All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

840 “ T believe all you say. I will go with you, Nikolai,” she said, unbidden tears welling slowly out from under her drooped eyelids. The nobleman kissed her hastily and took her up bodily in his arms. “We must hurry. I will carry you to the droshky,” cried he, with the thrill of exultation in his voice. As he turned to execute his words, Janos, the boarhound, rose up out of the long grass. His throaty snarl halt- ed the man’s precipitate steps. He let Vera slip to her feet on the ground again, and one hand stole into the side-pocket of his coat. “ Back, Janods—home with you!” commanded the girl, stamping her foot and trying to cow the animal, which refused to pay any attention to her.” IXeeping her eyes fixed fast on those of the dog, she took reassuring hold of one of her companion’s hands and tried to pass on. The dog’s dewlaps curled farther back and every coarse hair on his back seemed to stand on end. ‘The ugly rumble of his growl warned them against movement. In answer Nikolai Iaroslaf leaped suddenly forward and struck at the beast with his heavy riding crop. Janés sprang at his aggressor’s throat. There came the sudden flash and stunning report of a pistol that mingled with a yelp of agony as the hound fell backward. The echoes of the shot went booming across the silence of the place. ‘The nobleinan caught Vera's hand and pulled her after him. “Runt” he shouted. “We have awakened your friends now. The speed of my horses is our only chance for it!” Hand in hand they raced to where the thoroughbreds were prancing be- fore the droshky. It was the work of but an instant to loosen their hobbles and make the long whip whine over their heads. The horses were off with a bound and a tossing of heads. They took to their task like racers. As they dashed THE ALL-STORY MAGAZINE. out upon the beaten highway, threaten- ing shouts arose behind them. “Oh!” whispered the girl, white- lipped. “They are after us!" She shrunk closer against her grim-faced companion, whose eyes were fixed straight ahead. ‘Do you think they can catch us, lover?” The nobleman's harsh laugh was carried away soundless by the rush of the wind past their ears. “Let them try to at their peril,” he said. “I never have heard of but one peasant who manhandled a boyar of the empire, and the governor crucified him head downward at Utskow last sum- mer.” The road was rutted deep, with the dust of four rainless months thick upon it. ‘The droshky creaked and rocked dangerously from side to side as it was hurtled madly along behind the pound- ing hoofs of Nikolai laroslaf’s thor- oughbreds. Coveys of little white birds were scared out of their shelter in the way- side grasses and rose into the air with querulous cries all about the fugitives. As the sun rose higher the dust thick- ened. It got into their eyes, mouths, hair, and nostrils; it coated the sleek sides of the horses thickly. When the head- long gallop at which their driver kept them began to tell on the beasts, spume began to edge their bits and to lather the chaling harness. ‘Trickles of sweat ran like shiny threads down along their dust-caked bodies. Yet the speed did not slacken, nor did Nikolai laroslaf pay any heed to the pitiful figure huddled up beside him. Had he, indeed, iooked he would have observed that Vera’s lips were moving in inarticulate prayer. Her glances every now and _ then were cast wildly in the direction whence they fled. She kept asking herself : “Ts all this truly real? Is it not a nightmare? Will I not awaken and find that I have been asleep? ” People were just getting up to go COMnIG ookks.conn