The diamond drill., 1902-04-19
By Ashley Tcwne
COPYRIGHT, 1901,
BY CHARLES n.
T~rT .fv0f Nf,J'a Y

hope in this campaigng To take STAY
ropol? | Will grant that you might
conceivably succeed. Even SO. you
could not have dreamed OF going fur
ther. and you certainly could not have
expected 10 hold the place indefinitely
without anything that could be called
a line Of communications. without pos
sibility OF reinforcement, with only
the resources OF the city itself to de
pend upon. \ successful retreat would
have been your best expectation
"Why not terms?" demanded Vera.
rising "Do you think our successes
would have wen Us no considerations
"Nct On r,ssiga soil" answered Oar
rell. Every success you win outside
way OF your liberty. You cannot con-
quer Russia. Your only chance was TO
persuade her that the reconquest Of
Circassia az this time would cost too
much In men and treasure. What does
the government In 81. Petersburg care
about the loss OF Grcdskoy as mill
tary incident? Nothing But as an
that city assumes Importance. 1t Is
the same with yladkaukas. and the
taking Of Stayropo would make your
cause hopeless.
prince Kilziar does not think SO. !"
said Vera, pale with excitement,
prince Kilziar has never had any
other opinion" rejoined Darrell. He
is soldier. man Of long experience
in war. familiarity acquainted with Rus
sian governmental policy, Vera. when
such a man moved your army beyond
the boundary OF the country you were
fghtlng TO free he proved that he was
not patriot The soldier OF freedom
rcsents aggression. lie takes up arms
for the purpose Of eXpelling tyrants;
he defends his own land he stands up
on his rights and strives 10 win the re-
spect OF the world But TO rush out OF
his own country, leaving its strongest
fortified places still In the hands of the
intruder 10 invade the territory Of a
monstrous power like Russia. with no
hope except TO inflict a certain amount
OF injury and then withdraw - this
could not be the act of n trained sol
dier who was also a patriot. To Kill
zlar the military principles and the
policies involved were plain as one plus
one makes two. He did not organize
this campaign in the interests of Cir
cassia."
"In whose, them" she cried.
"In his own, Vera" replied Darrell,
"for loot. There was a rich treasure in
Gredskov imperfecty guarded through
Russian oversight. Kilzar knew of IL,
and now he has II absolutely in his
hands"
"Why not?" demanded Vera. "Wlll
not money help or cause"
"My child" he rejolned, without
meaning to use the term which made
the princess red with wrath. lis 1t con
ceivable that Russia will permit you e
! hold this sum? IL is mere Item in the
bill that you must settle Your whole
policy should have been to secure the
easiest terms and this is the way 10 get
the hardest Your only problem wa.
4 this How much can make lt cost Rus
STA 20 rctake Circassla in proportion e
i tile INJURY WITCH shp has suffered ia tho
loss 81 ltf The lignter the injury thc
better for you
II lave heard that the Americans
considered money above all Things X
i Neu lllan lint Darrell Interrupted licl
wltA0 groan
Let me- hasten to make m end 81
this" he cried Fl have not forfeited
your regard aud suffered the misery
that torments Q gloomy prophet with
Il ont a definite object Yun viii send an
order 10 Prince Kil2iar II IS not toe
late to change your plan would
have your force and his move west
ward. cnectlng n junction NJ the EARL
est possible moment The Russian force
south Of you Is unprepared for such 2
movement and is besides. hamperet
10y It's own anxictics, due 20 failure ol
the cooperating force 60 come dowr
from the north You viii have no diih
Guilty You can Withdraw into Crcus
Sin without loss and then YOU can us,
lais rtall. admirable army f3r defens,
OF your country
"lt II the policy Of cowardlcew ox
claimed Vera. why YOU yourself ad
NIT tliat these EC Iars south Of II.
are cnueht ~ trap By your own re
pori tley are -artiy gci in numhei
20 my oon4iatuu W. J4.5 c.ty snail
run away while they are quaking IL
their boots, or shall crush them be
tween two millstonesY
'If your sole thought Is for Circas
sla said Darrell you VIII avoid T
victory that cannot seriously weakei
but only imbitter your enemy"
Really said the princess. Il an
both ashamed and grleved. hopeC
for help and bold counsel from you
and instead you
IL have given you the best counsel
had" answered Darrell sadly. "Nov
give me a gun and post me In the from
rank, and II the march is on 70 Stavro
pol / will cheer the order"