The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-08
come to the end of our traoksq" asked

come to the end Of our traoksp" asked
Maurice.
They won't wait that long" laugh
cd Platof. IF they discover that we
have crossed the river at this point,
they will dash off ~ full speed without
attempting to stick TO our footprints."
They soon reached to wssor again.
much to Pills relief, Who could rot
Imagine what they were trying 70 do
The mounted pursuers were alarm
ingly close to the river BY this time.
without seconds delay Plato6 start
ed up the channel. followed closely by
the boys. Their suffexiags were almost
forgotten In the fear Of recapture. They
pressed forward over the slippery stones.
waist deep at times. but mostly barely
knee deep. ~
1t was showing 80 fast and thickly
that only the merest outlines OF the
shores could be seen.
AS Platoff had predicted, the tramp
OF the horses now seemed to. come from
various directions, as though the troou-
ers were spreading over Che plain.
A stray light was visible here and
there, and occasionally the cannon
doomed above the noise of the water,
spreading farther and farther the news
OF the escape.
Before the first Of Che horsemen
reached the river the fugitives were
some distance up stream, and it was
impossible to tell whether their tracks
were discovered or not. At times the
sounds Of ths pursuit seemed to die out
In the distance, only to return closer
than before Beyond doubt the Cos
sacks were ON both sides of the stream,
and the general location of the fugitives
seemed to be suspected, for the horse
men could be heard galloping to and
fro within limited space.
The darkness Of the night and the
driving snowstorm placed the odds
against the pursuers
"They will never think of looking
for rs In the water" remarked PlatoR.
1--WE are safe here II we can only hold
out"
That was formidable "n." howev-
or, and the sufferings which the boys
endured that night they will never for
get. Toiling painfully from rock to
rock, they crept up stream through an
icy current At first the pain was ago
nizing, but presently their limbs were
benumbed and weak, and they found it
difficult to move. Sometimes they crept
out on big rocks and stamped up and
down or rubbed their legs with their
aching hands until they were able to
proceed again. Several times mounted
soldiers passed close by along the shore,
and the fugitives bent low among the
stones until the danger was over. Not
a murmur escaped Platoff's lips
He went resolutely forward. seeking
out the easiest channel and showing the
boys the way. The force Of his example
helped them to endure their sufferings
with comparative fortitude. For two
hours they marched up the bed of the
river, stopping for short intervals Of
rest. The immediate danger seemed to
be past. Occasional sounds Of pursuit
still fioated up the valley, but NO horse
men had approached for long time,
and the lights Of the prison had Dong
since vanished. -.....-@
It was a joyful moment when PiatotY
announced the mines were close ut
hand, and his prediction was verified
ten minutes later when the sharp ridge
of the hill appeared before them. They
scrambled out of the water and started
in single file up the slope past the very
spot where Lora Melikoff had been hid
den during the eventful interview. The
snow was knee deep, but had ceased
falling. On the top Of the ridge PlatofY
halted and pointed to the distant Lights
of the settlement three miles away. II
have entered that prison for the hast
time," he said impressively, land dome
my last days work in yonder mines. ]
will never be taken back alive
He was silent for moment, and then
In a more cheerful tone he resumed:
"But it is time to seek the cave. We
must journey two miles along this
ridge"
won't our tracks in the snow be
asked Maurice as they
started briskly of. t.
lit will soon snow again, answered
Piatoff, land fill up our tracks beyond
all discovery. Between now and then
1t is not likely that any Of our pursuers
will visit the mines.
The truth of this statement was read
lily apparent, and the boys followed
their leader with lighter hearts than
they had known for many months
rapidly to restore the ciroula-
ton TO their benumbed limbs. The way
was rough and stony, but Platof press
ed on without stopping, and finally
paused by the side q hinge rock.
"Yonder are the pine trees" he said,
pointing ahead. lit must be the place,
for / have noted the spot while march
ing to the mines, and they are the only
trees on this ridge"