Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-12
CHAPTER MI.
THROUGH THE RUSSIAN LINES.

Line VOlceS CT SOlQlerS Standing upon
the bridge were audible as Darrell crept
mp In the shadow, and he could hear
the tramp Of many feet A regiment
was marching, but not upon the high
way. There must be a road intersect-
ing 1t and running parallel to the pres
ent course OF the stream.
The stream was so high that II left
onig fringe OF wet rocks on each side
OF the arch. and Darrell worked his
way along with considerable difficulty.
He succeeded In getting through with
no worse misfortune than n hard fall
on the rocks, and presently he was
again within the shelter OF the trees
beside the water. A hundred yards far
Their along, the stream bent sharply to
the left and passed under the road
upon which the troops were marching
1t was not an easy iAsk 10 eluds OBJ
seryation under such circumstances,
and Darrell narrowly escaped a squad
OF soldiers that had taken advantage Of
halt to fill their canteep< He lay
within ten feet OF them for many min
utes and overheard snatches OF their
conversation, from which be learned
that this force had come by rail to a
point not far north of vladikaskas and
had made circuit Of the city, that it
was composed OF troops from the prov
ince OF Stavropol and that il was de-
pending upon re-enforcements concern
ing which there was a rumor OF delay
The men were recalled at last, and
Darrell passed the second bridge. A
little later he assembled Il hill beside the
stream. and. being overcome with
WEAKNESS. he lay down to sleep just
us the moon began to light the sky in
the east He awoke at daybreak. sta
with cold and painfully lame as re-
suit OF bis fall upon the rocks Hob
bling TO the edge OF che trees. he found
that ne had accidentally chosen a spot
singularly favorable for observation.
Despite the roughuess OF the region,
Darrell could see almost the entire ex-
tent OF the Russian force The line
as he saw IL was about two miles long.
and doubtless there were skirmishers
beyond his vision. There seemed to be
between 5000 and COCO men. nearly oil
infantry. The center was on the main
highway from Nladikaukas TO Cred
skov, and there had been great changes
la the disposition Of the force during
the latter part or the night. The way
by which Darrell had come was now
the least practicable that his eye could
discover. yet be could see other places
where man might pass aided by the
roughness OF the country and the dark
meas OF night.
His proximity 20 the line was an
element OF peril; indeed, he wondered
that the very spot ON which he stood
was not held by picket guard. Re-
treating from the place, he became
aware Of men upon the north slope OF
the hill ascending, but he eluded them.
passing arQHud TO the westward. He
encountered far less difficulty than he
had expected and was soon beyond the
reach OF anything except some chance
scouting party. IL seemed to him that
the Circassian outpests around Vladi-
kaukas could not be more than ten
miles away, yet he was so lame from
MS ialI that even this short distance
involved sreat exeCtton and much
pain
On the slender chance OF finding any
beast that man might ride he visited
several deserted farmhouses, securing
enough food for his needs. but no cat
Tie he was in such a condition that
sound OK would have seemed a good
monnt, but there was none to be had
IL one or the houses he was greatly
surprised to discover q gun, almost the
last thing he would have supposed
tnht feeinS tenant would abandon
IL was muEzle loading weapon OF the
type OF many years ago; but, as there
was a supply OF ammunition, Darrell
thought the gun worth taking.
During the day he made very little
progress, being twice compelled TO lie
hidden while Russian scouting parties
were about. Sunset found him far to
the west Of the highroad, uncertain Of
ms way and suffering both from ex-
haustion AID the injury that he had
sustained on the pgevious night. He
came at last to road that was scarce
iy more than trafi through the woods,
ana by the side OF II he sat down TO eat
such food as he had and TO rest. He
fell into dose. with his back against
the moss covered stump OF a treo and
1t was dark when he awoke.
Something had startled him. He
felt thrill OF vague alarm as he strue-
gied back to consciousness, and the
rusty gun that he had taken from the
farmhouse was in his hands without
an effort OF volition. He hened the
sound Of horses feet, and Ssnnedi-
atefy the beast and his rider came into
view, dim in the starlight
Without a thought In his half waken-
ed mind, except that he needed horse
DARRELL sprang out into the path, with
the gun in his hands, and cried cut,
"Haltr' 1t was the horse that obeyed
the order. Pho rider Continued 70 ad-
vance, by the law OF inertia, and he
cane to rest Ike sack OF meal on the
soft moss by the roadside Darrell IN
stantly pouneed upon him, but It was
wholly unnecessary, for the man did
not move. He was lying upon his face,
unconscious
hasty glance assured Darrell that
fha haraa VvoN.Ix