New-York tribune., 1905-06-11


Yes" replied the voice of Ivan, deep and rever-
berating from the upper darkness.
Nv master bids YOU surrender
Tell your master that his master bids him obey"
That is a foolish answer. Unless you, and all
others in YOUR company, descend and yield your
selves as prisoners the place will be carried by
assault. If the English prisoners are harmed IN
any way, either by the mischance of our attack or
by your deed, woman will be spared.
l further bidden-'
Go back. fool" roared Ivan savagely. Take
with YOU threats which can be carried out. Your
guns planted the hills of the Ivory Chair can do
us no harm. Your Prince and those who follow
him never Will leave this mine alive. We need not
FIRE shot YOU You will die OF hunger and thirst
1t is not so IVAN came the firm voice of Prince
Nelnikoff we do not come bllndfolded TO your
burrow Be warned in time. You cannot resist us.
Ha, renegade, YOU there? 1t IS YOU who
must Weld. not l. You have broken your oath
Now you desire to slay Your own people On your
head lies the responsibility for the lives OF your men
Withdraw your troops before 1t is too late and
carry out the covenant"
L have given you every chance, mailman, was
the stern answer. Words must give place to
action at last"
Then be it nv death or yours, Boris, and if
fall be sure that the Gar shall learn the truth
The Prince hoarsely bade the iag-bearer to re-
Join his comrades. The enterprise before him
we'll might daunt the bravest man, for all the ad-
vantage of fight in these gloomy caVerns lay with
the defenders ct this aspect OF the
to weigh least in his thoughts.
My final warning should bring you to your
senses,' he cried Unless YOU come in person
and guarantee the safety OF Lady Ernyntrude
Grandson and her friends l shall attack you at
nine O'clock
Why waltz As for the lady, her husband can
safeguard her"
Liar"
1t is true. Will you agree to my terms if She
herself assures you"
The Prince did not deign to make any reply.
Strng bevond endurance by the tone adopted by
Ivan in the hearing of many Of the Cossacks and
doubtless Of his own followers. MenikOff returned
to his troops and sent orders for signaer to bid
the guns posted on the distant hills open fire.
The night fell rapidly. and the thaw, 50 long
promised began in earnest. its immediate pre-
decessor being a shower of rain. This created some
comment among the leaders of the military Sev
eral of the ravines crossed route to the mine
quickly would become raging torrents. Unless
the weather changed and sharp frost came
that night they would be practically cut off from
Bannofka for several DAYS. There no know
ing what measures the insurgents might have taken.
The peasants could get about the country like
wolves. and if a strong g-arned band attacked the
bcsiegers while they endeavOrng to draw
Stephanovitch and his gang from their burrOw, the
consequences might be serious.
Their unrest was stilled when Prince Boris
about haf-past eight o'clock, realizing apparently
that all hope of friendly settlement should be aban
doned gave to each officer of the rank OF lieutenant
and upward detailed plan of the mine.
Stenka a faithless scoundreI at the best, had
not trusted his own associates. Among his papers
were found not only a key to the intricaces OF the
inner workings and of the drifts he himself had
added make the approach more difficult and per
picking but also written instructions as to cornce
or ledge leading along the face OF the cliff from
point about forty feet below the main gallery to the