Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-07

mann on one side or their IRE might hurt
their comrades"
"Then [ will march them up here ?'
eyes, and let them stay close to this
path. / will deploy my men and hold
the TANKS, and remember, the right
flank will begin the firing. No gun is to
be discharged until the signal comes
from there"
Cali right; and Count Borodin says
be careful and not harm the princess"
"Ah the count is In love. Very we'll,
the princess shall not be harmed by me
or mine"
The two men separated, and soon
their respective parties we're posted as
Miloff had directed.
The sun was shining clear and warm.
The leaves, refreshed by the rain, whis-
pered and glistened as the wind went
murmuring through them. The call of
birds and the buzz of insects sounded
among the trees, but beyond this, and
the distant bark of a dog, no sign told of
life. They lay hid among the bushes,
their rifles ready, stern, set look in
their eyes, such as those have who look
death in the face.
AS the light grew, an axe sounded
Lere and there, for Miloff was too wise
to remove all sounds of labor. Then, far
away, rose the sharp roll of drum the
wood echoes carrying it on through the
trees.
Nearer and nearer it came, its gruff
rumbling seeming to carry with it the
reverberations of a steady, mononoton-
GUS tramp, such as body of men make
when moving in concert.
Nearer, and the men lying in the
bushes grasped their rifles and a smoth-
cred flame began to burn in the eyes
that intently watched the road.
For some distance beyond the place
Where the ambuscade lay, the road ran
IN starlight line, and any person NOV
ing In it could be seen for considerable
distance. AS the drum came nearer, a
wolf darted across the read, and went
sneaking off among the trees. Then a
frightened hare scampered along the
thoroughfare, and hawk swooped down
to grasp it, striking the ground heavily
as the hare sprang into the bushes.
Then the drum ceased, and in the
shining fecks of light that shone down
among the morning leaves, cleaned the
bright lines of bayonets, as, rank after
rank, the soldiers of the guard marched
into view.
On they came, their leader at their
head, his eyes YEARLY scanning the road
ahead, and the dense underground that
hanked the way.
But not movement betrayed the foe
that lurked in the shadows; not sound
told of the death SO near.
On, with solid tramp the soldiers
came. They passed the flank of the am
bush. They reached its center. All Twas
still; only the murmurs of the wood, the
steady fall of the soldiers feet.
In the middle ranks of the guard
woman rode. She was beautiful, and
clad IN rich garments, but the misty
look of her eyes, the suppressed sob that
made her bosom rise and fall told that
life had lost some. if not all it's gladness.
But she went on, guiding her horse with
firm hand, looking neither to the right
or lett, for hope was dead in her soul.
The column was nearing the far end
of the ambush, and now, swift as the
lightning fash that speeds across the
face of the storm, a vivid fame shone in
among the bushes, and before the re-
port had sent its echo rod, two hun
dred rifles had sang their song of death.
The officer in command of the guard
was brave and able. Battle and carnage
were not strange to him, and clear and
firm came his order to cover and return
fire.
But this was not what NIiloff desired,
and the next instant he sprang forth,
followed by his men. Then the battle
became bloody and sanguinary one,
for there was the desperation of despair
on one side, and on the other the desire
to avenge fancied wrong.
The blows were strong and sure.
Bayonets clashed, and sword blades
smote each other, but in the melee three
seemingly old men chung close together,
and steadily pressed on toward the prin-
cess. There was marked antagonism
between the actions and looks of these
men, for while their hair and boards
were gray, their arms were strong and
swift, and their blows told fercely on
their foes. The surprise had been COM
plete, and but for the firm control of the
officer commanding, would have been
followed by instant rout. He, however,
was too brave and cool to fail even at
such time, and his cheering words had
! brought his men into respectable bat
4
tie array.
The assault Of Miloff, however, COM
pleted the panic, and though his men
fought, it was too feebly to insure even
a safe retreat.
Miloff, seeing this, sprang toward the
officer, around whom the fight was most
bitter.
Hold" he cried, we.-have won the
day. Surrender, and stop this unneces-
sary bloodshed."
" For my men, accept your offer,
but shall die here Down with your
arms, my comrades; you have done all
you could. AND now, sir traitor, have a
care" and the officer aimed a blow at
Miloff's head.
But the latter was an expert swords
man, and his blade met the descending
sword and wrenched it from its owners
L l. Il I L