nnna h nce ff f rr f rl'Th,r 1 'Th,. V; - '
pori«inte if»r tne
Governor of Mcscowt we,re all the words
the driver uttered to me. ' Now comes
your barm. gives the same name and also
demands horses. What is a poor fellow
to do?"
• • • c ? » . . » ¦ ;.;• •' VJ
In the fortress; of Kazan the- reveille
had sounded, and In the "courtyard a band
of men were standing with pickaxe.-, mat
tocks and Fnades on their shoulders. An
officer in uniform read over their names
rapidly, to which they responded. an-J
th«*n they wore marched out to the out
works, anil ;-«-t to work digging ami cart
ing the soil to mal:£ room for the erection
of fortifications.
These workmen, mar.y ' of . thorn fine
looking- men, were political' prisoners.
banlrhed for crime? real or Imaginary tr>
this dreary fortress, where they lingered
'•ut the weary years In work for which
they were totally unfitted. One -of tin';
men, a, thick-set figure, with grizzled h?.ir
and beard, had been already an Inmate,
of the fortress for throe years, and wr.s
looking forward. to another three, before
being allowed to return home. -Ills re
puted crime was selling; plans of, Russian
fortresses to an alien power. He had bucn
an officer in th« army, and had conse
quently exceptional means of Information
on tie subject. * He passed by the name
oC Ivan PetnofC.
On the previous day a fresh batch of
prisoner? had arrived, and JVtnofi' found
himself working side by j=J<f?wilh a tall
military looking man with black hair and
beard, whose face had been frightfully in
jured as if by an explosion. When the
officer on guard passed beyond earshot,
the two men be-jan to converse In low
tones. ' .Vho are you, and whence do you
come?" asked Pet.noff. . • •
"ily name is Michael Strotroff, and I
promised. It *" "
is *o arranged, '" 1
«nd when I am a
littlp strong r we will
avail ourselves of. the
first opportunity thru pre-
Rents. Be you i.ut patient and
watt hful and we may yet sec him
and liberty."
A fortnight afterward tho Governor of
the I'rovince ci\me to Kazan on a tour." of
inspection of the various forts under his
jumdj.tlon nnd it leaked out. among the
prisoners that several wasonsSot am
munition, a? well as rro visions, were ao
be- wnt-to the fort in' the' 1 course of the
following week. .\ ¦... • ''¦'¦• .':.¦'.:
"Xow i 3 our tlmq."- whispered Strojro'n*
to .his friend; •'Vjissilla assures me that
)ve. can be .stowed a way in one of the re
turning wagons In company with broken
arms and damaged .gunpowder. 'Heihaa
my orders to bribe tho escort larffely.ißO
that > they may , thut thoir eyes . until Jwe
.ire safi; within the walln oj , Novgorod."
There was unusual .bustl« In .the fort
ress, as a lone train of wagons entered
the -gates; and all the prisoners wer§: set'
to work to store away tlw - ammunition
and provisions wliich\had Arrived. :: r > stt
"To-night, to-nisht,'. 1 muttered; Strogbff :
to rctnoff;'"felsn to tsleep, but keep •your-,';
self awake." ¦ <*^iS^SS^@^^
- In the sray, cold-mornins, when- rhei
parth had'hofyet awoke'from' its" slum
bcr, the empty wagons lumbered out of
sen the '"'''^^^J^Bfcßiiß
.Krntrifs inp;Os.*
sr.amltng.awaiting the:. '. "-"^T
entrance. ; A shot whlsti*,.. ** "¦
over- the* heads of , the fugitives.' ar»- :
other burst through .the tarpaulin cover- .
Ins the wagon. ;; In his fear and >
nnxiely, Pctnoff forgot ail prudence; :
and standing: up he parted the covering ;
nnd- stood fully -exposed: to the -pursuers.:'
In - an . instant he was ¦ thrown \ to the' floor ;"¦
|of the" wagon and : covered by some \ heavy
body as )a volley of I rifles rang ' out. '"¦ He?
was half; stunned : but , supposed } that s he
' must be .wounded. ' Then he ' heard :
; great gates .clash to behind ; the wagon, .
