The Cairo bulletin., 1904-11-11


q Es71 /7fy A0 veteran OF d dozen
4 A.km.\N1 wars. She was lying
+ (v1SSXE4aLTI on couch that had
--- -- been brought down TO
her military workshop, and she look.
cd pitlably III. Behindeher stood the
tall amazon whom Darrell had seen on
the veranda In Yladikaukas. and the
7, face OF the stern aud formidable old
woman was deeply llned>witl anxiety.
.This is mere WEAKNESS" said Vera.
'.It !is possible that may have over
taxed my strength. am resting to
prepare me for the work that must
come. tomorrow. There is plainly but
one. course for us. Your report snakes
that certainty doubly sure. We could
not surrender our comrades In arms
even IL our case were ten times more
desperate than IT is. We must break
through their lines ,. VIII
I'VE have no alternative replied
Durham. Heaven prosper u.s.
'i.aOur plans are already made" said
Prince Kilziar, who was present with
:. several Of his most trusted officers.
II Wish, however. that we could delay
their attack for twenty four hours. :"
"There Is no possible chance OF t."
answered General Durham. "We may
as we'll dismiss the thought"
Your pardon. general" said Darrell;
~ have reason TO beleye that can ac-
complish so much at least.f am in a
position to exert personal Influence up
on General Getchikoff,"
Kilziar regarded Barreli with a
scowl. Since the opening of the siege
they had been on terms Of armed nen-
trality. ss
what is the nature of that intlu-
ence?' asked the prince.
''If. disclose II to any one" answer
ed Darrell. .'itceases to be valid. You
must Jake my word in the dark that 1t
exists" res
On .,1hisY does not greatly encourage
me, e tajoIned Eilziar. gsa, e
Nevertheless" said Vera. Mr.. OAR
arelps plan SHOULD be tried. Ii he can
prolong the negotiations for a day. we
shall have better roads for our march
westward, and the enemy viii gain
nothing"
II require no more than permission
10 speak with General Getchikof
aione." said Darrell.
"You will not get it from him,
growled Kilziar. Il think we waste
time"t@Y
Darrell merely bowed. He had
caught the eye of General Durham and
was satisfied by u glance that he would
have no. obstacle put in his way when
the conferees should meet again on
the morrow. Vera had seen this by
PLAY. and sHe also remained silent
Durham presently withdrew and OAR
rell with him. They walked together
In silence toward n point Of the fcrtih-
cations which commanded what must
be the field of their endeav0r If they
should make the attempt to cut the
Russian lines.
There seemed to be considerable
movement of the Russian troops.
"They are closing In bit" said Dur
ban after a long look through his field
GLASSES. upon my word. they are not
all dead of .fever!'
General" said Darrell, you are an
old soldier and a good one. Have we a
chanceg"
= s.kohe wfatevef" replied therAgen-
eral. with impressive calm. 'fhe
formation Of the country enables tbe
enemy 10 plant guns beyond Our,range
yetssweepIng every road by which we
can move out. There is no way for
us TO get our own guns into effective
action. for they would shoot us on the
face of the earth while We were lin
bering up. Only the merest rags OF
our army would ever get through. and
they could never get together again
into an effective military body A
picked force might surround the prin-
cess and carry her to safety, but the
chances would be against it."a
do you think that is what Prince
Kilziar means "a dor ag
II know not. Rnswered Durham,
but this know-wIiateter be intends,
Il Is not what he says."tfs et
-fuFIOtT IMAM thdt tAf ttNNt"t -
clined TO speak. and the two men fell
TO praising eorgeously beautiful sun
set which might well be the last that
they would ever see. Is
by the way" said Durham as they
were about to separate. you shall have
your chance wifi Getchikoff tomorrow.
what do you hope to accomplish-a
days delayT
Il fear can do little answered
Darrell rThe situation essentially In
wolves defeat whether in battle or ne
eotistion. KilzIar and his friends are
the rock on which ny hopes are wreck
ed
e~There might be n way to get them
out Of the camp said Durham, staring
Floomily at the black precipices behind
the town.
1T would do no good" answered
Darrell. Unless they are delivered up
the Russians win take the city. Sooner
or later they will surely take IT, and
that means massacre. Ii means tine
death OF the princess. whom ron end ]
would give our lives 10 save. for rest
assured abe viii not bemsde prisoner
And our sortie tomorrow said Dur