San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-14

deed for their secure refuge. The time
passed monotonously, it is true, but
they had plenty to eat and were COM
fortably warm. Melted snow supplied
them with water.
On the fourth day the weather
changed, becoming clear and cold.
From the ledge it was possible to see
across the valley to the settlement. The
prison and many of the houses were in
plain view, but at such distance all
seemed peaceful and serene.
Late that afternoon, before the sun
went down, Platoff pointed to two
dark spots approaching the prison from
different directions.
"They are mounted Cossacks return
ing from the search, he said confident
ly.tt". 1t will soon be safe for us to
leave. - ..a.,
"But will they give up the pursuit
entirely?'' inquired Phil.
Eyes, SO far as concerns the soldiers
in garrison at the mines, answered
Platoff. "Of course our escape, with
full descriptions, has been telegraphed
all over Siberia, and at every village
and posting station they will be on the
lookout for us, but we will keep away
from all such dangerous places; trust
me for that. y
The change in Platoff 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 Accordingly 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
a drizzling rain coming down steadily.
This puts an end to all pursuit that
may still be going on, said Platoff.
at is impossible for horsemen to trav-
ell through the slushy snow. Today we
will spend in packing up and preparing
for the start. F"
"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
unfulfilled 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 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-
element. A steady tramp, tramp was
ringing in his ears-the din of the pur-
suing Cossacks-and ever and anon ri
fles cracked sharply and the whistling
bullets Kissed overhead. But suddenly
the plain vanished, and a 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, orashl They
toppled over the edge. Then came a
/ WIN III Alo anu q httuu Ol
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 Lora?''
he asked.
''Ah, you have been dreaming" said
Platoff, with a merry laugh. "Come
out to the ledge. Did 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, as far as the eye could
reach, hillside, valley and plain spar
killed. like myriads of diamonds.
"The cold is intense" remarked Pla-
toff, "but it has done us good service.
An icy crust has formed on 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 shutdown we
will be off-off for Vladivostok and
freedom.
The brave Russian S 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 fugitives. The provisions
of which a considerable supply remain
ed--were divided into packages, one TO
each man.
Platoff took one of the revolvers anC
} the belt of rlbles, giving the other re
yolver to Maarice and the knife to Phil
The Cossack uniform and the prison
clothes, which might have done gooC
service in case of cold or wet, they weru
compelled to leave in the cavern. T,
take them along would have imperileS
their safety and afforded a sure mean
Of Identification. All day long Platof
lay at the cavern's month watching th