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knees, they took the oath of allegiance to the new empress!

Elizabeth was now the empress of three hundred soldiers

"Up, now, my friends, to the palace of the czar, where these usurpers

dwell and inflict upon you the sha a cradled infant your

emperor Co them

from their usurped power!"

"We will follow our empress in life and death!" cried the soldiers

They therefore started again, and once th, they reached the imperial palace, where dwelt

the Emperor Ivan with his parents

Elizabeth, with her confidential partisans in four sledges, had hastened

on in advance of the others With renewed courage they approached the

principal entrance of the palace

The guard took to their ar to beat an

alarh the skin of

the drum

The terrified drummer fell, and over his body passed the band of

conspirators, Elizabeth at their head

No one ventured to oppose thee to her who announced herself as theirwith universal sub of the palace occupied by the Eent Here is stationed an officer of the guard He alone ventures

defiance to the intruders He meets them with his sword drawn, and

swears to strike down the first person who attempts to enter the

corridor