', which stopped . instantly and he ; was lifted
i out. - ''Ah.V he "said.-1 5eeing < ,>, > that : he was
covered with blood, V|l am
. Then ' ho saw,. that; - men were %: carrying':!
'away on' a litter something; covered .over,;;
(from;, which"- the blood ". drippedas they
'went along. That night, after Petnoff had*
¦been refreshed by a bath and a supper, he
, ¦. - ¦ ¦ -¦ . . • - .
. every
Russian is to us an
enemy, to be served . as we . would will
ingly serve the whole -.race. .Then
my ;-; . brother went .: to , St. Petersburg,
where, l .was to have- jolted him. and' In
the new, world jwe wore going to found a
colony, for^our oppressed nation., but he
was singularly.; incau tlous^-my poor Paul !
He .was suspected ;and C arrested— tried—
but, as In your case, full proof 4 was want-
Ing;, I have labored:, for." his liberation.
But -a mightier hand than mine has set
: him: free." • .
.-¦'¦ '-¦ :'. r " ~ ¦ ». » ¦-¦ ¦'
.".'Hasn't Bne a " pas t?" Inquired 'the
gossipy man. ¦' '";"¦. . .. : :<:.:¦
"Yes.',' answered the sensational actress,
"but it Isn't imuch -use to her. Somehow
she doesn't seem able to get any -of -It In-
to the newspapers."— Washington Star.
¦ •'¦^ZZ^^^^t^^r^ . n " hindrance
'^f^^^^KK^^ and has the
'iirth<T advantage
P^^*^*^' and economy of being
"^ ' n. a ROod rain - v--ayv --ay Kov:n for
vaiKlng. Another essential is
... ¦ t0 -isam how to ride. Many are
ridlns without this knowledge. There are
\*T%st ."» eel ?? nlcal Principles to be ob
s^rvec 1.-lOneis to have the gearing so ar
.W? i:to have the pedal on a iere<
? ""•«»*• foot; when -.the foot ia xet*-nded.
Another Is to have the saddle so placed
ns to bring the weight of : the body di
rectly over the pedal when the latter is at
its lowest Doint.
: Still another is to lower the handle-bars
sufficiently to allow. the body to bend for
ward slightly from the h'.ps-not stooDins
from the shoulders, thereby com press! n~
the lungs. . Nearly all beginners bend the
spine backward from the n:ps. As a rule
young children, if the gearing Is correct)
take the normal position.
Finally,' the rider should sit. as in a
chair, upon ;the bone 3 or tuberosltiea of
the pelvis, and should on no account allow
the weight -of tne body to rest upon the
tissues situated between tnese bony Drum-
?-<< -.-"". -• // MBm fi-on ¦" my "?
PT;r,V. rtl.i; ¦ // SKff n-. '> n¦¦ y an '.
_. O- •" .J/MB ¦ hirr ' r:!r 1!f Kew
j^V # sf-errs .-•:¦•! r'ac?3,
*^/7^^W kMrw: plPßSurable
*<H /s^^^T str^H'i t:s. :hi absence
// J^BF cf which ::; • > ¦¦¦••••:¦'•.- fir
>^^^^r sen v.hy health seldom r-
yJ^^T !>por-(' : » t? : call of s;:?!i
prff. -" ry txcrcise. Tha
heart Is not in it.~Dr. Tarah H.
Stsv<nson In I-cs'lo't' AVeekly.
