In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York THE PROPHET: OR THE STORMING OF CITALE. A-TALE OF THE RUSSIAN WAR. "Know ye the land where the cypress and myrtle CHAPTER I. In a large, brilliantly illuminated room in the palace at St. Petersburgh, were seated two persons. The first was a man of tall, commanding presence. He was dressed in the uniform of a Russian general, with this exception, that his epaulettes were formed of black cord, instead of gold. The hilt of his sword was also black. On the middle finger of his left hand he wore a signet ring. It needed but a slight pressure of that ring to sign. the death warrant of any one, or what was worse, to consign him to the icy regions of Siberia. Need we say that this man was the Emperor Nicholas of Russia. The other was a man of medium height. He appeared to be about forty-three or four years of age. He, too, was attired in the dress of a Russian general, but his dress was far more gaudy than that of the Emperor's. His manner betokened restlessness, and a mind ill at ease. Whenever he caught the Emperor's eye fixed on him, he quailed and dropped his eyes to the floor. Thus stood these two great men: the one a tyrant, the other a general. "So," said the Emperor, as he walked rapidly across the room, "you say he has escaped?" "No, your Majesty. I said that we failed to arrest him." On hearing this, the Emperor strode towards the speaker, and fixing his eagle eye on him, he said: "Do I know the meaning of the word fail?" "Your Majesty," said the other, entreatingly, "I have never failed before." The Emperor walked slowly backwards, and touching the sig net with his finger, he said "Beware!" On hearing that single word, Gortschakoff sank slowly into a chair, and drawing a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped the heavy drops of perspiration from his brow. "Remember," said the Emperor, as he again pointed to the signet, "I never forgive the second time. If, by to-morrow morning, Charles Handermoff is not brought before me, Siberia receives another exile," and again murmuring the word "beware," he left the room. For a moment the general remained as though paralyzed. "God!" cried he, as he sank from the chair to the floor, "what can I do? Escape! Ha! the thought is a good one," and he sprang from the floor and walked rapidly to the window. "Thereis no escape," he muttered, in a voice of agony. "Fool that I was to think it. Who can escape-who has ever escaped the Emperor's wrath? The Emperor, did I say? Rather let it be the tyrant." "Have it what you will," said a voice near him. Gortschakoff turned and beheld the Emperor standing near him. "I have changed my mind," said the Emperor, in a fearfully distinct voice. "Should you fail, instead of exile, your reward shall be the knout and the axe," and again pointing to the signet, he left the room. "The knout!" cried Gortschakoff. "No, no, not the knout. How can I save myself from this indignity! Ha! I have it," and drawing forth his dagger, he raised it high above his head. For a moment he held it thus, and then dropped it. "I am a coward," he muttered, hoarsely." I dare not dieand yet why should I die? Fortune may not have deserted me. I have ten hours before me, and what may not a man do in that time, especially when that man is striving against fate for his life?" At this moment the door opened and a man entered. "Ha! Thulong, what is it? cried Gortschakoff, springing for ward. "We have discovered some clue to the whereabouts of Handermoff," replied the man. "What! is it so?" cried Gortschakoff, joyfully. " “ Thulong, you have saved me from the knout, and you have made your fortune. Where is he?" "In the old mill by the river-at least we were so informed. The information may be false after all." "Order Major Wyckoff to get out his company," said Gortschakoff Iwill accompany him to the mill. Tell him that if |