The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-28


believe that the
"Sheepskinsl Sheep whole detach-
skfnsP ment was sta
tionary In the ditch thirty yards or
more from the point where II Joined the
river. Only ten strong now and one OF
them a woman. they made their way
toward the mouth Of the ditch and to-
ward the barges which held the prize
they sought.
But a diversion and a very effective
one was soon 10 come from the front
OF the barn. Fearing that the party
under Sophy and Dunstanbury might
be overpowered, Lukovitch determined
on a bold step. that OF enticing the
holders OF the barn from their shelter.
He directed his men to keep up brisk
fire at the door. lie himself and an
other man, one Ossip Yensko. disre-
gardlng the risk. made a rapid dash
across the line OF fire from the barn
for the spot where the horses were.
The fire directed at the door success
fully covered their daring movement
They were among the horses In a mo-
bands with which they were tethered.
The animals were half mad with
fright, and the task was one OF great
danger.
But the maneuFer. was emlnently
successful, a cry or THE horses. the
horsesr' went up from the barn. Men
appeared IN the doorway. The sergeant
major In command himself ran ont.
Half the horses were loose and STAN
peded along the towing path down the
river "rhe horses, the horsesr' The
defenders surged out of the barn In
deadly fear OF being caught there In
trap. They preferred the chances OF
the fire and streamed out in a disorder
/ " throng. Lukovitch and Yensko cut
loose as many more horses as they
dared walt 10 release. then, as the de-
Tenders rushed forward, retreated, fly
ing for their lives. Lukovltch came or
with a ball In his arm; Yensko dropped.
shot through the heart. The men be
hind the hill riddled the defenders with
their fire. But now they were by their
horses. such as were left OF them.
Nearer twenty than ten dotted the
grass outside the barn door. And the
survivors were demOralized. Their
leader. the sergeant major. lay dead.
They released the remaining horses.
mounted and with one parting volley
fed down the river. With cry OF trl-
rmph Lukovitch collected the remain
der Of his men and dashed round the
side OF the barn. The next moment
Colonel Stafnitz found himself attack
ed IN his rear rs well as held In check
from the ditch In his front.
"For a moment we thought II was
our own men," said Rastatz. continu-
ing his account, "and the colonel shout
ed. Don't FIRE. you foolsr But then
they cheered aud we knew the Vol
senian accent-curse them! 'Sheepskins
againv said the colonel. with a wry
kind of smile. He didn't hesitate then;
he jumped up, crying: TO the barges.
10 the bargesl Follow mer
"we all followed. 1t was just as
safe to go with him as TO stay where
you were. We made dash for 1t and
got to the bank Of the river. Then they
rose out OF the ditch in front OF us
and they were at us behind, too-with
steel now. They daren't shoot for fear
OF hitting their own people In our
front But the idea Of a knife In your
back isn't pleasant. and In the end
more OF our men turned to meet them
than went on with the colonel. I went
on with him, though. I'm always for
the safest place II there's one safer
than another. But here there wasn't
so / thought | might as well DO the
proper thing. We met them right ny
the waters edge. and the first l made
out was the witch herself, In sheep
skins like the rest Of them, white as
sheet, but with that Internal mark aD-
solutely blazing. She was between Pc
ter Vasslp and a tan man l didn't
know-I found out afterward that he
was the Englshman Dunstanbury-and
the three came straight at us. she
cried. The king, the kingg and Dehind
us we heard Lukoytch and his lot cry
Ing. The King, the klngy
'Our fellows didn't like II. that's the
truth. They were uneasy In their
minds about that job, OF poor old MI
stiteh's. and they feared the witch IKE
! the devil The heart MAS out Of them.