Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 8, 2025
He waited ten minutes, perhaps, coughing at intervals, and at length Kosmaroff came to him, not from the land, but across the moving floes from the direction of the bridge. "The water is running freely," he said, "through the middle arch. I have a boat out there on the ice. Come!"
So far as these were concerned, there was little danger in going away empty from the city. Then the two horsemen rode on in silence. They were far out in the marsh-lands before Kosmaroff spoke. "I am sure," he then said, "that I was seen as I climbed back over the wall. I heard a stir among the rifles. But they could not recognize me. It is just possible that I may not be suspected.
"First blood," he said, breathlessly. He went to his horse and wiped his hands upon its mane. "Bah!" he exclaimed, "how he smelled of bad cigarettes!" Martin was leaning in the saddle, looking down at the dark form in the mud. "Oh, he is dead enough," said Kosmaroff. "I broke his neck. Did you not hear it go?" "Yes I heard it. But what was he doing here?"
But at a signal from Kosmaroff the gate-keeper sprang forward and opened the heavy doors. Martin was nearest, and instinctively held the stirrup, while Cartoner climbed into the saddle. "Saved your life!" he said, in a whisper. "I know," answered Cartoner, turning in his saddle to lift his hat to the men grouped behind him. He looked over their heads into the open doorway, but could see nothing.
He had seen, perhaps, enough in the great revolution of his younger days to teach him that women and even Polish women should take no part in politics. He believed in a wise and studied ignorance of those things which it is better not to know. He made no reference to Kosmaroff at breakfast the next morning, and Wanda asked no questions.
Between the Bednarska and the bridge which towers above the low-roofed houses fifty yards farther down the river are the landing-stages for the steamers that ply in summer. There is a public bath, and at one end of this floating erection a landing-stage for smaller boats, where as often as not Kosmaroff found work. It was to this landing-stage that Martin directed his steps.
"That would have been a mistake," said the prince, reflectively. "It was the mistake they made last time. It has never paid yet to take life in driblets." "That is what I told Kosmaroff afterwards, when Cartoner had gone. It was evident that it could only have been an accident. Cartoner could not have known. To do a thing like that, he must have known all or nothing."
"Why can't he come on board himself?" "Because he is dead," answered Kosmaroff, with a break in his voice. And he lurched forward against the rail. Cartoner caught him by one arm and held him up. "I am so weak!" he murmured, "so weak! I am famished!" Cartoner lifted him bodily over the rail, and Cable received him, half fainting, in his arms.
The animal was astonishingly fresh and went off at a good pace, so that the man sent by Kosmaroff to follow him was soon breathless and forced to give up the chase. Approaching the town, Cartoner rode at a more leisurely pace. That his life had hung on a thread since sunset did not seem to affect him much, and he looked about him with quiet eyes, while the hand on the bridle was steady.
He appeared to be an old man with a white beard, and had perhaps waited a long time for this moment. There was a wealth of promise in his curt hilarity. Then Martin and Kosmaroff turned and rode on towards Warsaw at a trot.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking