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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



their bodies, and at last on their heads, and trampled it down. He 

 stated afterwards that he heard no soimd from them during the opera- 

 tion. 



The misgivings at what had been done affected Madame Kovalefl: 

 and Vitalia differently. The former was sad and doubtful, and felt the 

 responsibility. The latter felt that she must die, and she wanted to 

 die with glory. She was anxious to persuade Madame Kovaleff to die 

 with her. She feared all forms of death except the slow death of 

 starvation. She set the fourth and last act of interment to include 



Theodore Kovaleff. 



herself, for February 21st. The refusal of one old man in the skeet 

 caused a postponement until the 28th. At that time the estate was 

 surrounded by water on account of the spring rise of the Dniester. The 

 police guard left, taking the boats with them, since the people could 

 not escape. An opportunity was thus offered for the fourth interment. 

 Theodore and his half-witted brother, Dimitri, dug a kind of niche in 

 the cellar wall of the house in which the first interment took place. It 

 was 4I/2 feet long, 8 feet wide, and not over 2 feet high. Madame 

 Kovaleff, her son Dimitri, Vitalia, and two of the latter's most intimate 

 confidants crept into this space, bending their heads and drawing up 

 their feet. Theodore replaced the cellar wall. All were in great terror 

 and confusion of mind. The total number who met death was 25. 



