CHAPTER XXXIX.

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

CHAPTER XXXI X.

BETRAYING THE DUKE' OF KALOUGA. s At. the .word ' hfrlt ' from the officer of the patrcq.l, Wat stepped forward, 'and said, in, ,his sharpest tones : • Who are you ?' . • ' ( Who am I ? Who are you 1 Answer at once !' • By what right do you demand this ?' Wat was now talking- to gain time. . 'You'll find out in a, moment, 5 said the offider, with a ' hoarse!' laugh. ''Advance' and take this man in custody.' - ■ The pabcol came forward, and Wat-stepped-back, saying,: • On' his Majesty's service.' «'Whab?' 'I am on his Majesty's service

♦ Halfc ! Fall 1 back ! What service ? -What are you doing here ?' The officer took a lantern from one of the soldiers, and turning back 'fcljeslide, threwthelightfulion Wat., ' . ' What regimeftt?' he demanded of* Wat* 1 * Tenth, company C, detailed on smuggler duty. • What are you doing .here V z • ' ifave niade'a'n important capture;' 1 ,'Smugglors?'' ' 'No, awdnian.' ' -•' ' ' - - ''Explain.' • V-" ' <■ ". < • ' ' c May !• speak -to you in private ?' -'Fall back five paces!- 'Now, / then,, w,e are alone. Goon.' _ Wat, as may be imagined, had by this time formed a plan. " " ' '*""■" He drew 'still* nearer to the officer, stad whispered : ''' ' ■ ~ « ' 'Have 'you bad any word -about the Countess Radolihski and a-man-pretending to be the Duke o! KaloUga*?^ . •■« 'Yes, yes,' eagerly.* 'Do you know the reward V , , '. . 'Yes, a thousand roubles. Why?" ' I have the countess, and I thirik I know where the man is.' ' ' "* ' You have the countesß V •Yes.' - ' '• ' '"■ • ' Where ?' ' ■ " ''•■ 'Here; in charge of my squad.' ... .., ' You have a squad of men,?. I do-not see them.' ' - * They are behind thebushes.' ' Where is the man you speak of ?' ' A bargain.' ' -- - • ' What is it ?' ' I could' deliver my woman at the barracks, couldn't I ?' ' * Certainly.' ' And then go affce,r my man ?' - ' Of course.' ' And &o get the whole reward ?' 1 Yes.' ' But while I am putting the woman in a safe place, the man" 'might get away V ' Very true.' - ' ' Then what I would propose is for you to go after the man while I take the woman to the barracks.' ' Good. Where is he ?' ' Oh ! but first, will you share the reward with me?' ' Certainly. ' f On your honour as an officer ? 4 On my honour.' ' You know tho castlo of the Count of Wiina ?' Yes.' tThe man is there. "And' the count is no at home now, so that' there will be no' trouble about getting in.' ' " How shall I knoAV the -man ?' He is lying dead drunk in the room off the dining-room. You ' Can't make any mistake. 1 'Good ! I'll detach two soldiers, and go with them to capture him. Where will you go now ?' 'To the post ; but I don't 'know the countersign.' ' '"The Czar of Russia. " ' ' . .« Thank you.' 1 - - .' ' - . • ? Thfen»Vv& H'taeet afrthe. post 1 ?'-' : 'Ye*.' ' Let me have a look at the countess, will you ?' The officer was evidently more moved by curiosity than suspicion, so Wat had' no hesitation in going back and whispering to the countess: % -' The officer of the patrol wants to ' see you. Don't be afraid. I'.ve , fixed it all right.' Then, turning to the steward, who was anxiously v waiting to know what had been done, he said : ' It's all right. I've made him think I am in command of a party of soldiers sent out to capture" this lady. 'I ,a~m going 'to show her to him as a proof that 1 have told the truth/ ; The steward laughed sdftly at" tho credit, lity of the officer, and Vera went forward with Wat, to be looked at.' ' The officer turned fche^ light Of 'his* lantern on her, and examined her pretty face with impudent curiosity. ; ■! ' She's a beauty, 'isn't ,s.he V he said to Wat, with a latigh. • _ _ > \ ' Oh, yes, but Pd -rather, have -the roubles' than her beauty ar^y, /3ayj' answered' Wat. , 'You're rigbfcj, comrade. .' ,D6n't t let hei\ give you the .slip. 3 l! '' ' ' '•You bet I woxt'ttfJ Ell waii'foryou at th\e.. .post then, eh ?' •„ ' Yes ; and.l'H' hufry 'atyay so my"' man won't give me. the slip.,.' • " „. ' That's' right. y «.Ancl I'll "hold my men until your§*have i passed,' so that they won't, know anything about, the wbnlan, eh ? No use of dividing the reward up'too much.' ' That's so. Fall back a' few paces, and make the lady sfcoop so she won't be seen as we-go by.' "■' •* All these -manteuvres were* executed as agreed upon/ and in - .a 1 few minutes the patrol had passed on its .way. leaving the road clear to Wat and his party. The steward now took the, lead a gain , and without any other mishap, took them to the banks of the "Niemen'river., The greatest danger of detection was here, for the river was patrolled on both sides and on the water a3 well. The smugglers, however, seemed to know : exactly when to" expect the coming of the guard, and waited until it was past. Then they hurried the party down to the water's edge and put them into a boat which they drew irom some hidden place. With mufHed oars they now,, shot out into the stream, and, black as- it was, it seemed a wonder that they could tell where they were going. They had no hesitation, however, and avoiding the rive"r guard yith as much dexterity •as they had the shore" patrol, they shot across to the' other sidej and there landed our "fugitives on German soil. " . Wat felt sure; from the manner of the smugglers, that the customs officers were in collusion with them, but he said nothing of this. He. paid the t steward the money he had - agreed to" give "him, and bidding him. fa reWell,, aided Vera up the bank, which was 1 quite steep? ( ' ''.'", '' ' ' We are safe now,' said Wat, 'drawing a long breath. ' ' Thank Heaven for that/ and you too|! How.much you have done for me.!'