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TO-UY-S SHORT STORY.] . The…

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TO-UY-S SHORT STORY.] The Grip of the Bear. BY HAROLD BINDLOSS. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) There was grey iriist on the marsh-ee beside a lonely river in :aorthern Siberia, and all was very (Still save, for the calling of wild- fowl along the water side. These had journeyed endless. leagues to breed un- molested in the solitude of the north, and they resented vocally the presence of man. Drawing back the skins from an opening in the wall of an eiirth-built outpost, the Russian Gammandant looked out into the mysterious Jialf-light, for the sun was rolling southwards -then, and there was duskines8 at night. A ch-VI breeze came out of the dim- ness. and tle iUiiverea a little, for it was two a.m.; then, flinging-to the curtain, he bade his compiuiion light the lamp. He was a man of missive build, set off by the Czar's well-worn uniform. his face marked by the stamp of patience by so many of a dogged, 1 orsuffering race, perhaps with the exception oi one other me grimmest nation on earth. A fearless peopl/3, to enter this land unarmed in spite of Us," he said, turning to his compancC"- "Re almost deserves a better fate for his galiant.cy; but the instructions are definite. Send for the prisoner." There wai. a shuffling of feet on the rammed earth floor, and two bi g soadiers entered lead- ing a man, aud evidently a Briton, in mire- caked clothes, who stood still, a pitiable spectacle, with one arm hanging limply at his side. B ut there wa3 no tremor in prisoner Hayaton's vodoe, nor fear in his eyes, as, flinging hiA, head batk fiercely, he said: This is ai. outrage. By what right dare you tire on and seize peaceful explorers?" The younger officer laughed an unpleasant laugh ere h3 .answered in fair English, for lis countrymen, are generally linguists: "We arrest you in accordance with "-then sud- de-ily changed the Fenzefice to—"for enter- ing tti our territory and carrying there- "rom treasure without due permits." Your territory!" &aid Hayston mockingly. with the of despair, for he knew the eealers' stories and realised the hopeless- ness of the case. Inside the Arctic Circle there is no government, and we outlaws laugh at yonr ediote." Sr)!" answered the Commandant gravely. Therefore the strongest hand is law. and that leaves you but one hope of mercy. You ivsill explain the matter, iientenajit—pah! I am sick of it." Prisoner," said the other, "the orders are to hold this la.nd free from treasure hunters —and without bloodshed there are unplea- sant ways of doing it. You are a young man, perhaps with friends at home—a woman, it may be, would mourn if you never came back again. Well, on my honour "-here the grim Commaaidant's lip curled scornfully—" we wvll in due time ship you safe from Petropaul, on the condition that you write a letter summoning your comrades here. We will seffid a canoe to seek them aloing the coast." Ah!" said Hayston. catching at his breath. "If not, I shall vanish inland, to rot away a lost man a.nd a memory. That is what lies behind your hint. I suppose." There was something akin to shame in the Commandant's face. for he loathed that kind of work; but, besides being a valiant soldier. he was one piece of the ponderous machinery -which rules by fear -a, vast nation, and his part was but to carry out the rigid instruc- tions. So he merely answered that it might be so. Then Hayston flung one arm up, and said, in tblow, deep voice of hopelas fierceneS$: Colsi<)n take your offer! Trick the men who trusted me into your cruel hands! Oh. for one five minutes, well armed, with either of you!" Impassive as death itself, the Commandant. bent his head, saying: "You have chosen. Sergeant, take the prisoner away thougn, as Hayston was thrust forth, he faneied he saw a f-aint gleam of compassion in the steady eyes. Afterwards the two office re sat on in the lighted room, while the grey mist wreathed fantastically across the wide marshes where the wild-fowl had o^ased their crying, and aave for the distant flow of the river the for- bidding northern solitude lay wrapped in deathly atiuness. The Commandant's eyes were heavy, and yet he might not sleep, for he expected intelligence of the movements of the intruders, end in that service there was only room for men of iron will. He was one of a great slow nation taught by terror the lesson of perfect obedience. So he sat there not knowing that those he sought were even then seeking him. and that men of another race equal in power to has own were crawl- ing tiiroisgh the marsh mist with sealing rifles. Reckless, stubborn, resourceful, the Muscovite had reason to resent their coming, and theio had sworn, some by the Virgin, and others on the faith of the freelance adventurers, to bring off their comrade, or pour out their own blocd among the flames of the Russian post. It was half