Page:The Career of a Nihilist.djvu/158

He can contrive to pass in three small revolvers just as well. I'll inquire at all events."

"Yes, as soon as you can. It will simplify the whole thing enormously."

The next morning when they met again, Zina was able to tell Andrey, to his great delight, that the warder thought the thing was perfectly feasible.

Thus amended the scheme became workable. At the meeting of the group it was accepted at once. It was resolved that, with the prisoners armed, two assailants would be sufficient, with two carriages, to carry them all off. Vasily was commissioned to buy a new horse and a new carriage, whilst Zina was to enter into communication with the Dubravnik people for the two additional men, one as coachman and one to fight.

But now a new turn of affairs compelled them to hasten their preparations, so as to be ready for almost immediate action.

Zina was informed that the prisoners would be summoned to the interrogation within a fortnight, if not sooner. It was impossible to prepare in so short a time all that was necessary for the new attempt. Yet it was impossible to lose perhaps their last chance of trying a rescue.

To cut short all difficulties, Andrey proposed that no new man should be engaged. Provided he had a decent animal to ride, he would undertake to rout the escort alone by a cavalry charge, if the prisoners joined attack from their side at the same moment. Boris and his two companions were all three resolute men. They would have the advantage of two, perhaps three, shots. If they succeeded in disabling one man of their escort,—which was not supposing too much,—the numerical advantage would be on their side. Four of them could rout the rest of the escort. Vasily's part was to be the same. He had only to buy cabman's clothes, and brighten up his carriage in order to make it presentable in daylight. The three prisoners could be carried off without much difficulty in one carriage. Being on horseback, Andrey would be able to take care of himself, and even to cover, if needful, Vasily's retreat.

The plan was a very risky one; for, after all, the prisoners were prisoners. Andrey alone would be free to make the assault. Vasily could hardly be of much use, as he had to look after the carriage. But Andrey had an unshakable faith