Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?pg=PP7&id=h90BAAAAQAAJ#v
2. Compare this to the American edition: "Vineta, The Phantom City," by E.Werner and translated by Frances A. Shaw.
The border-station lay, as has already been mentioned, only half aleague distant from the frontier, in the midst of some of the thickestplantations on the Wilicza land. The building, which was large and evenhandsome, had been erected by the late Herr Nordeck at noinconsiderable cost; but there was a desolate, decayed look about theplace, nothing whatever having been done towards its preservation orrepair, either by master or tenant, for the last twenty years. Thepresent forester owed his position solely to the Princess Baratowska'sfavour, that lady having taken advantage of the vacancy caused by hispredecessor's death to advance one of her own supporters to the post.Osiecki had now filled it for three years. His frequent encroachmentsand somewhat negligent performance of his duties were altogetheroverlooked by his mistress, because she knew that the forester wasdevoted to her personally, and that she could count on him in anycircumstances. Hitherto, Osiecki had but rarely been brought in contactwith his master, and, on the whole, had followed with fair exactnessthe instructions received from him. Waldemar himself came but veryrarely to the lonely, outlying station. It was only during the last fewweeks that the perpetual conflicts between the foresters and themilitary stationed on the frontier had obliged him to interfere.
It was still to all appearances midwinter. The house and forest stoodladen with snow in the dim light which fell from a heavy overcast sky.The ranger had assembled all his troop--five or six foresters under hisorders, and some woodmen. They were all standing with their guns thrownover their shoulders, evidently waiting for the master's coming; but itcertainly did not look as though they were ready to obey and peaceablyto quit the station, as Waldemar had commanded. The dark defiant facesof the men augured nothing good, and the ranger's appearance fullyjustified the assertion that he was 'capable of anything.' Thesepeople, who lived from year's end to year's end in the solitude of thewoods, were not very punctilious in their notions of duty, cared littlefor either law or order; and Osiecki especially was notorious for theliberty of action he allowed himself, following generally thepromptings of his own arbitrary will.
Nevertheless, they as yet preserved a respectful attitude, for beforethem stood the young Countess Morynska. She had thrown back her mantle.Her beautiful face betrayed nothing of the struggle and torture she hadgone through but an hour or two ago; it was only very grave