7t is pot the panh Uui tfce sea thnt
has protluc-pfl the largest plant in tha
world. That d!st:ncti<in i^ b*W by a s"»a
weed. known as the "nereoeytis."' v/h'.ch
frequently grows to a heipht of more tfc.m
300 feet. Tht item of the -plant 13 as
stror.p as an ortiirary roj:e. ar.rl larse
f|«antitirs of it are dried and used as. rope
by the inhabitant's of the South Be* Is'
anc:i«. whsre th<? curicus vegetable rones
are found. This s?aTv«>cil usually jrcTa
to a depth of from 2uo to DW feet. As stiun
as the plant taken root a spear-shaped
balioon is formed, v.'hsch srows with tne
stem tovrard the surTace qf th«» wat«'r
This balloon frequently has a diameter n't
six feet or more. It ha 3. of course, an
upward tendency, and therefore keep*
the stem growing untll.it floats on- the
top of- the water. This enormous wted
grows in Fuch quantities that larse m-ul
owlike islands are formed. Tvh!eh are often
so big as to impede navigation The
ropes made from the stems of the plant
are used for bulldinp purposes, and the
balloons- when dried make very serv'c j
able vessels. . .-,
The Swedes are probably the tallest peo-
ple In Europe, and have, on the whole
erect, hanfisome figures. To som* extent
this advantage I, due to physical exer-
cise, .for Lings Swedish gymnastics are
3y £Ms ftlarston.
Author of "By tl)e Lazy Scheldt," etc,
ALL. RIGHTS RESERVED.
a ribbon round his neck; "but look there,"
and he pointed with his whip to whare in
the distance the two divisions were gal
loping up to join their comrades.
The traveler smiled grimly as he p - .:t
away his rifle and pistols, covering them
carefully from the snow. "That Tas a
narrow shave," he said. "How much far
ther to the posting station?"
"Yonder, your Excellency," and the man
pointed to where, far ahead, a little grouo
of buildings, covered with snow, was
barely visible on the white landscape.
Another half hour brought the sledge
safely into the yard of the posting-house;
and the traveler hurried Into the butldir.g.
."Some supper, a bed and a team of your
best horses by the break cf day." he said
to the host, a stout man, clad in ilir?y
sheepskin garments.
"The supper and the bed, barm: but as
to the horses, I regret that it is impossi
ble. My last troika has just gone on
ahead, and I shall not have fresh ones
until to-morrow at midday."
"How?" cried the traveler, raising h!s
hand, while his face became a fiery red.
"Did I not send you word yesterday that I
should want your best horses?"
"It was your Excellency, was It?" asked
the host,, scratching his head In a per
plexed manner.
"Dimitri Varanzoff." said the traveler.
"Ah, yes. , That was the name they
gave."
"Do you mean to say, son of a serf, that
you have glveh my team to others?"
"I have offended unwittingly, bi:rin.
They gave the name and 1 gave the horses
—an hour or more ago."
"And who are they? Speak,, slave "
"The party that arrived last before your
Excellency. Their horses are still smoking
In the stable and utterly done up."
The traveler glared at him and swore
loudly, to wblch, however, the host paid
not the slightest attention, being rr.»b
ably used to the proceeding, 'i'htn Dtm
ltri Varanzoff retired to the irner room,
where he paced up and down, pu'.ilr.s i-.i
his beard, and muttering dispiritedly t.>
himself.
."I have it," he exclairr.eJ at Ijs . ' 'Tin
Paul Staroskl. He has ferreted out tr.x
designs; he ylone has so iarge an mtf-ri B{
af stake, ruined as he is. Now 1 u:nir
stand the Cossark leaving me- as BZdlv't'.y
as he did— he whom I esteemed a f.iiti-iul
servant. He was sent to the house ..o ;i
spy upon me,- and my letters, my papers
have doubtless been ransacked while I
dwelt in fancied security. May the devil
end al! his anse!s fly away with the Cos
sack spy and hi* master. Paul Staroskl,''
he ex'.laimtd 'vith renewed fury.
Just then the host entered v. ith a di-h
of the stew; which he placed on the table,
with a large loaf of bread ami a bottle
of vodka, and the traveler hc'.nr very
sharp fet. made a hearty meal ue.-pite his
chagrin, and afterward, wrapping hJmse'-f
in his rugs, threw* himself on a Ff-fa ami
was soon tnoring lustily. Meanwhile in
the kitchen the driver was busily dis- '
cussing: his imal and gossiping wit':
his host.
