BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 43
Almost immediately a little group of anxious people had gathered round them, mostly Jews, though there were several mujiks in their sheepskin jackets standing in the roadway.
" What shall I do ? " Anna exclaimed, pressing her hand upon her heart, and trying to prevent herself from uttering a cry of anguish.
" Go to the Governor," said a neighbor, " ana fling yourself at his feet; the rabbi is condemned to the knout ! "
" Oh, great God ! " gasped the wretched girl. " Oh, Father in heaven, thou wilt not desert him, Thy servant ! Oh, merciful God."
She staggered, and would have fallen, but for the old man who had been the first to accost her.
Almost as suddenly as she had given way she seemed to recover herself.
" This is no time for tears," she said, wiping her face with her handkerchief, "what shall I do? Advise me, friend."
She addressed the old man, who, leaning upon his staff, surveyed the scene with much apparent composure.
" There is only one way," exclaimed the neighbor who had previously spoken ; " the Governor is in your father's house, go to him, plead for the rabbi, offer all the money you have for his release, make any bargain, but waste no time ! "
" You are right," said the girl ; " I will go."
Without another word she pushed her way through the throng, and hurried homewards, to meet the terrible pro- cession. The old man was at her elbow, so also were several of her neighbors. Seeing Losinski, Anna rushed in among the soldiers and flung herself upon their prisoner ; only, however, to be thrust back again among her friends.
" Oh, my love ! " she cried. " Merciful God ! will no one protect us ? "
