Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-11

Then followed compact bodies Of in.
fantry, Finland chasseurs and the Ri-
ants Of the Paul regiment with massive
copper hats, marching sharply to avoid
the hordes Of cavalry who were crowd.
ing at their heels, red hussars, grena
diers, lancers and swarms Of Cossacks
on their shaggy ponies.
They haslened on toward their quar-
ters, and a. the last Cossack anbled
through the arch battery of artillery
charged into the square from the other
extremity.
Maurice watched the approaching
group with eager interest They clat
tered past the Alexander column, the
fiery black chargers curveting and
prancing to the music Of the band, and
as they drew near the arch an officer.
superbly uniformed and mounted, gal
loped into the square almost beside the
sleigh where the boys sat.
The horse slipped on the smooth trod-
den snow and plunged heavily to the
ground, bearing his rider with him and
pinning him firmly from the waist
downward directly in the track Of the
rumbling cannons.
One loud cry burst from the startled
spectators, and the artillery horses,
scared at the uproar, bore madly down
on the helpless officer, lost to all re-
straint.
Maurice took in the situation at
glance-the frightened people on the
sidewalks, the mounted Cossacks before
the sleigh, who seemed petrified with
horror, and the rapidly advancing ar
tillery.
He sprang to the ground, and in three
leaps reached the luckless officers side.
Grasping him under the arms, he pull
ed with all his might, once, twice, and
as the rortly form yielded he spraDg
back with his burden from under the
very hoofs Of the snorting horses and
sank down on the trampled snow. The
heavy cannon passed within an inch Of
his feet, and then, with a sickening
crunch, the wheels rolled over the fall
en- steed.
Eager hands lifted them to their feet,
and shouting mob surged around on
all sides.
The officer, who was apparently unin-
jured, tore loose from the Cossacks, who
were brushing his uniform, and seizing
Maurice in his arms implanted a kiss
fairly upon his lips, talking volubly all
the while in Russian. He was noble
looking man, with a light wavy beard
and mustache.
II can't speak Russian" Maurice
finally stammered in despair.
"Hap cried the officer joyously.
"You are English. I speak your lam
guage too. That was q noble deed.
These base towards here were too alarm
ed to move. To whom do owe my
life?" And he thrust card into Mau-
rice's hands.
At that moment bareheaded man,
wearing the garb Of one Of the palace
servants, pushed forward and momenta-
rily attracted the officers attention.
On the same instant pair of strong
arms were thrown about Maurice, and
be was forcibly dragged through the
crowd and lifted into the sleigh.
Ivan Tambcr-for it was he-shouted
to the driver, and before Maurice could
recover breath to speak the sleigh had
passed out Of the square, and the horses
were galloping swiftly through the
crowded street
Maurice turned to the Russian.
"What did you do that for?" he ex-
claimed Indignantly.
Ivan Tambor stared him full in the
eyes, with an expression OH his face that
made Maurice ahiver.
"It was necessary" he said briefly.
ave should have been arrested. Private
sleighs are not allowed in the square
during review" "
II don't believe what he says"
whispered Phil when the Russians
back was turned. II mistrust that man,
Maurice. You should have seen how
savage be looked when you dragged
that officer out Of danger. wonder
who he was?"
II have his card" whispered Mau-
rice, "but I don't intend to risk taking
it out here. Ivan don't know l have it. !"
Little did Maurice imagine when he
acted on that resolve what an important
bearing that deed was destined to have
upon future events.
The short winter day was nearly over
when they reached Vladimir Saradof's
mansion, and the dim, coppery sun was
slanting on the gilded domes and CROSS
es of the imperial city.
Dinner was served in solitary state,
fitting accompaniment to the magnifi-
cence which the boys had just witnessed.
Walters attired in European full dress
supplied tf sm with curious Russian
dishes, and all the while Ivan Tambor
stood motionless in corner of the room.
"His excellency your uncle wishes
YOU to start for Moscow at o'clock in
The morning." he said to Maurice when
the boys bad returned to the library.
"Do you prefer to retire early or shall
I escort you to the Italian opera!"
II don't care anything about the op-
era for my part" said Maurice, "but
should like very much to see the city
by night. What do you say, PHILIP
"Splendid," rejoined his friend.
Ivan shrugged his shoulders, gave an
order to q servant who answered the
bell, and in ten minutes the sleigh was
again at the door.
They drove for miles through the
dimly lighted streets, finally passing
out on the frozen Neva and speeding
far down toward the gulf of Finland on
the smooth crust.
AS they were returning through one
of the spacious streets leading into the
Neyskoi Prospekt a man in fur coat and