Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-25

sword and bayonet the excited mob who
pressed against them.
Amid all this tumult the convicts
maintained the same sullen demeanor,
some gazing stupidity on the ground,
others carelessly scanning the faces OF
the people.
Directly behind Maurice and Phil
stood middle aged man, with light
beard and mustache. He had accompa.
MED the party from Tomsk, and his
name was Paul Platoff. This was all
that the boys knew concerning him, for,
although his refined appearance had
tempted them on more than one occasion
to make his acquaintance, the recollec-
tion of their previous experience always
checked them in the act. Turning half
round, Maurice saw that this Platof
was gazing into the crowd, with an ex-
preston of intense excitement on his
features. Had he recognized some
friend or acquaintance among the peo-
pie, or was he meditating sudden es-
cape, basing his hopes on the hostile at
titude displayed toward the soldiers
and the murmurs of pity for the fetter-
ed convicts?
AS these thoughts passed through
Maurice's mind the command to march
was thundered out by the officer, and
the head of the line began to straggle
through the now sundered ranks Of the
procession.
As the men in front of him began to
move Maurice turned for another look
at Platoff, and Oh that very instant the
convict sprang from the line, wrenched
the gun from the grasp Of the nearest
soldier and, swinging it savagely round
his head, plunged in among the people,
who made no effort to prevent his es-
cape.
Quick as was this daring deed, it did
not escape the guards, and half dozen
Cossacks, from as many different points
along the line, raised their rifles and
fired at Platoff's retreating form, ignor-
ing the people entirely in their eager
ness to arrest the fugitive. The scene
that ensued terrified the boys Cries of
pain followed the rife fire, and as the
smoke partially cleared four motionless
bodies were seen lying in the dusty
road. Paul Platoff was not among
them. He had vanished in the crowd.
The sight Of these innocent victims
changed the hostile feelings of the peo-
pie to o furor of madness
A Russian mob is always merciless
and cruel, always regards soldier or a
gendarme as born enemy, and now,
with shouts of rage that were caught
up and re-echoed from every corner of
the square, the riotous peasantry closed
in on the little group of exiles and sol.
diers
For an instant swords and bayonets
flashed, and the foremost Of the rioters
perished by cold steel, but those behind
pressed on more furiously than ever.
The situation became critical in the
extreme The troops, few in number as
it was, were scattered along the lines,
and, being unable to concentrate, were
wholly at the mercy Of the mob. The
tumult was deafening, and with the
savage and frenzied yells of the rabble
mingled the occasional crack Of rife
or clash of steel Up in front the ad-
vance guard of Cossacks were making a
brave stand, and the rear guard, too,
were apparently holding their own,
but along the struggled line the soldiers
were going down one by one, and mis-
siles of every description were falling
thickly among the panic stricken con-
victs.
Something round and black, with a
smoking fuse, fell at Maurice's feet
"Backl Back!' be cried, frantically
clutching Phil by the shoulder, and as
they turned to fee terrific explosion
shook the ground and red fash briefly
lit up the scene of carnage.