THE SECRET DISPATCH; OR, THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN BALGONIE. BY JAMES GRANT, AUTHOR OF "ROMANCE OF WAR," "SCOTTISH CAVALIERS," ETC. ETC. NEW EDITION. LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. TO PROFESSOR SIR JAMES Y. SIMPSON, BART., M.D., D.C.L., &C., &C., THIS TALE, FROM RUSSIAN MILITARY HISTORY, IS INSCRIBED, AS A MEMORIAL OF ADMIRATION AND SINCERE REGARD. PREFACE. I need scarcely inform the reader of history, that most of the events narrated in the subsequent pages actually occurred in the manner stated; and I have done much to soften, or subdue, the actual barbarity of the story, though such barbarity was consonant enough to the days of her, whose "lust of power and contempt of all moral restraint" won her the name of "the Semiramis of the North." For the betrothal of the young Lieutenant of the Valikolutz Infantry to his cousin, it may be mentioned that a dispensation was necessary, as the Russian Church--like the Catholic--forbids all marriages within four degrees of relationship. As stated in the text, the little song of the gipsy is one of many current enough in Russia, where the destruction of the Crescent is always fondly predicted; but never so confidently as during our late Crimean War: and even at this very time, an aged Muscovite, named Alexis Alexandrovitch, after a seclusion of many years in the district of Samara, has come forth as a prophet on the same subject, and is now proceeding from place to place, like another Peter the Hermit, foretelling and preaching the downfall of "the sick man" at Stamboul, and the speedy substitution of the Russian Cross for the Turkish Crescent on the dome of St. Sophia. 26, DANUBE STREET, EDINBURGH. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Lost Traveller CHAPTER II. The Castle of Louga CHAPTER III. Natalie CHAPTER IV. Corporal Podatchkine CHAPTER V. The Dagger of Bernikoff CHAPTER VI. The Palatine CHAPTER VII. The Soldier of the Czarina CHAPTER VIII. In Love CHAPTER IX. Deluded CHAPTER X. The Corporal in his own Trap CHAPTER XI. Olga, the Gipsy CHAPTER XII. St. Petersburg CHAPTER XIII. What the Secret Dispatch contained CHAPTER XIV. Charlie's first day in Schlusselburg CHAPTER XV. The Imperial Prisoner CHAPTER XVI. The Tratkir CHAPTER XVII. The Wood of the Honey Tree CHAPTER XVIII. Doubt and Dread CHAPTER XIX. The Night of the 15th September CHAPTER XX. Morning of the 16th September CHAPTER XXI. Underground CHAPTER XXII Over their Wine CHAPTER XXIII. Will he Succeed? CHAPTER XXIV. Conclusion L'Envoi THE SECRET DISPATCH. CHAPTER I. THE LOST TRAVELLER. "Heaven aid me! here am I now--which way shall I turn--advance or retire?" exclaimed Balgonie, as his horse came plunging down almost on its knees, amid wild gorse and matted jungle.