"The barm seems put out," sai'J
the landlord; "but bow Is a poor i
fellow to know which is which? A
Yesterday came a message by JM
letter to have ready a troika .
of the best horses by j
o'clock to-mor,rov.- morninc '
Three of my very b?st I m^M //
accordingly kept. and 111
many oaths and threats //A
did 1 come in for from 11^'
othrr travelers becaus* m^K JfS^'
1 would not part wit) MAW fn&Wi
them. An hour or two A|^
aeo came a troika, M^B fffg&gvt
the horses pmuklnir m^m ffMuMjfc
hot. driver and ' MWg jlmjmjß
travelers in a ffvpr tA^t " ¦ *
of impaiience. "A IfW T~ ¦'•-
troika for Dimitri Mfp^x '; '¦'¦"¦
Varanzoff:' thpy Wgt Q^ : *r'*':i
critd; thf-n swal- ¦M(\ ; ¦
lowed . some vod- • /^Pfe%.
ka and a few ¦ R&*F%W&
morsels: of bread, u€&' :*'¦ ',
and were off like l/^^'v". * ¦
the wind. # / &'•¦¦¦ I..U', X'fi.
come from Moscow," said the other after
a second's hesitation. "May I ask you
the same question?" -> •
"Here I am called Petnoff; but in Oren
burg my "name was Varanzoff," said the
other laconically and sadly.
The newcomer started. "And you are
here for "
"Charged with Felling plans of Russian
fortresses to the Turks; a crime of which
I am Innocent."
"We are all Innocent," rejoined the
other, shrugging his shoulders; and then,
as the officer turned on his beat and came
toward them, they broke off their con
versation and bent steadily over their
work. From that day these two men di
came sworn friends and allies. So much
so at least as was possible under the cir
cumstances: and being members of the
same working gang they were thrown
much together.
At last Strogoff, whose less robust frame
could not so well withstand the effects of
the work and exposure, fell sick; and his
friend devoted all his spare time to wait
ing on him. The man was indeed sick al
most unto death, and was eventually loft
by the doctor to die.-. But Petnoff fed him
with the choicest morsels he could beg or
steal, and at last cheated the grim mon
arch of his prey. '.
When Strogoff once more got about he
was but a poor, attenuated mortal, and
quite unfit for work. "You have 'oeen my
good ar.scl, Petnoff," he paid, as. his friend
sat beside him one evening when the
day's work was over. "If we are ever set
free from this infernal place you shall
find that my gratitude will be boundless."
I'etnoff smiled somewhat drearily. "I
have heard men say the same things to
their comrades before, many times," he
said, "and when they say it they mean it.
But in the comfort of their own homes
they forget these dreary wastes and tht.
comrade they have left behind pining in
captivity. You will remember me for a
week, my friend— possibly a month— then
I shall be forgotten."
"May heaven. then forget me," said the
other vehemently. "I have In my sickness
be^n busy making: plans for our escape."
Petnoff shook his head. "Do not think
of it," he said. "I have known men to
escape and 1 have seen them brought
back"— and he paused, shuddering. "Do
not speak again of it."
Hut a v.eeK afterward Strogcff broached
the subject once more. "I have friends in
Novgorod." he said, "If we can but get
there we are safe. My brother is an offl
or of the garrison; J am certain that
with skill, patience and secrecy we can
leave this place."
"¦lint 10 r.et away from here and to
traverse all ihesa yersts; that is the diffi
tuliy." • . .
-Ah 'but as I told you. 1 have n/
vrasted UseJtlnie while I have been iU.
li.c ctstack v. ho brings us <--;r
tc.c«l Ins v wife iir-d family In;
SCovdrod, He knows my
Lrother: was indeed at * /Jl^l
one time his servant.
I have prcmissU
him iin.l all thra jAß^^X??'-"
help uh ' •\ - J
row axis. My jd&t^Syjss%£i?
brother l» '^SBFCo^'^'^'^'
will l.n: ''.''•.'. *-'
•^-f CROSS the white plain stretching
f I l>etween Orenburg and Saratov
I I two sledges with their troikas of
V. I horses were swiftly traveling. The
X snow was falling in great flakes,
Iriving into the faces of the travelers,
lalf blinding them and covering them
\:;h :i thick white mantle.
