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

me for that"
The change in PlatoR during the
last few days had been marvellous. He
actually seemed to have grown taller,
and the weary, hopeless expression had
departed from his face, leaving it bright
and sparkling with animation. His
taciturn, moody disposition was gone,
and he beguiled the weary hours spent
in the cavern with tales and incidents
that were absorbingly interesting to
the boys. Thus the time went swiftly
by, and they woke on the sixth morn
ing to find the air mild and damp and
o drizzling rain coming dow. steadily.
"This puts an end to all pursuit that
may still be going on, ;" said Platof.
"It is impossible for horsemen to trav-
ell through the slushy snow. Today we
will spend in packing up and preparing
for the start. "
but how can we travel better than
horses in such weather." asked Maurice.
"Wait till tomorrow" said Platoff
knowingly. "There may be change"
The Russians prediction was still
unfulflled when evening came, but
some time during the night Maurice
woke and sat up shivering. Outside he
heard the wind roaring, and cold air
was drifting down the cavern's mouth.
Wrapping some of the abandoned clothes
about him, he fell asleep again. Then
he began to dream. He was riding on
horseback over a snowy plain that
stretched far in the distance. By his
side, mounted on a black horse, was
Lora Melikoff, her dark hair streaming
In the wind, her cheeks aglow with ex-
citement. A steady tramp, tramp was
ringing in his ears-the din Of the plr-
suing Cossacks-and ever and anon RI
fes cracked sharply and the whistling
bullets hissed overhead. But suddenly
the plain vanished, and q great black
gulf was before them. Faster and fast
er sped the horses, still closer came the
awful chasm, and now they were tread
ing on the brink. Crash, crash! They
toppled over the edge. Then came
ringing voice in his ear and hand on
his shoulder:
"Come, get up. The morning has
come and the rain is over"
Maurice sat erect, rubbing his eyes
with his fists. "Lora-where is Lora2"
he asked.
"Ah, you have been dreaming" said
Platoff, with merry laugh. "Come
out to the ledge. Did I not predict a
change in the weather? Well, it is al
ready here, and tonight we may bid
farewell to our cavern"
He led the boys to the opening, and
the first touch Of the cold, piercing air
made them shiver. A cry Of astonish-
ment burst from their lips. The sky
was intensely blue and clear, and in
the sunlight, az far as the eye could
reach, hillside, valley and plain spar
kled like myriads Of diamonds.
"The cold is intense" remarked Pla-
toff, "but it has done Us good service.
An icy crust has formed Oh the snow
overnight that will bear us. At the
same time it is not strong enough for
horsemen. Our opportunity for escape
could not be better. At sundown we
will be off-off for Vladivostok and
freedom.
The brave Russian g voice shook with
emotion, and a tear triokled slowly
down his cheek. Brief as that day real
ly was, it seemed an eternity to the
impatient fugitiyes. The provisions
Of which considerable supply remain
ed-were divided into packages, one for
each man.
PlatoR took one of the revolvers and
the belt of rubles, giving the other re-
volver to Maurice and the knife to Phil
The Cossack uniform and the prison
clothes, which might have done good
service in case Of cold or wet, they were
compelled to leave in the cavern. To
take them along would have imperiled
their safety and afforded sure means
Of Identification. All day long Platoff
lay at the cavern's mouth watching the
valley.
Not a creature came that way, and
when the setting sun was succeeded by
misty twilight he gave the word to
start
Slowly and deliberately they climb
ed from the ledge to the top Of the hill,
and standing in the shadow Of the sew
en- pine trees glanced back at the dark.
ening valley with its dread associations.
"Forwardr' cried Platoff, and turn
ing to the southeast they crossed the
ridge and went with cautious steps
down the slope beyond.
Alternately sliding and crawling they
gained the valley and travelled for an
hour or more over the frozen crust.
Then hill loomed darkly before them,
and an hour later they reached it's crest.
weary and footsore.
"There!" exclaimed Platoff with a
wave Of the hand. "Behold the valley
of the Amurl" And glancing down the
long frozen slopes the boys saw vaguely
and dimly the great water highway
that flows to the far Pacific, now chat
ing and fretting under its icy fetters.
For some minutes they stood thus
strangely fascinated by the splendor OF
the night.
Then the impressive silence was dis
turbed by sharp cry from Platof-a
cry that echoed swiftly down the valley
from peak to peak, as though giants
were signaling each other.
Mann coNrrNupD