wb
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, , DARKEST RUSSIA
3 I DY n. aRATTAN DONN LL2.
_ . Copyright , 1800. bY Street Ia Smith . All rghte ! rClcr Cd.
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CHAPTER XVI-Continued.
; , The wolves were closing in upon I
111m.
4 ; _ They were on all sides , a famished , i
howling pack of devils , their white
fangs and fiery eyes showing with her
; , rlhle distinctness as they sprang at
him.
him.Tho
The rifle , swung with all his
right
strength from left to right , and from
right to left , cleared a path for him
and no sooner did one of the brutes
fall than a score of Its fellows literally
. tore It In pieces.
. Alexis was becoming exhausted.
: . . = : : It was too much for him in his weak
ened state.
. ' . One of the wolves , one larger than
. . , . . the rest , made n bound for his
,
, throat , but before it reached him sank
" , In death agony with a bullet In its
brain.
" At the same moment , by the over
turned sleigh , Alexis caught sight of
the object of his heroic quest.
It was a woman !
. . With white face she stood there ,
revolver in hand , her back protected I
, - by the sleigh. Shot after shot rang
t. out , and as each time , with unerring
. arm , the bullet lodged in the body of
a walt , she gained a moment's respite
from the cowardly brutes.
But the end was bound to come.
The last shot but one had been
fired.
As If by some devilish Instlnct.the
wolves seemed to know that their victim .
tim was now defenseless , and they pree
pared for a rush In all the strength
or their numbers.
With a howl that could have been
beard a league another pack of the
brutes had come down from the hills
and joined the others.
. Then it was that the helpless woman .
: . . an uttered the wild shriek of agony
i
ii \ that had reached the cars of her res-
f cuer-had reached even to the courier
\ in the ctape. ,
Alexis sprang forward. He found
that the arm was a magazine rifle ,
and with a prayer of thankfulness he
opened fire. Shot after shot , a perfect
fusllade followed , and half a dozen of
the brutes were lying bleeding in the
snow.
Another moment and he had
. reached the woman. His face was
covered with blood , his arms wore
torn , but he clasped her by a strong
effort and the retreat to
began . a place ,
of safety. , I .
Repulsed by the shots , the wolves I
. .
/
, k
. . . . .
,
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l/J < : JECW mJp 77 ' "
had given way for a time , and then
had made a simultaneous rush to
feast on the carcasses of those slain
by Alexis.
But the feast did not last long.
Maddened more than over by the
taste of blood , they sprang after AI.
. exls and his now unconscious bur- !
_ den.
den."He
- "He hu saved hlml" shouted the
courier It the uoiflpt1 : a. hi ought
- "
-1f"
.
. - . . . " . , . 1
sight ur Alexia : , and then aM ho looked
again ho exclaimed : "My God , It Is
a woman I Men , men I to the rescue I" !
The soldiers wafted no longer. The
fact that a woman was in danger
seemed to awaken all that war manly
In their natures and they rushed to
the roscuo.
Another moment and It would have
been too late.
A volley met the first of the ferocious -
cious , maddened brutes. The ' pack
halted for moment , and gave long
howl of rage. Another volley checked
another forward movement. Alexis
staggered along with his burden.
Two of the soldiers sprang to his
side.
side.Tho
The doors of the etapo were thrown
open.
In another moment , bruised and
bleeding and faint , Alexis Nazhnoff
staggered into the room ; the courier
held out his arms to receive the senso'
less woman from her ' rescuer. Alexis ,
with a sigh of unutterable relief ,
breathed a prayer of thanks , and then
as he gave the courier the woman
whose life ho bad saved his braIn
reeled , the light faded from his eyes ,
his knees trembled , a shudder passed
through his frame , and ho fell at full
length on the floor.
Ho had fainted I ll'
" . > > . . .
. . . : , : J ! .
CHAPTER XVII. 'rr:1 , : !
J
I
The Courier's MIssion.
The courier bore the insensible form
of the woman into the room occupied
by Cobb and the baroness.
As the door closed behind him ,
Karsicheff turned quickly to Nicholas
and said In a whisper : "I have a
plan-wait ! "
Then orderIng the guard to resume
their arms he gave the command to
march the prisoners to the kamoras.
