CHAPTER XXXVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XXXVII.

~ FORCING HOSPITALITY. They followed fche track for some distance, and then struck off into the forest which here fringed the road.- ».■ _, ' It was a difficult matter to know which way to go, inasmuch as Wat was ignorant of either the precise direction or of the nature ot the country. Nevertheless he trudged on, supporting Vera over the rough giound and talking to her hopefully as if 'he was as sure of his road as any native of the country. With her trusts, in Wat, Vera was easily satisfied, and never uttered a word to imply .that shq had any doubt of the result. They were waiksfog- 'along thus*, when • suddenly a voice cried out ; '" l- • , ' Who goes there ?' „ , . ( > There was an unmistakable soldierly ring in the tone that 'sent a" chill down Wat'i spine. * His first thought wa9 to spring upon the man and knock him down and then escape, but he instantly rejected that idea as too crude. It was unlikely enough that the soldiers were there for any 'purpose in which he waS concerned, do he answered coolly : couple of behind fc^av^llers.J. • would be more like it. A1)V! we've Caugn^yoiij-have^ve?' Don't move, or I sha}i-ha»ve to put an ounce of lead into you. Hello, boys !' he called, out. ( ' Hello !' was the answer from nob far off. ' A. pair of smugglers !' There was a rush through fche woods, and Wat, who had made no motion toward escape, was surrounded. The soldiers carried lanterns, and the sight of them in ihat lonely spot was terrifying enough to Vera, who clung to Wat with redoubled tenacity. • It's all right,' whispered Wat. ' They are not after us, and we can get help from them.' The soldiers hurried them into camp, and there, stirring up the fire and holding up their lanterns to their faces, they studied our friends. ' Who are you ?' demanded the non-com-missioned officer who was in command. 'If you will give me an opportunity to speak I will tell you,' answered Wat, with an assumption of great dignity. ' Go on, sir,' said the man more respectfully. ' I am the Duke of Kalouga, and this is my wife, 3 'The Duke of Kalouga?' repeated the man, with increased respect, and yet with an accent of suspicion. * Yes. We were on our way -to see the Count of — cr — oocrf — er ' ' W'ilna ?' suggested the soldier. 'Precisely.' • But he is not at home, and not expected for several days.' * Very true ; but lam to remain at hi 3' castle until he "returns, which will be at an' earlier date than he had at first intended.' ' But how do you come to be in this plight?' , , , .t. t , c Our carriage was attacked, and wp were robbed and' turned' adrift in these woods, where we have been wandering for severalhours, unable to find our way.' ' I will escort you, to the Castleof Wilna, where, nojdoubfe, .there will be some provision madef or your coming. ' ♦I will be much obliged to you, though I am. not sure that they have any knowledge of our coming.'.. ,• , > 'It^vag tuo^thg^count's carriage, then., that y^ou we^e.in^hen you w.ere. ribbed ?' •Oh\no. *It Was niy'dwn. 3 ' * '• ' ' H'm T W-eH,**l-''suppyse' you !.will, • be v re--cognised- by-somebody. ats, the castle,?' . ,• ■ 'Oh, no dqub/tj, ~4>t any,vate r ,I shall be very glad of an.,esc,or.t, and stj^ll more thankful if you will.giveme a horse for my wife, who is very fcired'. ' • •We can dol-that, and will. And, your grace must, tqrgiye me, if I seenu suspicious, but these, woods ''are infested, by smugglers and' other' worse_ characters', as you seem to have had probff'andlt'is my duty to investigate everyr-person found in them under any peculiar cj.rgu.msfca.pces.' « '.DQ^'Mpeak qf.^nu* good,;nan, ;, and b,e assured |;hat' I shajjo'nly rqinSmber 1 your aervie'es ifj^dV wilfj ex'tetra /me your aid' to reach myfriond-s castle..'/' When we '.are there, or no\v, VtM^a, p^eleiy, I w*ili show you my pasßporb, wHich will 'serve better

