The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-07
A TIN SOLDIER.

| The c0mrnandant OF Fort Matthias
Pushk!n stood on tho battlelnents scAh-
ping the horizon anxiously.
Away off in the east, where the great
Siberian plain met the sky, outlined
against the blue as they moved upon tho
top of little rise, could be seen strange
procession Of huge hemispherical objects,
toiling along like train OF monster tur-
ties.
It was a horde OF Bashkird Tartars,
with their travelling house tents. Ivan,
the courier of Orenburg, had been right
The Bashkird Tartars had revolted against
The Russian rule and were coming TO at
tack Fort Matthias Pushlxin.
The governor Of the province bad placed
such great trust I'm their allegiance that
company after company Of the three regi-
ments which once formed the garrison OF
1 Matthias Pushkin had been withdrawn,
l till only four companies remained-barely
enough 10 man the three exposed sides of
| the fort, for the southern wall needed no
defenders, abutting upon the top OF very
high, inaccessible sandstone bluff that
rose directly from the bed of the river
now almost dry In the heat of summer,
but a swollen torrent in the winter.
The fieldpieces of the fort were placed
in the embrasures, boxes OF ammunition
were opened and cartridges distributed,
muskets cleaned and put in order.
Back in the foothills of the mountains
three years before some masses OK tin had
been discovered, and forthwith costly ap
plianccs were brought TO the out Of the
way place, and great shafts were sunk.
From the first tin taken out Of the mine
life size statue OF a soldier was cast and
set up in the parade ground of the fort.
81. al
which had entered into the composition OF
the soldier none was ever found In the
mine.
AT 10 O'Clock the scouts returned and re-
ported that the Tartar troops were moving
toward the fort in dead silence.
When the troops werc all on the ram
parts, Major Podonoff determined TO see
IL he could make the enemy betray their
whereabouts by sending a shell ia their
midst.
He was standing by the largest how
itzer in the fort, lanyard in hand, when
the old ordnance sergeant touched him on
the arm.
mime. Podonoh desires you 10 send
soldier TO stand guard in the hallway. She
Is afraid TO be alone there with her two
little girls and the little Alexis"
What can she be afraid Off" asked the
major testify. THE house Is on the edge
OF the bluff, and there can DC no attack ON
that side"
"She would like Andrew Bielsky TO he
the guard. She knows him to be IA trusty
man.
"Bielsky, our best cannonecr' He Is
needed here, as well as every other man.
Alexis is 10 years old. Give him a musket
and let him stand guard. The tin soldier
Is the only soldier OF the garrison of Mat
thias Pushkin who is not on the ramparts
Take him to be guard for Nine. Podo-
notf." Booml went the howitzer. The
she'll hurtlcd through the air and burst,
but no sound Of Tartar shrieks or shouts
followed its explosion.
With much humping and humping the
tin soldier was placed in the corner of the
hallway by the front door.
Nine. Podonoff heard tho noise, and
leaning over the stair rail looked down in
to the dimly lighted hall.
what Is it?" she asked
"A soldier, mistress, to stand guard"
replied the sergeant
is it Andrew Biclskyf"
mo, mistress, IL is another soldier, but |
he has a stout heart, replied the sergeant. |
In the parlor sat Alexis Podonotf, read |
ing. lt was long past his usual bedtime;
but occupied in calming the fears of the
two little girls, his mother had forgotten
him, and, boylikc, he never went TO bed
until told 10 do so.
At last he finished his story and leaned
back In his chair.
He heard a slight rustling sound in tho
next room, and opening the door discov-
cred the Tartar maidservant Kasya, haul
ing from a closet n rope ladder which was 4
one of his most cherished possessions
The PodonoiI house had been built in a
space that was made by removing part of
the southern wall of the fort. The house
filed the space and really form
cd part of tho wall. The rear piazza ex
tended TO the top Of tho bluff.
what are YOU doing with my rope lad
lerF" asked Alexis angrily.
u shall tell your mother IL you don't go
right to bed. She viii make you go and
punish you, too, for sitting up so late"
Alexis begged her not TO tell his moth
r. but the girl would not rolent. SO he
vent back into the parlor, turned down
,hc lamp, stepped into the hall and en-.
sconced himself behind the tin soldier.
An hour passed. He heard stealthy steps
n the next room, aud thinking that it
vas Kasya coming TO send him TO bed no
He heard the sound of heavy breathing
md -saX-Lhe- -shoek=aead-n -nf n Tstrtar war
ior peer into the hall. The head turned.
Is little piglike eyes fell on the tin sol
ier, and it quickly drew back.
llinutes passed, and then he saw n hand,
md in the hand "a knife, resting on the
oorsill, and thea another hand, and then
he head and body Of the Tartar creeping
trough tho door.
Silently, slowly the Tartar crept along
He half arose, drew back his arm. ready
D strike, when "A shrek burst on the air
Alexis leapcd from his hiding place.
The tin soldier, disturbed 10y the sudden
loyement, tottcrcd and fell upon the
necling Tartar.
Alexis bounded through the outer door,
nd IN response TO his cries soldiers came
urrying mp. Dark figures were issuing
'om the doors and windows Of the Podo-
of house. The place was full of 1artars.
he Russians fought them hand TO hand
nd pushed :hem back through the house