Alexis had revived sufficiently to
move , and was supported , by two of
the Cossacks.
The injuries of Alexis were fortunately .
tunately slight. The fangs at the
wolves had reached him in one or two
places on the arms and on one cheek ,
but the latter proved to bo a mere
scratch , though sufficient to draw
blood , and the clothing had protected
the arms. In answer to eager inquiries .
quirles he explained that he did not
see the face of the woman ho had
rescued , because just as ho reached
her she almost fell into hIs arms and
In his struggle during the retreat he
bad not heard her speak.
But It was the presence of C.obb-
so entirely unlooked for , and so inex-
p1fcable-that furnished them a topic
which kept them wondering for
hours. That Cobb's presence had
something to do with them , they felt
certain , but now that he was here ;
how were they to let him know that
they were near. It is the rule on the
highroad to the mines for convoys to
march two days and rest one ; and as
this was their resting place , they felt
sure that the morning's light would
bring some means of letting' Cobb
know that they were in the stockade.
But what had brought Cobb and the
baroness-for they felt sure it was the
baroness , Cobb having spoken of his
wife-to that out of the way place ?
That was the puzzler , and it was to
account for that fact that both Alexis
and Ivan taxed their Imaglnatron.
While they are In suspense we will
enlighten our readers.
General Cobb , after his marriage to
the baroness , found himself In n position .
tlon where ho could afford to give \1P
all the business interests that formerly .
ly occupied his tlmo. From the moment .
ment Alexis had left St. Petersburg
ho had but one object in view-that
was to rescue his friend from the horrors .
rors of Siberian exile , and if possible
restore him to the position from
which a chain of adverse circumstances .
stances had so cruelly deposed him.
Or , If that were not pOl8lbl. , It war
.
.
the intention of Cobb , the rescue at
Alexis once effected , to take him to
America , tho- baroness having expressed .
pressed a strong desire to give up her
residence in Europe and make her
home In the country of her 11\18band.
Cobb's plans for the rescue of Alexis
were warmly seconded by his wife ,
and it was determined to make nn effort .
fort to effect the rescue of Uda and
Ivan at the same time as Alexia.
The blow to the pride of Count Naz-
imott , who had seen his son sentenced
like a common convict , had been a se-
vere ono , and shortly actor his son
had arrived in Siberia the count was
seized by a severe lllnesa , the result
of , the shock ho had sufferod. On his
recovery his feelings had undergone
a marked change. The tenderness
. . . ; 1 ! ! .r.'lmth ) ' shown him on every
hand had softened his nature , and the
hard pride had now given place to 0.
pitiful yearning for the son ho had
loved so well. Hence It was that
when Gen. Cobb , having heard of
Kirithkin's confession , and having
brought Influence to bear to verify the
truth of the conspirator's story , appeared -
pearod before Count Nazimort to plead
the cause of his son , ho met with a reception -
ceptIon the warmth of which pleased
him.
him.An Imperial commissioner was sent
to each of the convicts captured in
the Nihilist rendezvous. They were
closely questioned as to the events
that had taken place on that eventful
night , and their stories , one and all ,
served to exonerate Alexis and Olga
and Uda , and to lift from the shoul
ders of Ivan the responsibility for any
complicity in or sympathy with the cx-
tromo Nihilists who sought the assassination .
sinatlon of the czar.
So it was that after months of persistent .
sistent and diligent exertion General
Cobb had the assurance that the subject .
ject had at length reached the czar ,
with a strong probability that the 1m.
pedal clemency so earnestly sought
would not be denied.
But oven if his efforts In this direction -
tion failed , Cobb had made up his
mind that he would still succeed. Ho
secured through the American minister .
ter an imperial passport to Siberia ,
and a letter from the authorities giving .
Ing him , as an American traveler favorably .
vorably disposed and friendly to the
Russian government , the right to visit
prisons and other privileges not usually .
ly accorded. This letter , addressed
to officials throughout Siberia , directed .
ed them to extend all aid and assistance .
anco Jo General Cobb and his wife
and her companion , Caroline Cobb ;
who were to travel across Siberia it
need be. And before he left St. Petersburg .
burg a passport for Caroline Cobb
-
was In his possession.