•How much farther Is it. Ivan?" asked
a voice from the first sledge; and the
driver, lifting his white mustache and
beard from the collar of his capots, an
bwered, "Twenty vems. your Excellency,
r.o more, no less."
A grunt of disgust v/as the response, and
the speaker sank back on his seat..draw
ir.g his iurs closer around him. The sec
ond i-ieigh kept always at the same, dis
tance in the rear of the rirst; the horses
straining at the bit seemed anxious to
outstrip ihe others, but were held sternly
in check. In the sleigh two men with bent
liead? and muffled up to the chin tat
pileiit; one woulu have ventured to sup
;.os~ they were asleep. "Shall 1 pass.
Excellency?" asked the driver, turnlnt,
round, and the man nearest him respona
»d in a stern voice, "No; keep them in
j^!j;ht, ami hold your horses. "
The snow descended thicker and faster.
The sledges with their occupants, their
drivers and horses, were now two moving
masses of white gliding swiftly along
over ill'- i-paikling plain.
¦£Hal! we reach the posting station be
fore nightfall?" the first traveler asked
anxiously, and the dri\er responded with
a rod; then cracked his whip at a horse
which hau stumbled, and addressing it as
"son of v pig" desired to know if their
bor.es were to be left vat on the plains.
Twilight wat falling, but the snow
threw its own light around. Suddenly the
horse* la buth sledges pricked up their
ca:t, a* from a distance borne on the
northern wind came a weird, unearthly
iiowl. The driver of the first sledge
looked buck, and his face became if pos
tibit a. shade whiter. He stood up and
lashed Ins horses, which broke into a
wilder gallop. "Wolves?" asked the trav
eler Quietly, and the driver responded,
"Wolves, your Excellency."
In tht second sleigh no words were ut
tered. L>ut the driver also whipped up his
hors-es and the troika ticw over the snow
in lur nake of the other.
The light declined slowly, and there was
still enough to see. on tne tarthttfi limit
o! the snuv.y piain icanrn mass lullowing
:n the wake of the sledges. On it came
persistently, ruthlefsiy. unswervingly,
and from it came ever and anon the
s-trange. wiid cry which haa reached Me
travelers" ears.
"They are gaining on us," said the first
traveler, aim the ativer leEponded with a
grunt.
¦'Cannot you go faster?" asked the trav
eler impatiently, and the driver answered:
'"No. Excellency. 1 am already driving m*
team at their utmost speed. Neverthe
less-, if your Excellency wishes."
And again he lathed the horses unmerci
fully.
Suddenly and as if by magic the second
sleigh shot ahead, end the horses appa
rently heretofore held in now went like
the wind. Mtanwh:le the dark mass in
the distance had grown larger and
darker, and. discovered to the unaccus
tomed eye skirmishers thrown out on
eithtr side as well as an advance guard
in front.
"Hurry on. hurry on." -exclaimed the
solitary traveler in an anxious voice, and
the driver replied. "Your Excellency had
better look to your rifle. You may have
to pick off some of the foremost present
ly."
Just then the horse that had already
f- tumbled fell, and the fledge came to a
dead stop. "Up. up, son of a she donkey,"
£<. .-tamed the driver, plying his whip vig
orously on the prostrate animal. "Do you
mean us all to be food for wolves?"
The traveler took out his rifle and a
tsar* cf pistols from under the seat and
looked carefully to the priming. "I have
here jirovender for half a dozen," he said
grimly; and the horse having struggled Io
its feet the race recom
menced. But the delay
l.arl brought the pack
nrar«-r and now it m
l»ncy had 'bet- .
