The Washington times., 1903-03-29

no mercy shall be shown-no. I don't
mean that. Capture as many Of the dogs
alive as possible. have a bitter
reckoning 10 settle with them AMI.
SudeIlin. look out for my daughter. will
you? They have here up there. ! know.
Don't let them harm a hair of he-
head"
The governor groaned with anguish
aud turned away.
IF the girl is there, " muttered Sude-
kin 10 Donald. lit would be better 70
try and bring them to terms. but there
is no use in reasoning with his ex-
ccHercy now. He is too angry for that
and will blindly sacrifice his men when
by little strategy he might capture
these fellows aImos, without blood
shed"
Listen. There go the orders cried
Donald. Now for it
He was right. The governor had
signaIcd his instructions to the nearest
of the troops. anH as the word Of com
mani was passed swiftly up tho hill
Reen uniforms rose from every bush
and uee and the sunlight shore on
POLISHED rife barrels
Then with a hoarse cheering the Cos
sacks charged down the slope and
plunged through the shallow waters or
the stream. They were in their glory
now. bloodshed and carnage awaited
them.
The governor would have recklessly
placed himself at their head. but Sude-
kin caught him and refused 10 let 20.
"Tardon. your exceIIency." he en-
treated. but I cannot let you expose
yourself You will surely be killed."
Donald did not wait to see the eri
of this alteration. The excitement
fred his blood. and without thought OF
the peril he plunged in among the
crowded ranks of he Cossacks. a pis-
tol in each hand
What followed passed like a dream As
he struggled through the icy water.
with the dark green uniforms all around
him shutting out the scene in front.
the sharp crack Of rifles suddenly drown
ed the hideous yelling Of his companions.
and he saw the bullets splash along the
ripples and fatten out on the hard gray
rocks.
Crack. crack. crack. crack, The rifles
spit out their deadly contents WITH the
regularity OF q mountain gun. and the
very air seemed 10 grow hot and suf-
locating. Donalds knees began to trem-
bic under him and his brain TO swim. but
he kept on up the slope. shouting as
lonely as the others.
The Cossacks were falling to right and
left in front and behind-everywhere
branches OF trees futtered down. nipped
of by the leaden storm: blush smoke
curled upward in puffs and wreaths: tiny
Bed streams trickled siuggishly between
the stones. and the white snow was
stained with crimson spots
I'M AADAot dA- AsAAAAAlA 4hNItdStQs aAO
the rifles cracked more furiousIy than
ever. drowning the death cries and
shrieks OF agony.
Then the scene changed with the
sviftness OF a pantomime transforma-
tion. and the tables were turned on the
desperate little band Of convicts.
/ Out OF the Drifting smoke Ioomed the
natural fortress OF crags and boulders
every nook and Granny alive with red
/ flashes and rife muzzles and savage
/ faces. and the next instant the mad
I dened Cossacks were plunging in among
them. striking right and left with their
dubbed weapons.
Those behind forced Donald onward
and he was soon in the very thick OF the
fray. pulling himself upward from ledge
10 ledge
( A bullet whizzed by his head. a stone
smote him painfully on the thigh. Look
ing upward he saw a rife pointed al his
breast. and raising his pistol he shot
. iD' fRuhlfN ~ dI anu i4tf boAg NdLll'
I tumbling down beside MIN
He climbed TO the next ledge shout
ing with excitement. The firing had al.
most ceased and a terrific hand -hanC
/ struggle was waging-
Above the din and the crashing 0
blows rose General Tichimirofs voice
spare the dogs. men. Capture them
alive
spare them echoed Donald MAX,
them prisoners"
He looked eagerly around for Bara
nok. or valbort. or the girl Varia-bu
they were not TO be seen.
You traitor. WeI have our reck
oning now"
j. was the convict Gross who spoke
lie spraag from a cleft in the rock
and rushed savagely at Donald with