an hour later, and the light was brightening, though the stillness seemed more oppressive than before, for the eerie wail of a waterbird accentuated it, that the Commandant became rtsiless, troubled-he did not know why—by a s-onse of uneasiness. The shrill cry was answered by another on the opposite fide, and this was natural, a bird oalling to its mate; but the Comman- doant wondered a little when it came back repeated, Nearer this time. A few minutes passed slowly—he could hear his watch tick- ing—and then he sprang to his feet. for the eton curtain in the doorway fluttered. Even. as he 6tretched forth his hand for his re- volver a figure as massive as his own sprang in through it. and a blue pistol barrel glinted in the light of the seal-oil lamp. "Stand fa^t!" said a low voice. "Drop your hand or you die!" and the Muscovite or pro) m pt; jo obeyed. He was not a oowrtrd-few of his kind are—but he could me the bronzed finger tighten on the trigger, a-Tid he knew from the pose and hang of the pistol-arm that this stranger would not miss his aim. Besides, his death defenceless would R-vail the Czar nothing. Sit down," added the big man, and again fbe Commandant <JIY while his wily o-mpanion, who had bcon rcusad from sleep, sidled unnoticed, he hoped, by the stranger towards the doorway. But he, too, halted when a voice with a western twang said softly: you don't; not this time. Stand up againet the wall there with your supe- rior." and the long barrel of a sealing rifle raked in through the window opening. Whether the lieuten-a nt was a cow-ard or otherwise is not material, thorugh Hayston afterwards averred that in any case he would have made a good murderer, but he, too. Btood motioinJesis leaning against the wall. Sorry to visit you so unceremoniously," said the big stranger, bowing courteously. I'll introduce myself, however Osmond King, leader of the part- your men had a uifference with a few nights ago. I'm sorry we couldn't afford them better amusement, but we were practically unarmed, you see. They hurt one or two of us, but not very seriously." The Commandant stared bewildered ere he I answered the bow. for something in the bear- ing of th's stranger, who had dropped as it were mysteriously out of the night, impelled respern. TJ?n he said half aloud, in French: A wonderful people! Are all your country- men so?" and a soft laugh rose up from th9 other side of the window. A good many," said King, smiling, in the same language. "But that is not what I came hare to talk about. You have one of our party, and I want you to let him go. Your handful of men are sleeping, we have gagged the sentry, and we brought riles to-night. So, while we don't want to hurt your feelings, we are determined, and there might be trouble if you refujed the request." The Commandant seemed perplexed, though he looked coolly at the revolver inuzile, while his companion, taking advantage again, he thought, of the temporary abstraction, stretched out a stealthy hand towards the weapons upon a table. -Then a gun-lock clicked significantly outside, and i^geemed as though a tragedy wefe imminent; but King said cfuickly: "Hold fche muzzle on the other," as he leapt for- ward. The lieutenant's fingers already touched a revolver, but as they did so King's grasp closed upon his throat. So he dropped half- choked and trembling into a chair—and he was a strong man. Then the outlaw said: This one I shoot if he stirs again, but I trust your honour, sir. We have little time for talking, and I wait your answer." The Commandant bit his lip and clenched his hands, and one of those who watched him afterward? told his fellows he felt sorry for the man. because, as he expressed it, there was real grit in him; but what could be do? Then he exchanged some words in Russian with his lieutenant, and answered: I cannot do it, for in freeing this pris- oneir I lose my honour. Ours is an iron service, and if [ let him go of my own will I dare not go back again." A few moments silence followed, and King noticed the lieutenant's face was sharply twitching, while through the stillness he fancied he could hear the deep breaths drawn by sleeping men. But, knowing that at any lime there might be an accident, the adven- turer's brain was busy, aud calling softly, three other men with rifles entered through ibe screen of skins. The matter had been planned before baud, so they knew what was expected, ard did it with skill and celerity. A strip of fur was fluug over the Comman- dant's head and shoulders, lashings were panned about it, and then, turning to the others, King said: Now for the prisoner; delay or play 118 ar.y trick at the peril of your life." The lieutenant moved sullenly toward? the doorway, glancing over his shoulder with maltoe in his eye; bat King was bar<Hy the JaW to btunder into any trap, so he followed cjoae frfJwnwi him with t&o- aaoule ot a go-

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TO-UY-S SHORT STORY.] . The…