Makhno's genius was about to be submitted to a su- preme test. It appeared absolutely impossible to escape from the monstrous network of troops advancing from all sides toward the small group of insurgents. Three thousand rev- olutionary fighters were surrounded by an army of at least 150,000 men. But Makhno did not for an instant lose cour age or presence of mind. He embarked on a heroic duel against this mass of troops. Surrounded on all sides by Red divisions, he marched like a legendary Titan, fighting (13 déc. 1920