The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-04-05

straight 01i.' said DdrrCL pointing
rell. pressing upon the skirts Of the
party as closely as he dared succeeded
In gaining a knowledge OF the event. IL
meant as much. II not more, 20 him as
TO them. for the tidings We're that a
body Of Russian troops had been en-
countered fifteen miles south OF Nladi-
kaukas, force that barred Darrelfs
way to the city and cut Off the COM
paratively small command of the khan
from the main army under Kilziar In
Gredskov.
AS result OF the conference the car
AVIAN was withdrawn from the road In
10 the shelter Of a wood. Darrell learn
ed that there was hope that the Rus
sian force which had been marching
toward the east might pass on. leav-
ing the way clear for resuming the
Journey on the morrow. He himself
cherished no such delusion. knowing
very well that the main road would
not be left unguarded. The caravan
would never get through until the mil
ltary operations of the Russians should
/ be transferred 10 another field. Ii
\ might be possible, however, for one
man to get through the lines or TO work
| his way around them without too great
\ expenditure OF time.
When the night had fallen, Darrell
crept out Of the camp which lay so
silent IN the wood, man guarding ey-
cry animal and ready with a knife In
hand 20 cut It's throat If IL should dis
turb the stiffness with such voice as
nature had given It. For a mile or
more he followed the edge of the high
way, and then, without warning from
eve or ear he was as near as possible
70 running straight into the arms Of
Russian pickets He dropped into a
clump OF bushes not 100 feet distant
from the guards and there lay quiet for
awhile. undecided what 10 do. Upon
his left was bare and open ground.
Even under cover OF the darkness he
scarcely dared risk crossing IL. To 80
the other way was 60 approach the
head OF the army, for 1t was moving
eastward. and he was afraid II might
throw down a spur toward Gredskov
and thus cut him of completely. The
better course would be 20 work 10 the
westward, though that would Involve
crossing the army's line OF communlca-
ton with its base. wherever thar might
be.
As he lay there rejecting upon this
problem he heard some one advancing
along the highway. Whoever II was
he came on without caution. the sound
OF his steps plainly audible in the still
night. Darrell could detect a move
ment OF the picket guards, indlcatina
that they too, had heard the sound
His position was such that the man ~
the road was nearly opposite him be
fore he came into view. Then he recog
nlzed the idiot piper by the cloak that
he had worn, garment that had once
been bright red and gaudy with GOLD
thread, but was grotesquely STAINED
with age ana ragged and furnished
Suddenly picket cried out Halt"
The idiot stopped. hesitated a mo
ment and then answered I'm Muse
the Traveller Youll let me pass
Then voice, not the one that hat
, spoken before. but the most surprising
! iy harsh and rattling tone that Darrell
had ever heard from q human throat
said.
"Come on. here. Give an account o
YOURSELF
n the voice had been ordinary, tn
I idiot would probably have obeyed with
I OUT fear: but. as II CHANGED. he wa
! frightened by this raucous cry. like
beasts and he turned TO run away
4 instantly two shots were. fired, on'
: Darrell heard the soldiers ADVANCING
The IDIOT had sprung ont OF the p
;, and was running across the
. ground. Darrell. being TOO nearly Il
!, the line Of the soldiers. dared not re
main lie g0 upon his feet and lied i
= the same way that the idiot had taker
IL appeared that In the darkness the
both escaped the view OF the soldier
= at FIRST. Darrell had run almost hun
I dred yards before another shot wa
/, fred. and II went wild. He reache
10 unframed the shelter Of the bushes Q
Il the other side Of the field and, lookin
II back, could see no sign Of lis pursuer
n Turning to continue his flight, he can
10 stream that looked TOO deep 20
r crossed without swimming. lie II
u lowed fl toward the left through son
o. thick brush. from which he emerge
r. upon n smooth. slopng bank. II was
.. spot upon which the starlight secm'
a 10 fall with an especial radiance. pc
r. haps because OF the darkness fro
40 which he had come. AZ any rate, ia
II. rcIl saw the sluggish stream, the droo
90 Ing trees beside It and the smoo
81. slope quite plainly and upon the gra
the figure Of a man lying with his IN
ils townrd the sky. IL was the idiot, NJ
vo sef the Traveller. and he had come
ad the end Of bis journey,