The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-03
CHAPTER X.
sToRMING THE WRONG CITADEL.


The explosion of the bomb-for such
it undoubtedly was-threw Maurice
with stunning force to the ground, and
when he staggered to his feet, dizzy and
blinded, he believed at first that he was
badly injured.
When the smoke and dust cleared par
tally, he forgot his own pain in the
misery around him. Two or three of
the convicts lay on the ground grooming
piteously. The bomb had done dreadful
execution, and not among those for
whom it was intended, for the guards
had escaped the flying fragments of
iron and glass.
Phil lay among the injured, his face
and hair stained with blood. Maurice
bent over him in alarm.
"Phil, Phil" he cried, "speak to
me. Are you hurt?" Then, as no an
swer came, he seized the wounded boy
in his arms and staggered backward
with his burden.
The excitement had now reached the
highest pitch. The mob, inflamed still
more by the unintentiona1 injury done
the exiles, pressed forward against the
few remaining soldiers. The whole
square was jammed with the furious
combatants. The Cossacks fought well,
using bayonet and saber with deadly
effect, but against such desperate num-
bers their bravery was of no avail, and
many of them fell under the volley of
cobblestones, clubs, bricks and what
other missiles the rioters could lay their
hands ON.
The rapid approach of darkness made
Vie scene still more dreadful, and as
abe prisoners realized their situation
and saw the discontinue of their guards
many of them broke from the lines and
vanished in the crowd.
The intense excitement gave to Maui
rice almost superhuman strength, and
Phil's unconscious body seemed an easy
burden as he bore it tenderly into the
center of the lines, where the chance of
safety from the flying missiles was best.
There he paused irresolutely for mo-
ment. The sullen roar of the mob rang
in his ears, an occasional red flash lit
up the gloom, and the terror stricken
WTttCutS dIOuut Illu WtIo W
flee i'll all directions.
No attempt was made to check them.
The few remaining soldiers were busily
engaged in fighting for their lives.
As Maurice still hesitated whether to
remain where he was or to trust to the
tender mercies of the mob the situation
changed with appalling suddenness. A
60
q report that was instantly succeeded by
cries of fright and pain-and the riot
Gus mob, quick to recognize the crash
of artillery, fell into hopeless panic
and fled in confusion. Toward the four
approaches of the square they surged,
shouting, trampling each other under
foot, and still the vengeful cannon sent
its iron messengers tearing among them.
Retaining his presence of mind and
clinging to Phil with all his might,
Maurice was swept into the thick of the
struggle. Jostled, squeezed and bruised,
he was carried, without any effort of his
own, foot by foot, across the square.
Twice he stumbled and gave himself up
for lost, but the press lifted him to his
! feet again, and he held on to his bur-
den with renewed hope.
Above the roar of the people he heard
the whistle of riflb s'alls, for it was
evident that endorsements had ar
rived and were firing recklessly into the
mob. The troops seemed bent on slaugh-
tering as many of the rioters as posi-
BILE, for the shooting became louder and
more frequent, and men began to drop
in all directions.
Twice Maurice shuddered when he
felt something soft underfoot. With
every nerve strained to its utmost he
held his own against the pressure, ex'
pecting every moment to be riddleo
with bullets.
Suddenly his foot tripped on some
thing hard, and, taking a step upward
he felt the smooth pavement under him.
At the same instant there was a sting
ing pain in his left arm, and his grasI
on Phil relaxed. He knew he could e
no farther with his burden, and yet Il
remain where he was meant certain
death.
To his right gloomy building loom
ed indistinctly out Of the darkness. i
he could only cross the sidewalk ant
reach that, he might find place of ref
uge till the danger was past.
Summoning all his strength and still
grasping Phil with his wounded arm
in spite Of the pain, he began to fore
his way at right angles through tn
mob.
i II. was almost a. hopeless task, but b