Part 41 (1/2)

He drew his revolver and fired five shots in the air; while we all sat, staring at hi ould happen next; at least that hat I ondering The silence was so uncanny!

CHAPTER XLIII

THE WOMAN FROM SIBERIA

At last there was a ates, and a man's voice, hoarse and weak, demanded: ”Who is there?”

”It is Yossof,” Anne exclaimed ”How comes he here alone? Where is my mother, Yossof?”

I started as I heard that Her h Anne had said she could not remember her, and Treherne had told me she died soon after her arrest, more than twenty years back

”She is within and safe; Natalya is with her,” caates We heard hith, but heopen, and he stood leaning against one of theray and drawn like that of a corpse, just as it had looked that first tirown path beside him lay a revolver, as if he had dropped it out of his hand when he started to unbar the gates

”What has happened, Yossof?” Anne asked urgently

”Nothing; all is well, Excellency,” he answered ”I rode and gave the word as the order was, and when I reached the town the un, so I did not enter, but came on hither My horse was spent, and I found another, but he fell and I left him and came on foot I found none here save the Countess and Natalya; the others had fled, fearing an attack So I closed the gates and kept guard”

”God reward thee, friend; thou hast done well, indeed,” Anne said, and moved on to the house

I felt a twitch on my sleeve, and Mishka ate barred We shall be safer so I will look after Yossof, and find also what food is in the house for us all We need it sorely!”

So I sat in gards had come in I saw Loris lift Anne froht of wide stone steps that led up to the house

An elderly peasant woman hurried out to ure; a tall woray hair was flying dishevelled about her shoulders; and her face, even seen from a distance as I saw it now, appeared like sohtless, covered with a white film; the nose was flattened and distorted, the lips contracted, while the other features, forehead and cheeks and chin, were like a livid lined ”--I could not think of it as a hu out its hands, and shrieked in French, and in a voice that, though shrill with anguish, was piercingly sweet and powerful

”They have coain; at least they shall not take me alive Anthony--Anthony! Where are you, my husband?

Save me! do not let them take me!”

Anne hurried towards her, but with a scream she turned and sped back into the house, and some one pushed the door to, so I saw no more; but for some minutes those dreadful screams continued They sounded almost like the shrieks of Yossof's horse when the wolves were on hi to each other, crossing themselves in superstitious fear They seemed scared to approach the house; and I believe they'd have staates and barred theood to be here, Excellency,” stahosts and devils”

”Nonsense,” I answered roughly ”Brave htened of a poor mad lady who has suffered so cruelly!”

By judicious bullying I got them calmed down a bit; a Russian peasant is a difficult person to e when he's in a superstitious funk Mishka joined me presently, and we marched ourfor breakfast Fortunately there was plenty of food; the place see and directing thery myself, only rather dazed

A hand fell on my shoulder, and I found Loris beside me

”Come and eat and sleep, e here”

He looked alht we'd had, as if he'd just co dilapidated dining-room, where he'd planked soreat oaken table, though I was as big a scarecrow as Vassilitzi, as as used up as if he hadn't been to bed for a week