New-York tribune., 1905-06-11
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for JUNE IL, 1905

He had his enemies inclosed like rats in trap,
and the Cossacks were ubilant at the prospect of
the haul they would make. The sense of certainty
soon communicated itself from the officers to the
Fifty volunteers, to storm the first level,
were obtained quickly They gathered quietly at
the foot of the rock staircase.
At nine o'clock the Prince mCtiOned to the torch
bearers and the resinous flames soon threw red,
sinister glare on the ferce-looking troops and
sent strange CLEANS along barred blades and gum
barrels
'.PoshoL" (Go on cried the Prince sharply.
With a yell the foremost Cossacks raced up the
steep tunnel; behind them, Others fired volley into
the bac1ness. There reply. Neither shout
crash of musketry came from the gloom.
The first gallery entered was empty Following
instructions, the assaants paused at the mouth of
the drift where the plan directed departure from
the main level. When the supports up the
van resumed the advance.
Three times the maneuver was repeated, yet,
with the exception of the preliminary fusillade,
intended to clear the stairs not a shot fired.
Ivan and his men only biding their time In
these dark corridors sounds carried long distance.
When they assured that by some means not
known to them. the foe followed the 1ntrcaC1eS OF
the workings with the ease of those who held the
knowledge as a close family secret there NUT
terines of that dread word which means much
in all oppressed communities.
'Treason' men said; but they fiinched not
Courage friends,' cried the giant Ivan. They
until | give the word. They are doomed
So when the vanguard of the enemy entered on the
fourth of the seven stages through the mine, the
blackness vomited forth flame and lead. There was
no hating Those who did not fall dead or crawl
in agony to the rough -heun walls dashed forward.
Soon a terrific melee took place. Friend and toe
became locked in ineXtricable mass OF swaylng,
struggling forms.
Whatever faults the Russian possesses no man
can say he is a coward, and here in the depths OF
a mountain was let loose the passion, the rage
the devastating misery, which have held a great
people on the rack for generations. Men fought as
if the quarrel personal one. COmbatantS
clutched each other and rolled over and over amid
the debris of the mine, tearing and rending and
stabbing viciOusy. SO fierce was the affray that
few paid heed to Ivan's loud warning.
- Back brothers, he roared. Back, l say
But Prince Melnikoff, who himself had fclled
half dozen opponents heard him, and shouted to
those in rear: '' Follow at all CostS!'
By sheer strength, and with terrific sweeps OF an
iron crowbar which he used as a weapon, he hewed
a path and rushed after Ivan whose huge form
was barely distnguishabe in the light of a fallen
torch. The Prince, careless of Odds and
despising personal risk, cried to his Cossacks
Come on, comrades, They run
Ivan caught the words and paused. He saw
great number of soldiers advancing through the
smoke and dust. He again. and MelnikOf
followed Then the big Russian with laugh ike
the below of bull, stopped and struck a match.
His chief adversary, yet many yards in the rear,
pucked out a revolver and fired at him. There
was a running line of flame, a terrific explosion,
and great section Of the tunnel caved in, burying
many in its chaos of broken rock, and irretrievaby
blocking the way against further assault.
Prince Mclnikoff unnjured. He stood,
almost alone prisoner in the hands of the rebels.
CHAPTER XIV.