Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-29

sistance Of the Tunguses we can do nothing
We count 500 men. We cannot use the fly
| ing ferry at the station. Therefore, W
must wait for Ienar. He will keep hi
word; he is not civilized man, and on tina
account trust him. Patience, my friends
Tonight we need not fearl"
"Bgt if we should be attacked before sun
set?" asked Ivan.
"Then we must defend ourselves" replied
Miller. Nothing, however, indicates al
attack. We can control from here the whole
country for three miles around. Our out
posts are trustworthy and on the alert
tunately for us, General Moski is absent
And now, men, leave me moment alone;
have to speak to Count Lanin."
The exiles obeyed, and the two old friend:
were alone. Both sat down on the soft turi
under giant oak.
"Have you forgiven me, vladimir" asked
Miller.
"Miller, how can you ask? You have
saved my life. That thought absorbs aH
others. Only tell me what you intend to
do"
THAT depends upon circumstances. First
of all l must cross the Angara, to put the
river between us and Schelm. do not fear
him, to be sure, but want to know you are
in safety. Look at that station; my eyes
are fixed upon that point. From thence
Ienar-kus is to come with 100 boats to carry
us across to the other bank. Then we are
safe."
"And then we surely 60 to Chinai Now
the whole story of that document of which
you told me, has no meaning any longer.
Yesterday was innocent; to-day 1 am in
rebellion. Even # Jana has been success
Jul, 1 shall have to remain in exile. I want,
on that account, to get across the frontier as
soon as possible, and forever bid adieu to
my fstherland."
"Alasl think as you do. First. how
ever, we must have our revenge. L shall
not leave Russia till have made my enc
mics tremble."
"Miller, beseech you-p'
mot another word, vladimir I warrant
your freedom, and shall carry you across the
frontier; then we shall never meet again.
You are not armed, 1 believe ?''
"Oh, yesl But why should I? Beyond
the frontier shall need no arms"
"Who knows? We NAV have to fight
battle first With whom you ask. With
the garrison of Irkutsk %
Then shall also need no arms, for do
not mean to fight against the Gar and his
soldiers"
"Would you rather be caught and beaten
to death 2" asked Miller, with a savage
laugh.
81 shall flee as fast and as far as can, but
l shall never take part in a battle against
the Gear r.
Miller suddenly sprang up, seeing man
hurrying up the hill on which they were
sitting. 1t was one of the exiles who came,
quite out of breath, to bring the evil news
that the enemy was approaching. and that
In an hour the battle would begin.
Then we must de'end ourselves" said
Miller. "I foresaw this"
"a hundred mep to the edge of the forestl
They must check the enemy. Ivan, carry
the order. You there watch the river and
give warning as soon as you see the boats
coming. Let some one get rifle for Brother
Lanin."
"By no means. have told you will
not fight against the Gear. I am under your
protection, that is all.
Now began a scattered fire of tirailleurs.
Hidden among the trees and shrubs the ex-
lies received the regulars with hail of
balls. The detachment of Cossacks amazed
at this sudden explosion, stopped moment,
but as from their low place near the river
they could see nothing of what was going on
beyond, they trotted rapidly up to the little
white house. This they surrounded, while
the room.
A quarter of an hour later Miller's de-
came down like an avalanche,
upon the station. Suddenly their leader
uttered desperate cry. He had now only
seen the 20 Cossacks who had held the bank
of the river. For the bed OF the Angara
lies deep between steep rocks; the post sta
ton itself is built against rock, and hardly
two men can pass between the rocky wall
and the house. Thus the exiles could not
reioin their comrades on the other side of
the house nor could they, from where they
were, reach the boats. The Cossacks barred
the way.
1--WE must not be stopped here!" cried
Miller, furiously. "We must sell our lives
as dear as possible. At them, children! 1t
is matter of life and death nowp'
Despair doubled the strength of the e1-
lies. Besides, they were 100 against but 20
Cossacks. They rushed down upon them
and created boundless confusion. At first
the Cossacks tried to defend themselves, but
the exiles fell upon them in ever increasing
numbers, as the regulars from town drove
them down to the river. Before them they
saw the boats and the Tunguses, and this in
creased their valor. The Cossacks fell, one
after the other, and at last the road was open.
In the meantime, however. the firing had
also become more lively, and large numbers
Of fugitives came running down from the
forest. Miller was near the station house,
and cried:
"Now quick into the boats. No fearl No
menl Well protect your rear
and keep the enemy in check. Vladimir,
get in! Farewell, perhaps we shall never
meet againp'
"Do you think me coward? told you
[ could not fight with you, but that does not
mean that L shall leave you."
care you mad?"
Enough Miller. You will not make
me think differently, and will not leave
you."
"well, the times are not such that we
should vie with each other in generosity.
Do what, you like"
Every station house contains ordinarily
two rooms, which are separated from each
other by passage about six feet wide. On
the right hand is the Office of the imperial
post on the lett room tor travellers.
Miller opened the door to the passage;
through the house it led down to the river.
"Ten men into the Office" Miller ordered,
;and let them watch from the window the
path down to the Angara.
"Ienap he then called. after tearing open
The door,
II am awaiting your ordersp answered
he voice of the fungus from below. "Make
haste, hear the balls whistle"
cat onceP" replied Miller.
In close ranks the exiles pushed throu Oh
he passage and jumped as soon as they
reached the river into the boats.
death to every man who leaves the
-anks," cried Miller. Then he wanted to
enter the rooms of the travellers, but found it
not only locked. but apparently barricaded
rom within