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

a report that was instantly succeeded b.
cries of fright and pain-and the riot
GUS mob, quick to recognize the crast
Of artillery, fell into hopeless panic
and fed in confusion. Toward the foul
approaches of the square they surged
shouting, trampling each other under
foot, and still the vengeful cannon sem
its iron messengers tearing among them
Retaining his presence Of mind ant
olinging to Phil with all his might
Maurice was swept into the thick of tht
struggle. Jostled, squeezed and bruised
he was carried, without any effort of hi
own, foot by foot, across the square
Twice he stumbled and gave himself W
for lost, but the press lifted him to hi
feet again, and he held on to his bur
den with renewed hope.
Above the roar Of the people he heart
the whistle of rife balls, for it wal
evident that re-enforcements 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 ant
more frequent, and men began to droI
in all directions.
Twice Maurice shuddered when ht
felt something soft underfoot Will
every nerve strained to it's utmost hi
held his own against the pressure, ex
pecting every moment to be riddlet
with bullets.
Suddenly his foot tripped on some
thing hard, and, taking step upward
he felt the smooth pavement under him
At the same instant there was sting
ing pain in his left arm, and his grasl
on Phil relaxed. He knew he could g
no farther with his burden, and yet tt
remain where be was meant certain
70 his right gloomy building loom
ed indistinctly out of the darkness L
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 force
his way at right angles through th'
mob.
It was almost hopeless task, but h'
stuck to it, bravely pushing the people
right and left with desperate strength
The air was clouded with powde,
smoke, and the guns still pounded un
ceasingly.
Fierce as was the rush of the mob
Maurice fought his way clear across th'
sidewalk, and staggering feebly up (
fight of stone steps dropped in deat
faint on the summit. The ping Of bull
let's brought him to his senses, and h'
sat up to see Phil lying motionless a
his side and a man in convict garl
leaning heavily against the door.
He turned to the boys, and Maurice
recognized Paul Platoff. The fugitive
face was white with pain, and his righ
leg was bound with a crimson bandag'
torn from his overcoat.
"We are safe for the present." h'
said in Russian, pointing to the higf
wooden canopy over the top of the steps
keep low, though, for stray bulle
might strike you"
Maurice nodded gratefully, and i'm
mediately stretched himself at full
length on the topmost step. A glano'
upward showed him high stone build
ing. The windows were tightly CLOSED
with iron shutters, and the door was O
heavy wood with brass trimmings.
Then he turned his attention to th'
street, and at once forgot Phil, Platof
and his wounded arm in the scene be
meath him.
The house where he had taken refug'
was at the entrance to one Of the exit
from the square. By good fortune th'
majority of the rioters had turned II
this direction. 1t had 80 happened tina
the troops approached the square from
all three Of the other entrances, leaving
this one alone unguarded, and now th'
narrow passageway was fast choking ul
with the fleeing fugitives, while
horde of cavalry rode at their heels, sa
bering the wretched creatures as fas
as they could use their weapons. Th'
roar Of artillery and the crack Of rifle
had almost ceased, but the shrieks O
the wounded and the frightened erie
of the others made an Understandable to
multi.
With sad heart Maurice watched
the mass withdrawing foot by foo
through the narrow street, while th'
tramp of hoofs and the glare Of torches
came closer and closer and closer.
Platoff's commanding voice recalled
him to his senses.
"Come," he said, touching Mauric'
on the shoulder. "You are brave lad
watched your heroic struggle through
the crowd. Let us try to escape. If WI
can gain access to this house till th'
square be cleared, have friends wht
will care for us. I am wounded, or
would seek safety there. And he point
ed down at the struggling crowd. Mos
Of this speech Maurice understood, foI
be had by this time acquired a fai'
knowledge of the language. He sat VI
gladly aud turned to Platoff for instruc
tions. The Russian, however, was bend
ing over Phil and wiping the blood from
the boys pallid face Your friend il
not dead" he said. "A fragment o
bomb has grazed his head. He will b.
all right shortly"
Reaching within his blouse, he drew
out tiny flask and put it to Phil's lips
The effect was wonderful. The wound
ed lad opened his eyes and made an ef
fort to sit up. Platoff prorped hin
against the side of the doorway and ther
turned to Maurice. "Look,' he said
"the Cossacks are coming nearer. Theil