The Iola register., 1902-07-18
G. B.Spencer

"StTdtght on" Sdtd DuTTCt, pointing.
rell, pressing upon the skirts OF the
party as closely as he dared, succeeded
in gaining a knowledge of the event. 1t
meant as much, If not more, to him as
to them, for the tidings were that a
body of Russian troops had been en-
countered fifteen miles south of Vladi-
kaukas, force that barred Darrelps
way to the city and cut of the com
paratively small command of the khan
from the main army under Kilziar In
Gredskov.
As result OF the conference the car
avan was withdrawn from the road in
to the shelter of 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 wcll that the main road would
not be left unguardcd. The caravan
would never get through until the mil
ltary operations of the Russians should
be transferred TO another field. 1t
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 ev-
cry animal and ready with a knife in
hand to cut its throat If 1t should dis
10
nature had given 1t. For n mile or
more he followed the edge Of the high
way, and then, without warning from
| eye or ear, he was as near as possible
| to running straight into the arms of
Russian pickets. He dropped into n
| clump of bushes not 100 feet distant
from the guards and there lay quiet for
awhile, undecided what to do. Upon
| his left was bare and open ground.
/ Even under cover OF the darkness he
scarcely dared risk crossing 1t. To go
the other way was to approach the
head of the army, for 1t was moving
eastward, and he was afraid it might
throw down spur toward Gredskov
and thus cut him off completely. The
I btlltl NbhANN NbhAh w w WIN w wv
westward, though that would involve
crossing the army's line of communica-
tion with its base, wherever that might
be
AS he lay there rejecting upon this
problem he heard some one advancing
along the highway. Whoever it was,
he came on without caution, the sound
of his steps plainly audible in the still
night. Darrell could detect move
ment Of the picket guards, indicating
that they, too, had heard the sound.
His position was such that the man in
the road was nearly opposite him be-
fore he came into view. Then he recog-
nized the idiot piper by the cloak that
he had worn, n garment that had once
been bright red and gaudy with gold
thread, but was grotesquely stained
with age and ragged and tarnished.
Suddenly Il picket cried out. "Haltw
The idiot stopped. hesitated a mo-
ment and then answered: I'm Musef
the Traveller Youll let me pass"
Then voice, not the one that had
spoken before but the most surprising
Ilg llllNll anu lNlAllllR Ablit AAltAl l'AllAll
had ever heard from IA human throat,
said:
"Come on, here! Give an account OF
yourselfw
If the voice had been ordinary, the
idiot would probably have obeyed with
out fear; but, as 1t CHANGED, he was
frightened by this raucous cry, like O
hnocftg nd ha ftrrna1 N rt1n oNua "
Instantly two shots were fired, and
Darrell heard the soldiers advancing
The idiot had sprung out of the roat
and was running across the oper
ground. Darrell, being too nearly II
the line of the soldiers, dared not re
main. He got upon his feet and fled IL
the same way that the idiot had taken
1t appeared that in the darkness they
both escaped the view of the soldiers
at first. Darrell had run almost a hun
!, dred yards before another shot wal
, ared, and it went wild. He reached
unharmed the shelter Of the bushes o
the other side of the field and, lookin
back could see no sign of his pursuer
Turning to continue his flight, he cam
to stream that looked too deep to h
crossed without swimming. He 70
lowed 1t toward the left through som
thick brush, from which he emerge
: upon a smooth, sloping bank. 1t was
: spot upon which the starlight SCENE
TO fall with an especial radiance. pc
haps becauPe OF the darkness froI