River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-30

man that not one word of it shall
transpire through me"
The senses of men in great physical
danger become strangely acute, or
their imagination plays them curious
tricks. My back was toward the door
as sat, but could have sworn that |
heard heavy breathing behind me.
Was it the three minions whom | had
seen before in the performance of their
hateful functions, and who like vul-
teres had shifted another victim?
/ looked around the table. Still the
the same hard, cruel faces. Not one
glance of sympathy. | cooked the re-
volver in my pocket
There was a painful silence, which
was broken by the harsh, grating voice
of Petrokine.
Promises are easily made and easily
broken" he said. "There is but one
way of securing eternal silence. 1t is
our lives or yours. Let the highest
among us speak"
"You are right, sir" said the Eng
fish agent; "there is but one course
open. He must be dismissed"
| knew what that meant in their con-
| founded iargon, and sprang to my feet.
"By Heaven" | shouted, putting
my back against the door, ''you shan't
butcher a free Englishman like a
sheep The first among you who stirs
Drops"
A man sprang at me- / saw along
the sights of my Derringer the gleam
of knife and the demoniacal face of
Gustave Berger Then / pulled the
trigger, and with his hoarse scream
sounding in my ears, | was felled to the
ground by a crashing blow from be-
hind Half unconscious and pressed
down by some heavy weight, | heard
the noise of shouts and blows upon me,
and then | tainted away.
When / came to myself was lying
among the debris of the door, which
had been beaten in on top of me.
Opposite we've dozen of the men who
had lately sat in judgment upon me,
tied two and two, and guarded by a
score of Russian soldiers. Beside me
was the corpse of the Inflated English
agent, the whole face blown in by the
force of the explosion. Alexis and
Petrokine were both lying on the floor
like myself, bleeding profusely.
"Well, young fellow. you've had a
narrow escape" said hearty voice in
my ear.
/ looked up and recognized my
black-eyed acquaintance of the rail
road carriage.
"Stand up" he continued, you're
only bit stunned: no bones broken.
It's no wonder l mlstook you for the
Nihilist agent, when the very Lodge it.
self was taken in. Well, you're the
only stranger who ever came out OF
this den alive. Come down stairs with
me. | know who you are and what
you are after now; I'll take you to MIR.
Dimidoff. Nay, don't go in there" he
cried, as / walked toward the door of
the cell into which had been origin
ally ushered. "You have seen evil
sights enough for one day. Come
down and have glass of liquor"
He explained as we walked back to
the hotel that the police of Solicit, of
which he was the chief. had had warn
ing and been on the lookout during
some time for this Nihilistic emissary.
My arrival in so unfrequented place,
coupled with my air of secrecy and the
English labels on that COMPOUNDED
portmanteau of Gregory's, had COM
pleted the business.
I have little more to tell. My Social
istic acquaintance were all either
transported to Siberia or executed. My
mission was performed to the satisfac-
ton of my employers. My conduct
during the whole business has won me
promotion, and my prospect for life
has been improved since that horrible
night, the remembrance of which still
makes me shiver.