Wo pass over the long journey of
Cobb and his wife. After many adventures .
ventures and more hardships they
reached Stralensk and there discovered .
ered Ilda. The letters which Cobb
had In his possession made him a
welcome guest at the house of the
commandant at Stralonsk and they
had but little difficulty In obtaining
a private conversation with llda. It
was from Uda they learned to their
great delight that Ivan and Alexis
were at Chftka and that they could
reach that place with comparative
easo. It was while on their journey
to Chlt1m. that thcir. 1egh ! wa3 ovcr.
turned and they were attacked by the
wolves almost within shouting distance .
tanco of the etapo where arlscheff
was in command.
Karlschef and Nicholas , after the
doors of the stockade had closed on
the convicts , returned to the house.
"Bo on your guard , father , " urged
Nicholas , "you have made a dangerous .
ous enemy of the courier , and the
slightest mistake may prove our ruin
Try to conciliate him-anything , so
there can be no pretext for his going
to oxtremes. Think what would bo
the . consequences If he should make
a report to the czar. "
Karl scheff Raid nothing. He knew
ho had committed a grievous mistake
In defying the courier and he felt III
at ease. The presence or Cobb and
the baroness , too , was 'an additional
source of danger. What if Cobb should
discover the presence of Alexia I Thc.t
he had not done 10 already was little
short of a mlraclo. But if ho should
discover him and appeal to the cour ;
for for Aloxls-especlnlly after Aloxi
himself had won the heart of the
CO\ll'lel'-thcro was no question all tQ
time result. Certainly the courier
would never leave Alexis and Ivan hi
his pow cr. . . . . ,
The object now was to blind the
courier It possible , to keep Cobb from
the knowledge oC the presence at
Alexis , and to have matters remain In
stntu quo until the courier and the
hated American should lopart.
Katherine entered the room. .sho
had dlscovcrQ.d the identity of Cobb ,
and the baronoss.
"Thoso people here , " Rho said ,
"threatens danger. Wo tnuat bo on
our gnarl nIl the lime. A chance
word may betray us Into trouble that
will cost us denrly. "
"Olga ? " asked Karischert.
, She Is asleep , " answered the
counteRs , "aUll I would shed no tear If
JI
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-
'ff ' p NA/'f . 1LlA - A4XJ.1m-
she never would waleo. Her cursed
folly has helped to put us where wa
are. What is your plan about-about
thorn ? " she asked , pointing in the direction -
rection of the convict 1unrtors.
"We must walt until the courier
departs , His presence- "
nrlscbeff stopped suddenly.
The door lending to the uleeping
apartments opened and the r.ourlel
entered the room.
Producing his notebook , the courier
In a peremptory tone demanded :
"What Is the name of that bravo
fellow who saved the , . woman from the
" ' '
wolves ?
"I do not know It , " replied Kari.
schoff. .
"Then consult your lists and find
out , " was the sharp rejoinder.
Nicholas saw that his father was
again getting on dangerous ground.
Ho determined to come to his as-
aistance.
" 1 know the name , " ho said , looking .
Jng meanlngly at his father , "tho name
is Alcxls- "
"Alexls Petroffslty , " said Katherlno.
"I asked it from the bravo fellow before -
fore I bound his wound and gave him
some mediclno. "
\Vborc Is ho now ? " asked the cour-
ier.
"Ho Is- " began Nicholas.
"Asleep-soundly sleeping , " ! aid
Katherine ; "he begged mo not to dIs
turb him until morning. "
( To bo continued. )
As Others Hear Us.
A-welllmown Oxford don was asked
to speak Into n phonograph , and was
Interested In hearing the roproduc'
tlon. He listened throughout , then
said with scarcely concealed disgust :
'rhrough this machine I am able to
speak in a particularly bumptious and
affected manner. " The worthy man
had heard himself ns others hear him ,
that was all. It would be a good
thing for many of us to study our
method of speaking through the medium .
dlum of a phonographic reproduction.
World's Fleet.
According to Lloyd's Register there
are at present In exIstence 29,948
etc3.mshl hs and sailing vessels : 11,184
of theM belong to England .