t<r keep yo'jr "J
pc»d«»r f'»r cSos^
quarter*. I* may all V^k
': ¦€- needed.' he added Rig- l^f
Tbey were now not soir.g at
the famf sperd as formerly, for
the hnise whi< h had fallen was J
evidently acting as a draj: on A
the others. whSch were >^
r - ounK and spirited. Th<j J&r
traveler sat with hi* eyes /^-T
turned on the advanc- kSb'n'
ir.p ja'k. nr.'J mutter- J9&
*>v between his m!^*^*
teeth. The driver Stts\!\
cracked his whip /•%*%' i S
, nnd drove on stol- I\^oo**~
Idly. Sudd-nly the "^^^
traveler raised hls
rifle and fired, and on" of the foremo«r
Trolvrs foil. There v.-as a distinct pause
In the advan<-<» <if the troop, and a ye!p
irsr clarricr. a* they fought aro"nrf th<»
body rf their dead comrade; 'lien the
pack swept nn, leaving a sr-Te or r-r> p{!Il
enarlinjs and fißhtJng ove- the carcass.
This ch^tk had enabled th»* fledge to
make way. although it was always cum
bered by the weakest horse, but now
with a loud howl the wolves dashed after
it. and were evidently Kilning. Again the
rifle rang out. this time with both bar
rels, and a couple of wolves lay bleeding
on the white snow; again there was a
<h*-ck and a fight, and some of the num
ber left behind to divide the spoil.
There wre now only nbout twenty Wt
of the originally large pack, but these,
excited by the nearneFs of their prey,
dashed on, led by a grim, pray old wolf.
The progress of the sledge had become
Flower and .slower, and the wolves, mak
• Ing a fudden dash. *urrounded It on all
sid>s. The driver laid about him lustily
r.iih hiß whip; the traveler brought down
the butt end of his musket on the ene
mies' heads and. firing his pistol*, wound
ing several, but withal there seemed littlo
«-hance of escape, until the driver by a
sudden happy inspiration cried out: "If
your Excellency will but keep the devils
in check for a few seronds I will provide
them with a' banquet that will suffice
them." And running up the horses he
sprang to the ground, cut the traces on
the side of the weaker horse and loosed
its head; then, springing back to his Beat,
whipped up the remaining' two, who, freed
from their unlucky comrade, flew swiftly
end lightly over the snow.
There v.;a* a horrible scream, a* the
v/olves fastened en the horse, which wai
rulckly pulled down and torn to pieces.
•'We ha\'* escaped them this time.
th*nfc* to this," hail the driver. T>ious'.y
V:;s?lrs a Jea'lcn medal which hung from
Expiation.
THE SUNDAY CALL.
the courtyard, accompanied by an escort
of. twenty men on their way to Novgorod. .
In.the last wagon, concealed under a,
covering of loose hay, arid in the near
vicinity of old disabled guns and daniagea
gunpowder,' crouched Strogoff and Petnoff.
with their Cossack deliverer, breathless
and half naked, their hearts palpitating
with anxiety and fear. The guards and
the outposts were safely passed, after
what seemed to the poor captives an eter
nity of time, and they dared at last to
raise their heads and to converse in low
tones.
"Are the soldiers safe?" asked Petnoft
fearfully,
"All bought," answered Strogoff: and
the Cossack, joining in, remarked that he
hoped there would be no mistake about
payment, as he had given his word that
the promises would be redeemed when
they reached Novgorod. Then be producei
a loaf of bread, a lump of cheese and a
bottle of vodka, and they ate ana drank
and were mightily refreshed.
The day was declining as they neared
their journey's end, and jn the distance
they could see the towers and cupolas of
Novgorod. The horses, which' had gone
all the time at a quick pace, were whipped
up and broke into a gallop, and the half
empty wagons lumbered and banged a'ontc
over mud and ruts, making the joun.ev
anything but an easy one to the occupant-;
of one of them. When they were wtih<:i
a verst of the city they heard the crack
of riiles in the distance, and looking cau
tiously from the wagon, were aware of x
body of cavalry on the verge of the hori
zon. "Our night is discovered." said the
Cossack in dismay, and they looked into
each other's face, which was blanched
with terror.
"But they are yet far off," said Stro^cf.* ;
"and if we are once inside the gates of
Novgorod, we are safe."
