The Keepers of the People

1350“As was arranged,” said Althea drily. “But there is no doubt about our losses. Six thousand men at the least.”

1351The last of the Varandals were far up towards the corner, when a few Cossacks rode out of the woods by the highway, and drew up with a shrill cheering yell at the sight of the empty plain. Presently the Russian firing ceased; the infantry pushed through the wood; and the Russian staff came through by the highway. They rode to the middle of the plain, and halted at a spring; then aide-de-camp after aide-de-camp galloped away from them, and before long the whole Russian force was marching to the spot where Prince Melinsky was waiting. The batteries, the cavalry, and the stores came easily down the broad highway; and in an hour or two they were encamping round the spring a mile below the palace. The five companies who had marched into it, and the mute guard manned the ramparts; but it was soon plain that no attack on it would be made that night: the Russians, indeed, were worn out by the day’s fighting. Whole companies were sprawled at length, many sleeping already, waiting for the evening meal; and the fires were lighting quickly. A little before sunset a company marched out with their prisoners, some fifty men, who had for the most part been prevented by slight wounds from escaping; and while the defenders of the palace were wondering what they were about; they ranged them in two rows, and shot them. The Russian officers had hit on this means of destroying the last spark of spirit in the Varandals. But the roar of rage and execration which rose up from the defenders of the palace might have inspired into them a doubt of its effect. When the news of this act came to Prince Ralph, he caused it to be spread among the troops, and bade them give no quarter. The news inflamed them to a fury which would see to it that his bidding was faithfully carried out.

1352Althea and Ruth, who were watching the two picked regiments which, out of sight, had been moving along with the cavalry on the right flank of the Russians, coming into the camp of the others, stared at one another with scared faces when they saw the unfortunates shot; and Althea said, “Now, for certain, no Russian will leave Varandaleel alive; nor stay in it alive! Filibustering is bad enough; but this is carrying filibustering too far!”