nswered a deep and manly voice. "No harm is intended
thee; no harm shall befall thee. I swear it on the word of a Cossack
chieftain."

Alvina was tranquillized at once by the evident sincerity of the
assurance.

"You are alone now in the world," pursued the stranger "I strove to
save your bridegroom, but he fell before I reached him."

"I loved him not," answered Alvina, coldly; "I mourn him not."

"You may hate me for the deed," said the stranger, "and I would fain
escape that woe; but here I vouch it in the face of heaven, Count
Willnitz fell by my hand. My sabre clove him to the teeth. Years had
passed, but I could not forget that he once laid the bloody scourge
upon my back."

"Alexis!" cried Alvina, now recognizing her preserver.

"Yes, dear but unfortunate girl," cried the Cossack leader, turning
and gazing on the young girl, "I feel that thou art lost to me
forever. I have slain thy father. Love for thee should have stayed my
hand; but I had sworn an oath of vengeance, and I kept my vow."

"Alexis," whispered Alvina, "he was not my father. He was my bitterest
enemy. Nor am I nobly born. Like you, I am an orphan."

"Say you so?" shouted the Cossack. "Then thou art mine--mine and
forever--joy of my youth--blessing of my manhood!"

"Yes, thine--thine only."

"But bethink thee, sweetest," said the Cossack; "I lead a strange wild
life."

"I will share it with thee," said Alvina, firmly.

"My companions are rude men."

"I shall see only thee."

"My home is the saddle, my palace the wide steppe."

"With thee, Alexis, I could be happy any where."

"Then be it so," said the Cossack, joyously. "What ho!" he shouted, at
the top of his ringing, trumpet-like voice. "Comrades, behold your
hetman's bride!"

From mouth to mouth the words of the Cossack chieftain were repeated,
and oft as they were uttered wild shouts of joy rose from the bearded
warriors; for they had loved the gallant Alexis from the moment when,
a wayworn, famished, and bleeding fugitive, he came among them. They
galloped round and round the hetman and his fair companion in dizzying
circles, like the whirling leaves of autumn, firing their pistols,
brandishing their lances and sabres, and making the welkin ring with
their terrific shouts. Alvina clung, terrified, to the waist of her
lover, and he finally silenced the noisy demonstrations by a wave of
his hand. Then, under his leadership, and in more regular order, the
formidable band of