Part 20 (1/2)

”It is this,” the governor said. ”I have here before me,” and he touched some doc.u.ments lying on the table, ”a report which I am about to forward to the Czar respecting Count Preskoff. The report is not altogether favorable, for the count is a man of what are called advanced opinions. He has curious ideas as to the treatment of serfs, and has, no doubt, in your hearing expressed himself favorable to their emanc.i.p.ation.”

The boys were silent.

”He has, I doubt not, done so, for he is rash and open of speech. I have here before me an information sworn to that effect, and if you will place your names as witnesses to it, I will not only pardon the indiscretion of which you have been guilty, but will do all in my power to make your stay pleasant.”

The boys were speechless with indignation at the infamy of the proposal, and doubted not that the doc.u.ment contained far weightier charges than those specified by the governor.

”Who has signed that doc.u.ment?” Jack asked.

”I do not know that the name can matter to you,” the governor said, ”but it is one of the servants of the count, one Paul Petrofski.”

”Then,” d.i.c.k said, starting to his feet, ”it is a forgery. Paul Petrofski never signed that doc.u.ment.”

”What do you mean?” the governor exclaimed, leaping to his feet also, and laying his hand on his sword, while his face grew white with pa.s.sion. ”Do you accuse me of forgery?”

”I repeat,” d.i.c.k said, his indignation altogether mastering his prudence, ”that it is a forgery. You have never seen Paul Petrofski since I heard you offer him one thousand roubles at the cross-roads that night to betray his master.”

With a short cry which reminded Jack of the sharp snarl of the wolves in the night in the forest, the Russian drew his sword and rushed upon d.i.c.k. The latter threw up his arm to defend himself, but the blow fell, cutting his arm severely, and laying open a great gash on his cheek.

The Russian raised his arm to repeat the blow, when Jack sprang upon him from behind, seizing him round the waist, and pinning his arms to his side.

The count struggled furiously, but Jack was a strongly built English lad of nearly sixteen years old, and he not only retained his grasp, but lifted his struggling captive from his feet. ”Open the window, d.i.c.k!” he shouted. ”It's his life or ours now.” d.i.c.k though nearly blinded with blood, sprang to the window and threw it up.

There was a short, desperate struggle, as the Russian shouting furiously for aid, strove with his feet to keep himself away from the window, but d.i.c.k struck these aside. With a mighty effort Jack pushed his captive forward, and in another moment he was thrown through the open window. A rush of heavy steps was heard on the stairs. In an instant Jack darted to the table, seized the doc.u.ments upon it, and cast them into the fire in the stove, slammed the door, and was standing by the window with d.i.c.k, when an officer and several soldiers burst into the room.

”What is the matter?” the former exclaimed; ”and where is the governor?”

”The matter is,” Jack said, quietly turning round, ”that the governor has drawn his sword, and, as you see, tried to kill my friend. In order to prevent his doing so, my friend and I have thrown the governor out of the window.”

”Thrown the governor out of the window!” gasped the astonished officer.

”Yes,” Jack said. ”It was painful, but we had to do it. If you look out, I fancy you'll see him.”

The officer ran to the window.

”Good heavens!” he exclaimed; ”it is true. They are lifting him up already. He seems to me to be dead. You will have to answer for this,”

he said, turning to the lads.

”Of course we shall answer for it,” Jack said. ”He brought it on himself. His temper, as no doubt you are aware, was not always under strict control.”

The officer could not help smiling. He had himself often experienced the effects of that want of control of his temper on the part of his superior, and was at heart by no means sorry at the prospect of a new governor.

”His Excellency's temper was hasty,” he said. ”However, gentlemen, that is no business of mine.” Then, turning to the soldiers, he continued, ”You will take these officers into custody, and remain here in charge of them until you have further orders.” He then left them, to inquire into the state of the governor. The soldiers muttered remarks to each other, by no means indicative of sorrow, for the tyranny of the governor had made him hated by all below him. One of them at Jack's request at once went out and returned with a jug of cold water and a towel, with which Jack bathed d.i.c.k's wounds, which were bleeding severely, and the mids.h.i.+pman was scarcely able to stand from loss of blood. Jack vainly attempted to stop the bleeding. ”We must have a surgeon,” he said, turning to the soldiers, ”or, as you see, my friend will bleed to death. No doubt there are plenty of them below. Will one of you go and ask one of them to come up here, telling him how urgent is the need?”

After a consultation among themselves, one of the soldiers retired, and in a minute or two returned with a surgeon, in whom, to his great delight, Jack recognized Doctor Bertmann, who upon seeing d.i.c.k's state at once proceeded to attend to him. Cutting off his coat and s.h.i.+rt-sleeve, he examined his arm, from which the blood was flowing in a stream.

”One of the small arteries is cut,” he said. ”It is lucky that aid was at hand, or he would have a.s.suredly bled to death.” The severed artery was speedily found and tied up, and then the wound on the face was plastered and bandaged, and d.i.c.k, as he lay on the couch, for he was far too weak to stand, felt comparatively comfortable.

CHAPTER XVI.