The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-10-20

VI I1e way by q guide. had made
good use OF my time in the engineering
department., and knew the route from
lrkoutsk to the frontier as we'll Dis 1t
could be learned frot1 maps. + fesoiyed
II possible, to take the place of the
guide. Fortune favored me. Tho courier
was to .stnrt early in the morning, The
night before, I found the guide, piled
him with brandy, and left him in q
drunken stupor. Before datbtcak T re-
turned and aroused him. He was still
intoxicated and very thirsty. A few
more drinks of brandy sufIiced to again
stupefy him. Then J took his olotbes,
his horse and his sledge, went for the
courier, and In au hour We had left
lrkoutsk far behind us. fine courier
suspected nothing. He had never seen
the real guide, and had therefore no rea-
son to suppose [ WAS On impostor I
accompanied him as far as Omsk, whefe
he procured another guide and attother
Vemeles Yoh may b5 siirs I *as not
sorry to part with him, for at every post
ing house since we left trkoutsk + had
expected arrest. I felt that 1 would be
safer without him. There was one diff
Guilty, however. I had very little money
--ecarceiy enough TO ketr ms In food
until should reach the frontier. Butfor
tune againfavored me. Amerchant bound
Tor Perm, required conveyance and a
guide, andas 1 Iprofessed to know the coun-
try he employed me. It would take too
long to tell you all the incidents of the
journey, We arrived at Perm, not with
out some difficulty, to be sure (for Was
very Uncertain of the route, and was
well paid for my Services. From Perm
L proceeded alone, and although ! was
without passports or papers of any kind,
L managed to complete my journey.
shall never forget the day r.
rived N st. Petersburg. It was still
winter, and I was penniless, hungry and
in rags, but L was happy. Thad formed
the intention of presenting myself at
the Swiss consulate, and claiming the
protection of the Swiss Governments +
was on my way thither when was &C
costed by two policemen. Not satisfied
with my replies to their questions, they
arrested me. An attempt had been made
the day before to assasinate a hioh offic-
lai, and all suspicious characters wero
being taken into custody. What there
was In my appearance to excite suspicion
l know not, for there we're thousands in
st. Petersburg as ragged and dirty as I.
The thought of returning to prison, per
haps to Siberia, maddened me. I re-
sisted but was overpowered, and in few
minutes N was once more in dungeon.
fof n tlme l. gave way to despair T
t1ncled myself again in the mines, diving
lingering death. The thought was SO 20
terrible that had not been chained to
the floor L should have contrived to kill
myself.
II had been in prison five days, and
had had time for reflection. I was con-
vlnced that nobody had recognized me.
and that my arrest had no connection
whatever with my escape from Siberia.
This gave me hope, and with hope came
the determination to make another effort
tor liberty. l should have appealed to
the Swiss consul, but [ knew that no
be conveyed to him. At last an idea
struck me, and acted upon it.
Among my pupils in former days had
been ncice of Prince Gortschakoff. She
was beautiful creature, young, accom-
piished, and with q heart of gold. We
had become very good friends, consider
ing the difference in station between
princess and q music teacher know
that if [ could communicate with her she
would assist me, but how could COM
municate with her? had no money to
bride the jail attendant, and without bri-
berry had nothing to expect However,
concluded to appeal to him, and at the
next opportunity L asked him if he knew
the princess. Yes, he replied, 'she
IS visiting the prison to-day
Visiting the prison, exclaimed.
DO they, then, admit visitors
"'lt Is against the rules said he but
when women and princess resolves to
see tue prison, who can prevent her?
She will have her own way, rules or no
rules.
"'Do you think she will come here p
"'Who knows? If she wishes to come
she will come
AT this moment I heard the voice Of
q prison official explaining that this was
the department. of the suspected
"'S She is here, said the attendant,
and Mt that moment she appeared at the
door, which had not been closed
go Princess [ cried, will you not
save me?
Who are you?' she asked, evi-
dently not recognizing me through my
involuntary disguise of rags, dirt and
chains.
octave you forgotten your old music
teacher. Do you not know me?'
My God Is it possible ! No,
Professor, L have not forgotten you, and
I will help you. What must I do to
procure your release p
"'Tell the Swiss Consul that I, the
son of former President of the Swiss
Republic, am imprisoned on suspicion.
He will do the rest
"'I will go to him instantly she
said, and hurriedly left the prison.
In few days was set at liberty,
and having, with the aid Of friends, pro
cured suitable garments, I called to
thank the Princess for her kindness. 1t
was then, for the first time, thatI learned
the cause of my banishment.