The Cairo bulletin., 1904-10-29

not know me country. II IS necessary,
therefore, for you to remain In place
that | can find again"
Darrell agreed. and Kevskl struck of
among the trees at good pacc. An
hour passed. Darrell began 10 expert
ncat with the bark Of a tree that had
al, agreeable odor. Int was not particu-
larry nourishing. The time dragged
along until Darrell felt SURE. that II was
past noon. The situation was becom-
Ing serious. lie ventnred out OF the
hollow n little way IN the direction that
Keyski had taken, but could gain no
hint of what had become OF him. The
sun began TO sink Toward the west.
Darrell was positively starving. 1t
seemed impossible to wait longer. Ell
ther Kevski had beeuacaptured or had
hopelessly lost his way.
AS evening approached Darrell left
his hiding place and struck out in the
general direction taken by keyski He
proceeded with caution, for in reality
he was between two foes. Ii captured
in that region by the Circassians. he
would be taken back TO Gredskov.
where his fate was certain, and IL by
Russian troops advancing or moving
toward any point of concentration. he
stood the chance of being identified as
an escaped prisoner, with consequences
not much preferable to death.
His progress was slow. but bit by bit
he opened wider the space between
him and Gredskoy, going always to-
ward yladikaukas. Hour after hour.
with his senses alert, he kept on. till,
he reached road.
1t was starlt night. and careful
search proved that there were no sol
diers to be seen in either direction He
took the road, but kept within the
shadow of some trees that marked the
boundary Of pasture lands along 1t.
After travelling few miles In this
way he came to farmhouse. He had
not had morsel to eat since the bonn
bardment of Gredskov had commenced.
Danger lay within the farmhouse, but
starvation lay without. He crcpt near
er and nearer, listened for dogs, but
the place was wrapped in the silence
of the tomb.
The door of the house was wide open.
He knew that folk OF any kind II sleep.
ing there would not have their doors
open when armies swarmcd around
He walked boldly in.
Darrell had no matches, nor did he
find any. The light from the stars
came IN but feebly, and he CROPPED in
tile darkness, seeking food. but the best
that he found was half loaf OF dry
breads With this and water from the
well he raade a meal, and then, utterly
exhausted, he threw himself upon
rude couch and went to sleep.
He awoke with the sun and began a
search through the house. 1t was a
rude affair Of mud and a kind Of baked
clay, 1t consisted Of a story and low
attic above. In cellar which was a
mere hole In the rock upon which the
house was built he found some dried
mcat and fish and a few bottles of ma
tive liquor. strong and harsh. 1t was
not difficult to remember better meal,
but few had ever satisfied greater
need.
Refreshed by the hard fare, he was
about to continue his way toward Via
dkaukas when suddenly he was |
aware of the trampling of many boofs |
on the road that ran before the house, |
and through window he beheld a |
body of cavalry advanc- |
ing. Among the officers at the head of
the column he deserted. 10 his utter
the burly form and harsh !
of Prince Kllziar.
This road must be a main highway,
but what had brought1Kilziar out OF /
As this thought ran through
Darrell's mind he saw the column halt
directly before the house. and Kilziar,
walked straight toward
the door,
ITO be continued.)