Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-16

il%-f clear over Tie town, and this
i!tc, aiaast IN their rear. constituted
taa CHIC danger of the defenders Mt
The point where Darrell was posted.
some shells burst rather close. but no
one was hurt.
narTeifs share in the battle consisted
In firing often enough to escape attract
ing the attention Of an officer but un.
der the circumstances he found no diff
Gcuity Ia avoiding the chance of hitting
any of he leslegers, whom he viewed
as friends.
Presently the faint sound Of cheer
ms Heated across tie rugged expanse
fr2n the liics OF the encircling enemy.
IL came from The left. where there
were trees chat Interrupted the view,
apd tAc use OF l: WAS not immediate
y civic Soon, however, some
mounted cheers appeared heading q
tefce Mii.Ga even ut the distance show
cd stpGi ,uti.S IL drill and equipment.
The sound of tie cheering increased.
Evidently some idol OF the army was
among tic o8iccra. One Of them, in.
deed, was seen 10 be distinguished BY
rich attire. and the sunlight dashed
upon his plumed cap and the hilt Of his
sword as If they We're set with Jewels.
a long CLOAK of scarlet hung from his
shoulders, and that. too. seemed to be
jewelcd upon the clasps at the throat.
The word ran along the ranks Of the
defenders upon the wall:
That is Motman KhanY
And ut the command of an oficer
there WAS some trial Of marksmanship,
but the range, though not beyond the
power of their weapons, was far too
long for The skill Of the men. The
splendid cavalcade moved on unharm-
ed
For an hour or more the conditions
remained nearly unchanged. SO far IS
Darrell could observe. There was .
slight increase of artillery IRE upon the
right, and the number of guns in ae-
ton surprised Darrell, for the country
round Gredskov was not favorable for
the transportation Of cannon. They
seemed TO be small pieces, 1t b trus,
but OF a good modern type, to judge
by the execution wrought by soms Of
the shells. Gredskov WAS ON IRE In q
hundred places. and the smoke rose
straight UP in the perfectly stu air,
hanging in the form Of a great umbrel-
Ia that spread wider and darker ever
the doomed city.
In the shelter of row Of stone build
lngs CT the other side of an open SPACE
that lay between the wall where Oar.
rell was and the close built portion Of
the town crowd of terrified people
We're huddled. They seemed to he
mostly cid men and boys.
where are the womenf'' asked Oar.
rell of kevski, and the latter replied
that great many had left the city, the
besiegers having guaranteed them
safety among the hills.
Darrell was surprised at this eyi.
dence of civilized warfare, and he said
so.
Wait till the town Is taken" an.
swered Keyski, with n shudder.
All this moment there came q great
access OF tnmult from across the city
The noise of rifle firing increased
Terror stricken men and children, with
few screaming women, poured out
from among the houses. Then came
heavy explosion that shook the very
walls. A red glow famed IN the over
hanging cloud.
1T is the magazine under the east
wall!' cried Kcvski "A shell has
blown 1t UP. There must be ruin as a
result of it,
Even the officers had turned their
backs upon the enemy. They were
staring across the city. A horseman
came dashinS across the open space.
He yelled like maniac. addressing the
colonel commanding In that quarter.
Then shell came grooming over the
housetops. 1t struck the earth almost
under the hoofs OF the horse that bore
the messenger, and they vanished. man
and beast, in flash Of flame and 4
cloud of snnd. through which Darrell
dimly saw the colonel, who stood upon
the edge of the wall, Keeling and with
his hands clutchlng his breast. A cap
tain. springing forward. clasped his
superior In his arms. then lost his eva
balance, ard they both fell headlonS 70
the ground. where they lay still.
II was one OF those Incidents that
have the seeds Of panic IN them. Men
cried out with meaningless words. and
IN the midst Of the uproar officers could
be heard shouting orders that were
mostly curses. shout arose:
Our own men. The city Is takeRl"
And Darrell saw struggling mas
of soldiers in the Russian uniform re-
treating III the narrow streets. Then,
with 4 scurry'!ug as OF rats, the force
upon that part OF the defenSes scat
tered, each man for himself.
1T is over" sasped Keyski, turning
Il pallid face toward Darrell.
Not for US" answered the Amer
lean. We are all right
Every soldier will be butcheredr'
cried kevsli
Il am prisoner said Darrell.
Just let NE strip Of this aniferm.
Now then! Wei get back to eur dun.
gson, and I'll look cut for yeu."
They dropped OF the wall aud ran
along beside it. The prison was net