
would do you harm; but as I'm alive don't mean to
harm you in the least We're not going to hurt hair of
your head'


Our hero wondered if Saul spoke truly If he did then
what meant this secret departure from the camp? And
the other hand, if they did any violence what
object could they have in denying W Perhaps to keep
hlm quiet and thus render their work the easy.
lie pondered upon it, and was in the end rather inclined
to doubt the truth of the villains assertions,


Meantime they had reached the deep wood, at point
where narrow. blind hunting path wound its devious
among the big trees, and Anselmo had taken small
from beneath his help light them on for
it very dark in the deep forest The not
yet up and the could dart but few beams through
the rank foliage of the great Saul held the priso-
ner by the left arm keeping close by his side as they
walked, while Ansemo kept upon the other side
as possible. Fabian remembered his adventure with
Cover and Trogus upon the rocky precpce and he could
not help feeling that these two scoundres might be med
tatng the kind of business that which he had





cape2 He had weapon of any kind while his conduc
tors armed to the teeth He could think of but
chance and that flight If he could break away from
the villains he might save himself.


With such thoughts in his mind he walked quietly
along for time By and by ne hesitated and turned
towards the who held him by the arm.


SAUL he said, with much anxiety manifest in his
tone and manner, "was there poison in that food you
brought me?'


poison? No-not bit oft. Why-what makes you
ask The question:


Because it here replied the youth pressing his
bosom and apIo do
not feel right O. if there was poison in it, tell me III
am dying, let me know ~


BLESS your body, my master you foolish. There
kiss"


Then what is this faintness which comes over me p
Why can not see as would 4? What is it ?" And the
youth put forth his hand though he would feel his
way, at the time staggering and leaning heavily


'Mqjaro Undebel' calculated SAUL stopping, and sup.
porting the prisoner what is all this? you must have
eaten too much and drank much of that cold


told the king he'd better send you winel Here Ansel
mo, take hold of him."


The man thus addressed set down his lantern upon the
ground and started to obey This the opportunity
which hero had plotted for. As as he saw that
he had thrown the villains off their guard he gathered
all his strength for the effort and with blow he
Saul reeng to the earth He then took Anselmo he
rising from his lantern and served him like man
and then he darted of along the path the
top of his speed. In little while, however, it became
evident to the youth that he must be overtaken il
he kept in the path for his pursuers gaining
him every moment. They used to forest ranging
and could glide along among the tangled bougAs like
beasts of prey.


Many thoughts flashed through Fabian's mind, but
they availed him nothing He regretted that he had
stopped and given the ruians few taps on the
head while he had them down. but twas too late now
The only hope was in concealment the first oppor
unity, he sprang into the thick Wildwood and strug
Cling bravev on when the voice of Saul sounded close
behind him. He turned his head to look and he did
his foot caught in stout vine which him head
long among the underbrush On the next instant Saul
upon him. with vicelike grasp upon his throat In
moment more Anselmo came up, and the youths strug
giles in vain As he lay there, panied be
they bound his arms behind him with stout leathern
thong, and then dragged him back into the path hinge
oak was close at hand and having forced him down by
the side of this they bound his ankles they had done
his arms thus rendering him utterly powerless either 70
fight or resistance.


Now said Saul, as he Strengthened up from his
work, IN tell you what you've been anxious
know. don't bear you any malice for the blow you
gave me, the effort you made to escape for should
probably have done the myself though, say
if I'd got my hands upon you while the in my
head you might have got bitter taste of Sauls
However, you're safe and I'll tell you what this thing
all means. The king don't seek your life he don't
to have the laws executed you he gives you this
chance of escape. But mind you you mustnt tell any
body that you were let of on purpose You must make
it appear that you escaped by your wits And-one
thing more-you mustn't come back to the camp again
You'll be in danger if you do


"Hold!n cried the youth the villains were about tC
turn away IF it why do you leave these
bonds upon me?''


because so ordered The king said you d gel
clear of them easy enough. Perhaps they're save him
from speaking falsely when he says, he can't imagine
how you got clear' Saul gave a low chuckle as he
ceased speaking and then hurried away his companion
following close behind him.


Fabian listened till the sound of retreating footsteps
lost in the distance and then he turned his thoughts
upon his present situation. 1t strange, and fol
awhile incomprehensibe but finally he fanced that he
could, at least imagine something of its meaning H
had been left there die of hunger No one ever ira
versed that path the Gpsy hunters and they NIGH
away until he had starved As these thoughts
upon him, he strained upon the bond that confined his
arms; but the tough thong was proof against his
strength In little while he tried again. and he though
that the bond gave little beneath strain
satisfied that twas only the sinking of the thonf
into the flesh that had caused the apparent oosening


He sank back against the tree we'll nigh
hausted and he noticed that the moon had risen
With the coming of the moonlight his spirits for tn
while seemed revive he tried his wits upo
expedent whereby he could cast off the lashing
from his limbs He was thus engaged when his ca
! caught a sound which startled him.


Iark What is that low frightful bowling that come
breaking through the forestp 1t is the voice of tn
odhounds Hark why do they howl so crueliy-s
yengefuly? Why they and hot breathed
Hark they close hand and their howls chang
III ~ qurch, snulng cres. ha!-see! They are mere
| me moonbeams stream in through opening in tn
away.


As if he had read it upon fiery scroll did the Who'll
truth unfold itself to Fabians mind Thus could Nc
manned gain his destruction the people of the cam
should never know the murderous vainy of the deed
They would think he had escaped from his prison an
fed to the woods and that the dogs had
| and destroyed him


| But-would the brutes take his life9


The youths blood seemed to freeze his veins as th
query came to his mind. He now remembered remar
he had heard Jasper DROP only few hours before in tn
kennel yard, while the dogs uneasy The hound
had not eaten morsel for foar-and troenty hours!


The above is all of this story that will be published
our columns We give this as a sample. The contnua


ton of it from where it leaves off here be found
in the New York Ledger the great family paper, whc
is sale all the stores throughout the city and
try where papers sold. Remember and ask for tn
New York Ledger of March 81 and in it you will find tn
continuation of the story from where it leaves of here


The Ledger is mailed to subscribers at 81 year. or tw
copies for So Address your letters to Robert Bonne
publisher a Ann street, New York. 1t is the hanS
soonest and best family paper in the country elegant
illustrated, and characterized by high moral tone. I
| A bill is now before the New York Legislator
| which authorizes the Trustees of any School Di
trlct In the State, to exclude from school all
| vaccnated children.


The New York Spirit of the Times says that tn
lce,pond In the Central Park of that city vis
ed oy ABOUT 54O, 900 persons during the season.