CHAPTER XXXI. IN A DUCAL PALACE,

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XXXI. IN A DUCAL PALACE,

It seemed to Vera, who had been watching the proceedings wi-fch the utmost interest, that she might 'do Something now to prevent the catastrophe which seemed imminent. She remembered that Wat had a, pistol in his pocket. She was already standing so near him that she had only to put out her hand to touch him. She thrust her -hand into his pocket, and with a quickness which only the greatness of the danger could have imparted to her movements, she snatched out the pistol and, cocking it, presented it at the officer's head. • Another step and I fire !' The officer stopped, and Wat, taking advantage of the situation, put down his dynamito, and with a quick spring had caught the young man under his guard. The captain tried to use his sword, and failing to do that, had resort to wrestling. In another moment his sword was out of his hand, and he was lying on the floor. I Turning to Chernigoffs friend, who had

kept by his side all the time, Wat said, in a low voice : 1 Keep the soldiers engaged for a little * while in balk, and I will have a scheme ) ready for getting us all out of here without the least danger.' ' Wat dragged, the young officer out of the room, under the pretence of struggling with him. , But the moment they were out into the dellar, he began to strip the young man of v tiis uniform. After that he tied and gagged him, and carried him to a corner of the cellar. Then he donned the regimentals as rapidly as could be done. Next he took his lantern and a small mirror from his pocket, and lighting the • former, began to make himself rip as the young captain. • The resemblance was not good enough to bear the light of day, but in that- place he had no hesitation in making th,e attempt to pass himself oft' for that person. J r Stealing to the door, ho sprang in, and 5 mimicking the tone and voice of the cap- 1 ■ tain, exclaimed : ' There is at least one of your accursed ■ nihilists gone to his final account !' ;, Vera was completely deceived, and with ;' a cry fled into the cellar. " Wat went on without paying any attention to her. ' Now, my men, once more I ask you, will you lire upon the traitors to their country r ?' The soldiers sullenly kept silencoY a/id macTe*rio"move to\vard obeying. . ■ »'• •^lien' Wat turned "t'6 "the,. nihilists, and : said : '",**. ' . - . - • 'If I let you'ga unmolested, will you at least leave us iii possession of the dynamite stoied here? '"" ' Yes, s answered" A Chernigoff's friend, who being in a meas'uie forewarned, had penetrated the disguise, 'if you will put down your arms and let us have a full half-hour start of you.' ' Lay down your arms !' Not a little astonished, the soldiers did as commanded. 'Now,' went on Wat, addressing the nihilists, ' do you march out and leave us here, so that we shall be able to secure possession of the dynamite.' The nihilists, nothing loth, did as commanded, and rapidly filed ouf. of the room. As soon as they were gone, Wat gave the command to the soldiers to go into 'the large room. They marched in, and he remained behind, ostensibly to direct, their movements. j but in fact to gain an opportunity to slip i away from them. And this he did, bub not without first closing the door of the large room and then that o| the small one. 1 As he stepped into the cellar he was accosted by ChernigofFs friend, in a tone of adtaiVa'tioh': " ' I am",d.publy bound to you now. .' Here is- th,e 'counters. If you will follow me I will, take you to a place of safety. Safe, at least, for a time.' 'I thought he had killed you,' said Vera to Wat. . 'I am not so easily killed. I must see that the captain is all right. I had no time to be gentle with him and he may be suffering.' He hastily examined the prostrate officer, and whispered in his ear : ' As soon as you are free, you wili find your'command comfortably shut up in the rooms you'have just left.' There seemed to be several ways out of the cellar, for Wat could see that the nihilists were not all lea\ing by the same exit. Apd his guide took .him- by a way f e,ntirely distinct frbin 'the way he had come in. They emerged ipto the open air in a quiet street, and" were hurried to a corner, where a hack was waiting. 'Into this, plea&e.' °' r The man had taken his mask off, but Wat could nob yet distinguish his face. When £hey were all in the hack, the man turned to Wat and said, laughingly :, ' I see you are curious to know what I look like.' ' Certainly. I have to trust two precious lives bo- you, and I would judge by your face, if possible, how much you are to be depended on. : 'You are candid.' ' 'Ib is the easiest way,' answered Wat, deliberately taking out his pocket lantern, which he had not put out yet, and turning ib full in the other's face. The man's face betrayed some annoyance, but he bore the scrutiny without flinching, saying : ' Well, does it suit you ?' * Pretty well ; but you must forgive me if I say I am naturally suspicious of one who is playing the double part you are.' ' I am playing for success. ' ' And if I should be in your way you would nob hesitate to sacrifice me to your success ?' 'Frankly, no. Eut I fancy you are of more use to me alive than, dead, and so I am anxious bo save you.' Wab could hardly repress a smile at the thought of this man using him. He who had used Czar, nihilist, and the noble plotters, was nob exactly the person to be used by anyone of them. However, he said nothing, and waited for what the result would be. Wat had seen, when he scrutinised the man's face, that he was of the mobility, and he was, therefore, not surprised when the hack was driven into the courb-yard of a palace. The driver was probably a confederate, tor he at once alighted from the box and opened the door of the carriage. Their conductor led them upstairs to a : small elegantly-furnished parlour, and at : once lighted the gas. ' : ' Here you will be safe for a while, and I ; do not, doubt that we can -.find means to 1 help you'bub of tbe counbry.' ' You*are yery good.' < 'Not at .all.' You have been frank with . me 3i and JL' will be the same with you. I j brought you heie, in spite of the risk in ] doing 1 so, because, l .wanted bo' know the J truth of the trouble- between CHet'nigoffand the Countess AlmazphY * 'You sha.ll hearib. But first show this ! lady where she may rest.', ( 1 She may Have this little rjqpm beyond here, and you shall have" bhis qme on" the ' ] other side.' I 1I 1 take" ib' ''f or sfranted.th'at you would prefer bo be as near to' eacn other as may be.' ' "- '■ ' v (<( < * Quire right. Will you retire' and get some needed rest, counte&s ?' Vera, signified her willingness, bub' as she '' passed Wat she whispered to him ': ' A word with you.' i 'Excuse me, sir,' said Wat, *If I speak- 1 privabely to this, lady ' ' The man laughed, and said : ' Certainly ; ■ but I know what she is ; going to say. She is going to tell you that i I am the Duke of Kalouga, and a man i whose reputation is not of the best. Is it < not so, countess ?! ' • ' That is exactly what I was going to < say.' * . ' Thank yon, countess,' said Wat ; and ] he led her toward the door, whispering as ' j he werit, *Do not undress., ,, Be ready to starb at a nlo'ment's notice. Ido not trust' | him at all.' " ' . s