Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-08

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DCther.
heard in the distance that seemed to
grow more distinct each second. Platoff
threw himself upon his knees and put
his ear to the ground. "As I thought, /"
he exclaimed, "the mounted Cossacks
are coming. They will spread in all di-
rections and carry on the search in
SQUADS Of three and four. Now is the
time to show your speed. Here, give
me a hand, each Of you."
He dashed off again, fairly dragging
his companions with him. Faster and
faster they ran, louder and louder grew
Che trampling Of hoofs in their rear,
and then with a sudden effort they
checked themselves on the bank Of the
Kara.
"Here We arel" exclaimed Platof
fervently. "There is one important
thing in our favor. The direction in
which we must go is the very last one
that will be suspected. But it will be a
terrible ordeal and full Of suffering.
Can you endure it, do you think3"
"What do you mean?" asked Mau-
rice, not quite catching his meaning
"The water" was the reply, "the
icy channel of the river. We must wade
for several miles. 1t is our last and on
ly hope"
Little wonder that the boys recoiled
at this prospect. They were suffering
intensely now from the bitter cold.
PlatofP gave them no time for delibera-
tion.
He plunged sturdily off the bank into
the running water, and they followed
without hesitation. The Kara is river
only in name. The channel is shallow
and not more than 80 yards broad at
the widest part. The water flows swift
ly over a gravel bed and among big
stones that rise in profusion above the
surface. Being fed entirely by noun
tain springs, it never freezes in winter,
though a fringe Of ice forms on the
edges and floating cakes are borne down
with the current. The fugitives waded
into midstream through water waist
deep.
"We must throw these bloodhounds
of the track" said Platoff, "and
think know how to do it.
He led the way across to the other
shore and climbed out on the bank.
"Now come with me-" he said to
Maurice. "No, you stay here, right on
this rock" he added to Phil, who start
ed to follow. 1.-TWO of us will be
enough"
He dashed off at right angles to the
stream and halted 80 or 40 yards from
the bank. Then, still facing forward, he
began to take great strides backward
toward the river, bidding Maurice to do
the same.
"It will appear as though there were
four Of u.s." he remarked, "but no one
will notice that.
"But what will they do when they
come to the end of our tracks3' asked
Maurice.
"They won't wait that long," laugh
ed Platoff. IF they discover that we
have crossed the river at this point,
they will dash off at full speed without
attempting to stick to our footprints. ="
They soon reached the water again,
much to Phil's relief, who could not
imagine what they were trying to do
The mounted pursuers were alarm
ingly close to the river by this time.
Without seconds delay Platoff start
ed up the channel, followed closely by
the boys. Their sufferings were almost
forgotten in the fear of rccapturo. They
pressed forward over the slippery stones,
waist deep at times, but mostly barely
knee deep.
1t was showing so fast and thickly
that only tho merest outlines of the
shores could be seen.
AS Platoff had predicted, tho tramp
of the horses now seemed to come from
various directions, rs though the troop
ers were spreading over tho 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 tho escape.
Before the first Of the horsemen
reached tho river the fugitives were