The Cossack spoke a few words to th<?
nearest soldier, who immediately galloped
on to the front; and presently they he-aid
the eracklsig of whips, and were mu-'e
painfully aware that the pace had o|uU.lc
cned. • • ,
But- the troop. .of horsemen were com
ing on at a rapid gallop and would soon
be within ritle shot: a:ul although the
wagons kept on at' their utmost speed,
their pursuers gained upon l?<e:n.
"Only half a verst— only half a verst,"
groaned Strogoff. "Holy Saints! 'To be
captured in sight of safety." ' .
At a fey.- hundred yards? from the gates
a bugle call- rang out from llib nearest •
wagon, and Instantly Ib"
gate was thro»»-»
(i |i«n and «^MH^flHflflta
was summoned to an upper room In the
garrison. It was a poor little room, mean
ly furnished, and on a small camp bed lay
something covered'over with a sheet. An
officer in rich uniform stood beside It. .As
Petnoff approached he turned back the
sheet and revealed the dead face of Strog
off.
*The escaped fugitive threw himself by
the corpse of his friend and covered the
cold face and hands with tears and kisses.
"He gave his life for yours," said the
officer huskily. "He received his death
wounds in shielding you: and he only lived
an hour after he was brought In here.
"Ah! my friend: my friend!" cried Pet
noff. : ¦
"Before he died," resumed the officer,
"he was able to converse a littlf, and I
then .learned for the first time who was
the companion of his flight, of which he
had "managed to send me word before
hand. He told me to tell you that this
was his expiation."
"Expiation," ' repeated Petnoff. be
wildered.
"Carry your thoughts back nearly four
years to" a journey you made by sledge
from Orenburg to Sanator, when you were
attacked by wolves."
Petnoff nodded.
"You were passed en route by another
sledge containing two men, who took ad
vantage -of, your arrangements and using
your name'got possession of the team you
had ordered."
Again Potnoff nodded, won lering
to what this, might tend.
"These men," contin- J«
ued tho officer, "wore Bft^^^^* 1
my brother and mysHf. H^F^vZS
We had. by the hands BRaiß
of a Cossack servant In- KK-JB^P
troducrd into your house, »? jfcj* J
obtained ropios of the Y.fINMH
plans of to^vns and fortl- 'tfH^^r
flcations which you had' V^^^BpEf
been commissioned bj £"• . -.fR^ES
the Russian Govern- f $9*
ment to make. These \j£ J laL. '.-- 'jl
copies we snid to the >L *ffl^^!3
Tv r kisli ("!overnini>nt §41* JJjBB
for a largf! sum, leav- f,
ing you to suffer the v^i'"'"-^!
consequences. Had the SE'^^B
crime been fully proved M|
against" you. a traitor's" . V W
death would have been your
portion; but they gave you ths
bf'iu-flt of the doubt, and ,im- En
prisoned you for a crime you flj
never committed. We were well •{
recon:pcn»t!U, mid thought little of V
you. What, would you? We ar«i "
— Voles— and
Fair Riders.
One of the first requisites, whether the
rider be delicate or strong, is moderation.
Riding for speed subverts the very end of
the exercise— it is like rowing or running
or doing anything else for speed; it final
ly, conquers the conqueror — and the most
sickening, harrowing sight is the continu
ous race. The associations of wheelmen
should do ail in their power to suppress
these public exhibitions of human idiocy.
Another essential, especially for women,
is an appropriate dress, and there is no
law against a gentleman also being ap
propriately dressed. I never could under
stand why it was necessary that a man
should wear the garb of a circus clown in
order to ride a wheel. In the past year
or two women have come nobly ;-'.;':«
to the rescue in the mat-
tor of genteel dress.
The short lia!r, the \^H«slm^^
inence?. Indeed, the danger of serious In
jury resultinj? to children and adults, from
riding a saddle constructed in ignorance
of correct anatomical principles^ Is so
ereat that It' Is always wise to refer the.
' Sddle question to a competent physician.
Beside the very important question of
saddle is that of the wheel Itself It
?o a o e Sht a a wheel gains >»>£--»«£
to speak of. V vibration are
4