Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-26

he stepped back toIodrd the door.
appear as the khan. and. moreover. she
is physically unable TO do IL The coun-
Gil was held today around her bed. We
cannot carry her to the conference on
litter. Don't be too anxious. 1t is
mere exhaustion. However, to resume.
Kilziar. OF course. is out Of the Ques-
ton. The Russians hold him to be n
traitor and refuse to treat with him.
General Durham will 60 as the repre-
sentative of the khan, aud l am going
with him."
"Will you take this message to the
princessY said Darrell. 81 believe that
my presence with General Durham may
be of the greatest value to the Circas-
greatest favor she can ever grant me
that may be permitted to form one OF
the generals escort"
Darrell waited in great anxiety for
reply TO this plea. and he was deeply
gratifed when Korna returned with
word that he could go-in a colonel's
uniform.
Durham was consulted" said Korna.
land he seemed pleased. The man has
taken great fancy To YOU
THANK heaven | have cultivated his
acquaintance during this SIEGE" re-
piled Darrell.
The conference was held In a tent
pitched on hillside midway between
the lines. The rain had recommended.
and a rivulet could be heard running
under the rough floor OF boards. Upon
entering, Darrell had seen first the tall
figure OF General Lyof Panin. the Rus
sian commander. He must have been
man OF fine presence at his best, but
now his visage was grotesquely red
dened with fever and his eyes had al
most the look OF madness. By his side
stood Ivan Getchikoff, the man whom
Darrell had hoped to see. Yet he was
greatly surprised to note from the first
formalities that Getchikoff was the
ranking officer present aside from Pa
min. His uniform showed that he had
been advanced another grade In the
short time since Darrell had seen him
In Gredskov. probably because he was
the son OF his distinguished father
rather than for his own merits. Yet
there should have been many who
would rank him in so considerable an
army. Doubtless the hill fever ac-
counted for their absence, and Darrell
remembered Korna's saying that the
disease Frustrated men past forty.
The conference opened with a plain
statement from General Panin. He
showed a good knowledge OF the con-
dition OF the besieged. especially in the
matter of food supply, and he pointed
out with an old soldiers precision the
ultimate fall Of the garrison.
Your battle is lost" he said. at Is
wise for you to make terms. speak
with the full authority OF my gov
eminent when l say that peace is the
principal aim sought. The mildness of
the former czar in dealing with the
revolt that was quelled in '66 should be
known to you all. The same policy
will be pursued today If hostilities are
at once suspended. There is no crav-
ing for revenge IL full submission is
made. We demand the delivery OF the
following prisoners, who have been
leaders In this insane undertaking."
Here he read list beginning with
Prince Kilziar and ending with ''the
person styling himself Motman Khan"
The others were officers directly asso-
ciated with the prince, and Durham
himself was not one OF them, to his
own great surprise. Judging from the
list, the purpose OF Russia was to Sc
cure men who had held military COM
missions In her service at the time OF
the uprising, as Durham had not. The
net was spread for traitorous soldiers.
Upon the surrender of these persons,
Panin continued, with the arms and
armament Of the force, a general pa
| role would be granted, and the troops
would be permitted to return to their
homes, supplies and means OF protec-
ton during the journey being guar
L nnteed.
The terms were surprisingly liberal.
but they were absolutely impossible
ender the circumstances. The Inmu.
atty granted Durham was In ltsslf a
s1fscient reason why he could give nc
B favorable response. He replied IN q
calm tone. saying that the nature OF
the proposal was unexpected to him.
that IN order to secure consideration
there must be a guarantee that the
khan. Prince Kilziar and the other1
named would b treated ~ pxisenerl