The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-09
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

O0VVuuU uuV ~ ububuu
CONTINUED from Page one.)
for moment stood still. a. II too Con-
fused. too perplexed to move. Thsn
out rang their cry Of About face ana
away they went.
But It was only for an instant. For
at the next instant something strange
and unusual happened. From what
could be ascertAined at the moment
the Russians who had been tho nrst
Perhaps 1t was for the purpose OF re-
organizing. perhaps for the purpose o9
Offering resistance.
yet, SO burning were the AuUtriano
with the lust OF the chase that they
barely perceived this strange fact.
They perceived only that they were
constantly and rapidly approaching
with every leap and bound to the
ranks Of the Russians. and then In an
instant more they were all but upon
them.
Backs to Enemy.
Then it was that they perceived
that the Russians who had SO suddenly
stopped themselves still kept their
backs turned to the pursuing enemy.
ptcions. Perhaps they intended to de-
fend themselves, to defend themselves
as they remained there steadfast, up-
right, as though impaled.
THE nearest files also. one would
have said, might suddenly have ar
rived at the edge OF a precipice, so
sharp was their stop. They formed q
solid Gordon of men toward which the
Austrias hurled themselves as to-
wards q wall Of stone. But even as tho
first of the Austrians all but reached
the solid rank of Russians they be-
came stupefied to see the latter sttn
remaining unmoved, their backs still
turned and apparently without one
thought Of making the least defense
What is it?' the Austrians de-
manded OF themselves. Was It am
other Of those tricks Of war? Was
some terrible mine about to explode
beneath their feet? Were the Rus
their pursuers suddenly wiped from
the face Of the earth?'
AN uncanny fear ran down the
lines Of the entire Austrian force at
the spectacle-an uncanny fear that
the next instant crystallized as there
again rang out from the officers the
cry OF Halt! Halt! Haiti
THE officers. not an instant too
soon, had solved the mystery and then
1t was that there was unfolded q scene
that made our blood run cold.
Terrifying. frightful cries rose
as with a supreme effort they turned
their heads towards us and stretched
out supplicating hands. Then 1t was
that even stranger fact dawned upon
our appalled, senses. The Russians
were rapidly growing smaller and
smaller. Their legs. little by little,
went disappearing down through the
rank. grass, giving the impression a.
though all had suddenly squatted.
Then, too we perceived that all
had freed fhamAolvAa NJ THAR pff1A~
had thrown them away, and with
contracted, distorted faces as though
with one final collective spasm they
stretched. not out, but up, up. up their
duplicating hands.
Swallowed Up.
'At first only perplexed. we became
suddenly terrorized, when finally We
fore our eyes-the treacherous mire,
under which was hidden the fathom-i
less marshes. had opened to swallow
them up.
IAN the efforts. persistent. deeper
ate. which each made to hberate him.
self from the clammy element only
engulfed him the deeper. II some
poor soldier, after q thousand efforts,
succeeded at last in extricating q leg.
he found only the other more hope
lessly than ever imbedded.
"First one, then another. then an-
other. and finally Of that mass Of
writhing humanity, as II by q sudden
Inspiration Of salvation, as from some
inner subtle intuition that urged the
distribution Of the body's weight over
the greatest surface possible or even
that urged the tearing OF the upper
portion from that lower portion ale
ready imbedded, threw their bodies
forward at full length on the deceiv-
ing grass before them. But already
doomed. II served only to lengthen
their torture.
"Cfie9, shrieks, groans, sighay pray
ers and invocationS some high. some
insistent, some duplicating and some
desperate, increased ever and ever ~
there increased before their vision the
reality Of the death that every moment
made itself closer and closer.
"Our soldiers, whose humanity new
er for an instant deserted them even
in the face Of the greatest horror Of
the war, reached out the stocks OF
their rifles to the men whom but =
moment before they had hoped to
Stay The Russians grasped them
but It Was = grasp that was utterly
futile. No power on earth could save
them. and with an About face the
Austrian Officers turned their men.
already terrified. with and trembling.
and marched them away with never
2 look backwards at the sserror that
Law hehinds