Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-05


in more peril than yours. II I show
you a way Of escape. where will you
Ror'
ITO Motman Khan. at vladikaukas, /"
answered Darrell
"Ah," cried Korna, $50 supposed
BE my friend with him 1 need ONE
what do you meanF
"Kilziar finds me In the way-as be
found you"
az In bis wayT'
HE loves Vera Shevalofr.-
Her cried Darrell That scoun-
drelr'
Even he" answered Korna. ut
is strange world. But we have no
time for words Come"
he led the way out OF the cellar into
the court
Where are the guardsY' asked Oar
rell. amazed.
They have gone to report you dead
and buried" answered Korna. Al
made them my friends
But vsrnek. who received the order
for the executionr
rs also my friend. II was a rare
chance. for I have not many. He will
report to kilziar that you were killed
while attempting to escape"
They were hurrying along a dark
street, at the end OF which Darrell
could make out dimly in the light of
the rising moon an open space. with
the city wall beyond. They crossed
the field and came to the very spot
where Darrell had been stationed dur
Ing the siege OF the city.
A sentry challenged them, and Korna
advanced to meet him, giving the
countersign and adding:
These are men with a message to
deliver. They must leave the city In
secret"
Then In q whisper to Darrell:
III you are grateful have Motman
Khan transfer me to his stan. If
remain with Kilziar. he will kill me
and dishonor my name. i am taking
desperate risks"
Il will not forget" said Darrell.
clasping his hand.
There are pickets beyond the CITY,"
said Korna, but In such a broken
country you cannot fail to pass them.
Farewell. This is a strange thing
am doing, but it is my only chance"
Darrell and Kevski were lowered
over the wall. and when they touched
the ground the Russian said In a trem-
blingswhlsper:
Now l am alive. For a long time l
have seemed TO be dead"
MY friend" said Darrell. "you had
reason"
They passed the picket line without
trouble-indeed without having any evil
dence that such thing existed. About
midnight they halted in the midst OF
deep wood and there lay down 10 sleep.
IL was hunger that Weakened Darrell,
and his frs consciousness was OF an
anxious attempt TO remember when he
had last had food. IL seemed a. lapse
or weeks. He threw a bit of wood at
Kevski. who was slumbering heavily
on a bank OF moss, and the Russian,
sitting up, with blinking eyes. laid
hand upon the region of his empty
stomach and groaned.
Kevski struggled TO his feet and
stumbled up out of the little hollow in
which they had slept. He vanished
among the trees, but returned present
- ~ SNJ mat hS Ldu SOl Ills OSdLtLSS
and believed that he knew where food
could be obtained.
"Wait here" said he, "and VIII
bring you some. If we both forage, |
we shall never meet again, for you do
not know the country. 1t is necessary,
therefore, for you to remain in a place |
that can find again."
Darrell agreed, and Kevski struck of |
among the trees at a good pace. An
hour passed. Darrell began to expert
ment with the bark Of tree that had |
an agreeable odor, but was not particu- |
larly nourishing. The time dragged
Along until Darrell felt sure that 1t was
past noon. The situation was becom-
Ing serious. He ventured out Of the |
hollow a little way IN the direction that |
hevski- had taken. but could gain no
hint of what had become Of him. The
sun began to sink toward the west |
Darreu was positively starving. 1t |
seemed impossible to wait longer. FL
Their Keyski had been captured or had
hopeiessly lost his way.
AS evening approached Darrell left
his hiding place and struck out in the
general direction taken by Kevski. He
proceeded with caution. for In reality