The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-28

y
| ~ - who We're being ruth
lessly murdered, rans
through the corridors OF the prison
Kcyski led Darrell by dark and mar
row way into dungeon similar to thu
one he had quit But here there wat
/ evidence that the guard had already
| been to obey the commands Of the gen
| eral. Two young mountainccrs lay
| upon the earthen floor with the life
blood flowing from gaping wounds il
| their breasts and threats
There was window in this dun
geon, as in Darrelfs. Ii opened di
rectly over stone stairway leading
| to parapet in the defenses of the city
There were bars in the window, but
Keyski found an iron instrument, with
which the two men wrenched the bars
away Then they climbed through the
window and ran up the stairway. In
small room on top Of the wall there
was a gunroom or small armOry. Here
We're some spare uniforms that were
held for the soldiers of the garrison.
Darrell put on one OF them over his
other clothing
NOW we must take our places with
the defenders said Keygki.
He had scarcely uttered the words
when lieutenant on the lookout for
stragglers appeared at the door and
ordered them to follow him. They
joined party Of Il dozen men and
when they emerged tt2m the prison
fell into line with company that was
forming. 1t was motley crew, but
was differed by experienced soldiers
and well enough armed. Presently
Darrell found himself upon the walls
in a position commanding Il view of n
stretch of land SO rough as to preclude
the idea that an assault would be made
at that point.
The nearest line of the enemy was
upward of 800 yards distant, and there
was scattering and useless fire from
both sides. Two batteries of light
field guns We're visible farther back,
but they were not in action. Between
them and the skirmish line consider
able body of troops in fairly good for
nation were moving around to the
right From that direction came the
heaviest firing, and there seemed to be
considerable artillery at work. Wild
shots from these guns occasionally
few clear over the town, and this
fire, almost In their rear, constituted
the chief danger of the defenders at
the point where Darrell was posted.
Some shells burst rather close, but no
one was hurt.
Darrells share in the battle consisted
in firing often enough to escape attract
ing the attention of an officer, but I'M
der the circumstances he found no diff
any Of the besiegers, whom he viewed
as friends.
Presently the faint sound OF cheer
ing loated across the rugged eXpanse
from the lines of the encircling enemy.
1t came from the left, where there
and the cause of it was not immediate
ly obvious Soon, however, some
mounted officers appeared heading a
force which even at the distance show
cd superiority of drill and equipment.
The sound of the cheering increased.
Evidently some idol of the army was
among the officers. One of them. in
deed. was seen TO be distinguished by
a rich attire. and the sunlight flashed
upon his plumed cap and the hllt of his
sword as If they were set with jewels.
A long cloak of scarlet hung from his
shoulders, and that. too. seemed TO be
jcweled upon tho clasps at the throat
The word ran along the ranks OF. the
defenders upon the WALL
"That is Motman Khan"
And Mt the command of an officer
there was some trial of craftsmanship.
but the range, though not beyond the
power of their weapons. was far too
long for the skill of the men. The
splendid cavalcadc moved on unharm-
ed.
For an hour or more the conditions |
remained. nearly unchanged, so far as
Darrell could observe. There was
slight increase of artillery fire upon the |
right. and the number of guns in ac-
lion surprised Darrell. for the country !
round Gredskov was not favorable for
The transportation Of cannon. They !
seemed to be small pieces. it is true.
but of a good modern type. to judge |
BY the execution wrought by some Of /
the shells Gredskov was ON fire in a /
hundred places. and the smoke rose /
straight up in the perfectly still air. |
hanging in the form of a great umbrel- /
a that spread wider and darker over
the doomed city.
In the shelter OF row Of stone build 1
ngs on the other side Of an open space
that lay between the wall where Oar.
relI was and the close built portion OF
the town a crowd Of terrified people 1
were huddled. They seemed 10 be
mostly old men and boys.
"Where are the wOmenf- asked Oar