Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-11

Platoff. "That was perilous trip. "
And be pointed to the sharp cliff 20 feet
above them over which the sleds had
plunged.
"'All's we'll that ends we'll, ," re-
piled Maurice. II wonder if we lost
anything on the way" Nothing was
missing, however, and, after brief
rest, all were ready for the start. A sue
cession of slight hills and ra,lnes now
separated the party from the river.
"Somewhere below us lies the post
road" said Platoff. "It will not be
safe to approach any nearer. We must
keep back along the edge Of the valley.
Our ride down hill has given us big
start. We can gain safe hiding place
before daylight"
The journey was resumed IN single
file, Platof assuming the lead, and for
hours they travelled over slippery ridges
and through dark, thickly wooded hol-
lows. The cold was intense, but they
moved at too rapid pace to suffer from
it. At the first appearance of dawn
Platoff cast his eyes about for a hiding
place, and finally chose deep, secluded
valley with forest of spruce and fir
on all sides. They slept at intervals
during the day, and in spite of the risk
fire was kept up and fed with branch
es from the trees. One of the party re-
NAMED constantly on guard. At night
the journey was resumed over the hard
crust
For nearly two weeks the weather re-
mained pretty much the same, and the
fugitives made satisfactory progress.
They kept far back from the river, and
although they frequently saw wolves at
distance and heard them bowling
among the hills the brutes made no at
tempt to modest them. No signs of pur-
suit were encountered, and with each
nights journey they felt more hopeful
Of ultimate escape.
It was now early in the month of
March-a whole year since the boys
had first crossed the Russian frontier.
Their main sufferings had been from
cold, but they were cheered by the hope
of warmer weather. In month or
more, Platoff said, spring would come,
and their discomforts would then be
over. By great economy the supply of
provisions had been made to last, but
now, in the beginning Of the third week
of their fight, barely enough food was
left to last them two days, and the fu-
ture outlook was dark.
The day had been spent in hiding at
the foot of q rocky hill. Water was
close by-a mountain spring that was
too cold and rapid to freeze. At sunset
Platoff shared with the boys scant
supper of bread and dried meat.
Tomorrow, he said, "we must OBJ
tain food in some way. If we do not
succeed in shooting any deer, extreme
measures will be necessary. shall en-
deavor to find village and buy pro-
visions"
"Are there people living near here?"
asked Maurice.
"Oh, yes," replied Platoff; "Siberian
towns are scattered all along the post
ing route, at distant intervals, of
course We have seen nothing of them
because we have kept far back in the
forest. 1t may not be necessary, though,
to take any such risks. Who knows
what G.y may bring with it?'
Platoff spoke thus hopefully to en-
courage the bows. In his own heart the
prospect was gloomy enough, and there
fore what happened in the course of the
next few hours was all the greater a
surprise.
They travelled rapidly that night,
covering mile after mile OF forest land
and hearing constantly the bowling OF
wolves in different directions. The ac-
counts of the ferocity Of Siberian
wolves, however, are greatly exagger-
ated. 1t is seldom that they attack men,
and the government sleighs that trav-
else the post road have never been mo-
Tested.
Hereafter" said Platoff, 81 think
we will sleep at night and travel in the
daytime. The risk will be little greater,
and we can make much better speed.
''That will be splendid, said Mau-
rice. "It always makes me weary to
hear the wolves bowling"
"They are more than usually noisy
tonight" replied Platoff, "and they
will become more dangerous as we near
the Pacific. In daylight they lose their
courage and are towards. "
They travelled Oh in silence for time.
Suddenly Platoff halted and raised his
hand. Far off in the forest great tu-
multi was heard. 1t swelled in volume
each moment, until the boys could dis
tinguish the bowling Of wolves and the
scurrying of feet over the snow. At in.
tervals branch cracked sharply above
the din.
"They are coming this way" said
Phil. "What shall we do? Where shall
we goa"
"Hush. Don't be alarmed, exclaim-