Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

358 brought with me from home,” he said. * It helped to save my life not long ago, and played a very important part in an exciting adventure which befell me in Russia.” “Tell us about it,” I said, and both Dick and Jack joined vigorously in the request. “Tn Russia,” the count began, light- ing a new cigar from the remains of the old one, and then puffing away briskly, “T held a position under the govern- ment in what you would call here the State Department. I stood pretty near to the political heads of the country, and at one time possessed considerable influence in state affairs. I lost it all, however, by siding on an important question against the Czar, and after- wards by opposing one of his favorite mieasures in the Russian government council.” The present narrator will not take upon himself the responsibility of vouching for the truth of Count Baren- zik’s story, but it is, to the best of his belief, perfectly accurate and reason- able. I desire to say this at the outset, for fear the reader may think other- wise before the story ends. “The Czar,” he went on, while his three listeners shifted themselves into the most comfortable positions pos- sible, “holds absolute sway in my country, as I suppose you know. I think he has more power, personally, than any other monarch now existing, and that he knows less regarding the use of it than any of his fellow poten- tates—but let that pass. He and I were never friends, and my criticism may arise from that fact. At any rate, I do not need to go into the details of our political differences, since my story is simply the result of them.” Jack’s mouth had begun to open in an unmistakable expression of surprise at the commencement of the narrative, | and when the count spoke carelessly of his intimacy with the greatest crowned head of Europe, the lower portion of his face entirely disappeared THE ARGOSY. “ Y—you don’t really mean that you k-know the Czar,” he said—‘“ not the real Czar of Russia?” Our noble friend nodded. “TI knew him to my sorrow,” he said slowly. “ It was he who banished me from my home, and who has made it impossible for me to return. But, as I said before, this is all incidental, and I will proceed with my story. “One Christmas Eve, not a great many years ago, I was being taken to Siberia, a political prisoner, at the com- mand of the Czar. If you will look at a map of Russia, you will see near the northwestern border the location of a town called Kischkoff. It is on the route to the great Siberian prisons, and we reached it on the. evening of De- cember 24th, after a long day’s jour- ney. : ‘There were a score of prisoners be- side myself, all in charge of a man by the name of Beershodek. This latter was a fellow whose friend I had been previous to my conviction, and during the trip from Moscow he made several advances to me. “ They were all to the effect that if I cared to do so, I might purchase my escape. I had with me quite a quantity of money in gold, and by the time we reached Kischkoff he had entered into an engagement to supply me with means of escape during the succeeding night. “For so doing he received a mone- tary consideration which I hope rec- ompensed his widow and orphans for the subsequent loss of his position and head. “ Omitting the recital of my friend Beershodek’s plans, I will only say that two hours before the dawn of Christ- mas morning I was mounted on a pow- erful horse, speeding through the wild- est forest I have ever seen or heard of. I had a double barreled pistol—the one you have just seen—in my pocket, and my rescuer had told me that by reach- ing a town ahead before daylight I could catch a train for the coast. COM . ElOOO SS CO