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

LKX@L. VLhGl ne early accounts
NS2GNSM VI were thought to be
exaggerated. but with
In an hour the evidence multiplied until
doubt was no longer possible Even
Vera. as Darrell was informed by Colo
mel Korna, no longer had a hope OF
holding Vladikaukas, and preparations
for falling back to Gredskov were made
with haste.
/ Darrell was surprised to find how
many things were already prepared.
! Prudence and discipline had not been
wanting fn the garrison. The little ar
/ my was wonderfully mobile.
! This march-begun at midnight IN
der frowning skies, enllyened in the
I small hours by pyrotechnic struggle
I In the darkness with the Russians who
were attempting TO re-encircle Yladi-
/ kaukas and finished next day in deadly
4 WEAKNESS and the miseries OF a driz-
zling rain-needs no extended descrip-
| ton In this record. There were small
! losses. a colonel was shot dead in his
| saddle after the fighting seemed to be
| over, the fatal bullet a mere chance
wanderer In the air. Some Russian
horsemen dashed in upon line OF bag
gage wagons and butchered a few
teamsters, poorly paid day laborers
without military aspirations. A half
dozen soldiers were killed and fifty per-
/ haps endured the pain of wounds dur
Ing the long march, Darrell, viewing
as much Of this as a man could see In
! the night and particularly the dead
/ teamsters, who CHANGED TO fall In his
| way, was reminded OF the murdered
! Turkish merchant and of the poor idiot,
| Musef. shot in the back as he ran, and
there arose In his mind picture OF the
war god. like human being endowed
with an individual character and COM
PEELED to act according to 1t. so that,
whether bawling upon the battlefield,
I grooming upon the march or sodden
4 with the sloth of the camp, he must
Kill, and kill almlessly, for the mere
sake OF killing.
| Darrelrs position was one of painful
isolation. For the first few miles he
rode not far behind the princess; then,
after the fighting was over and her
safety assured, as she sent no word to
him he fell farther TO the rear. and in
the last hours OF the march, when the
rain had begun, he lent some aid TO
men who were struggling with cannon
in the roads that grew always worse.
In Gredskov on the second day he
formed the acquaintance OF an engi-
neering officer and was OF some little
use in helping to strengthen the city's
defenses. He saw Korna occasionally
and learned from him that there had
been memorable scene between Vera
and Kilziar and that the prince had
succeeded In presenting plausible ex-
| cuses. The princess, however had as
serted authority. and 1t was she who
issued paramount orders In the city.
The rain relented long enough to per-
NIT the Russian force to take up it's
position, hemming in the place, and
then began again without violence, a
slow and steady dripping from the
leaden sky. The besiegers exhibited
indomitable energy. They brought up
a surprising quantity OF artillery de-
spite the state OF the roads, yet not
enough 10 give them any advantage.
The guns were too light for the reduc-
ton Of a well fortified place, and
Gredskov was fairly well fortified,
though at the time OF the Circassian at
tack 1t had been very badly defended.
The time came speedily when no
more cannon could be brought over the
roads. Spies reported that the Rus
slams were having ali they could do to
bring up sufficient supplies In the light
est vehicles and on the backs OF mules
and camels. The game as II stood was
a draw. The Russians could not take
the town, and the besieged could not
get out. But the enemy had to hold
their ground only till better weather.,
/ while the CircassiRns had to hold theirs
forever. 1t Is a Fundamental pctnc iple
OF war that town thoroughly invested
must fall eventually unless friends
from without arrive to raise the siege,
and this the Circassians could not ex-
pect They were doomed, and the
thought OF 1t was madness to Darrell.
he saw little OF Vera. She was fe-
yerishly busy, working day and night
upon plans for their useless defense
for 1t was like holding q hilltop against
the food. Darrell knew that she dread.
ed to see him because he had foreseen
this evil, because he had shown him.
self destitute of encouragement mere
scarecrew in the field. as he expressed
It TO himself.
She had taken up her abode In what
had been an inn. There was q ground
floor room IN q corner Of the house
which was her military workshop
Darrell sometimes saw her through q
window In the daytime pitifully en-.
gagged upon this travesty Of war, fight
Ing q battle that was over. He knew
that she was In deadly peril; that these
wretched days might be all the life
they tive could hope for. he shuddered
at the thought and cursed the scoun
drel who had brought her to this ca
lamity. yet curses upon Kilxiar seemed
unnecessary, considering the position
An which the nan stood
One saw little OF the prince in thesS
! days except when he and Vera made
> their rounds together that the soldiers
, | might have a chance TO cheer. II wal