than anything- else to establish' my identity.' ' OH, of course,' answered, tlie 1 soldier, as if such a simple expedient had riot suggested itself t6 him before. He turned away to give orders for the horse, aqd Wat whispered. to Vera : 1 .D6 you know this count?' 'Not at, all.' " '*''" ' ' ■' *' •' • AVoIJ; since 'heels' *nbfc»at home,? lib is" my dearest f rienchand must entertajn us'jforjbhe, night, or such part?, of it.,a,B. we ,desire |ip stay there. ' „ • ". > , '„'/,.">,' •Shall we start at dnco?' 'asked* the soldier. " ' 4 The sooner the better,', replied Wat, assisting Vera to the back of the horse which had been brought. • Your grace will excuse the lack of a side saddle, I hope,' said the man, politely. ' It is of no consequence,' answered Vera sweetly ; ' I can ride on anything.' The, party §tarted off, Wat walking by 'the'side of th'e r sergeant,,and beguiling the 'tedium of the way by telling 'him ' stories about St. Petersburg, most of which .were coined in Wat's fertile brain to suit the occasion. , . By the time they reached the castle J the soldier was in a high good humoW\vith''the' duke, and was ready to believe him even a grand duke if necessary. The casfcle was not only in utter darkness when they reached it, but it was shut up as if the occupants feared nothing so much as admitting somebody. 4lt is very early, it seems to me, for the place to be in darkness,' said Wat. ' It is always so at night,' replied the soldier, with no very friendly tone. It was evident that the count was not a favourite. ' Well, we'll rouse them into life before we are through with them,' said Wat, with a jovial laugh. ' Trust me, sergeant, if you like a glass of good brandy, to make you comfortable for one night.' 'Oh, I oould not stay here. I should have to leave some of my men, if you will excuse the precaution. Orders, you know,' he said apologetically. 4 Quite right. 1 know what a soldier's duty is. I^ut I insist upon your staying yourself- lam in the habit of having my own way.' 'But my duty.' "'Bother your duty! Am I not a suspicious character I'd like to know ?' And Wat laughed in the merriest way possible. 4 Oh, well on that plea perhaps I ought to stay,' retorted the soldier, only too glad, of any excuse to. spend the night with such ( a pleasant nobleman. The summanVat the gate had not been, favoured '\vith' any answer, so Wat took a rifle from thehands of one of the soldiers and' with the butt end of it pounded one of the 1 panels.- ' W hat's, wanted ?' demanded a gruff voice, so soon after this" noisy summons that' it was evident that somebody had been at the ' gate all the time. 4 Admission is wanted," answered. Wat,, peremptorily. ' 'By whom?' . iIC By the Duke of K'alouga, youi' master's 1 .friend.'-' ..'..<,_. „ i.' . • f '' He said nojbhing abqutj expeoting him.' 4 And'aye ( y.ou gojng, b® keep me standing here, you rascal,' cried Wat, in 'a' : see'rrurjg passion, J ' while you tell me what he dian'i say ? * Open the gate, I say, or I'll .batter it down! * , . _ , , 4 Who'? with you ?' 4An escort of soldiers, and if you do not open without another word I will order fchsm to hammer the gate.' The guardian of the gate evidently.. ,be-., lieved Wat, for he slowly undid the fastenings of the gate and opened it. staggered-jn, exclaiming-: ' I shal,l certainly report this reception to the count}, "Have, a*' chamber prepared at •oncjerforthe duchess, 1 -who must be nearly . dead witlu'fatiguo. >And see <.fcbat sueb'of these -sold i.ers,as £hfe,sqrgeant may desire tq remain are provided, wiljh good , quarter^. The count will be here earlY to-morravv. 1 " 'Yes, your grace,' said the man, bewildered by the assurance with which all this was said. ' Come, sergeant, after you have given your orders to your men, follow me to the dining-hall. Wilna told me of some rare brandy he had in stock. We'll sample it to the (gear's health.', He followed the man who had admitted them, and who seemed a sorb of steward, and was led by him into the house. ' Are you at all hungry ?' asked Wat of Vera. 'Very.' 'Then bring us something to eat as well as drink.' • Yes, your grace,' said t|ie, steward, eyeing Wat with the utmost uneasiness, as if he would like to say something, but did not dare. Wat noticed his manner, and hoping to obtain some bit of intelligence which might be of use to him, whispered hurriedly : • Well ? Say it quickly, or that soldier will be back again.' ' Did you bring any word ?' • Hush ! here he comes ! Get these soldiers drunk first, and then I will tell you everything. Very important !' ' Upon my word,' he thought to himself, ' everybody, in Russia seems to be engaged in some sort of plot.'