The Portland daily press., 1885-01-02
sJasns Christ suffered

Jesus Christ suffered. I also will suffer-
We were in despair At last Demetrlus
Clemens, who was organizing our escape
outside, luckily thought of going to the taV-
ern which Nikita irequented, and having
made his acquaintance there, said he was IN
want of a bookkeeper for sugar refinery III
the country. The conditions we're very adj
yantageous. and the innocent Nkita swal-
lowed the bait at gulp. Having received
bis travelling expenses, Nikita resigned his
situation in the prison, as he had to set out
Immediately. Then came various delays
until, our escape having been effected, his
passport was sent to him, and note, in
which he was told that nothing more was
wanted of him, and that he would have no
difficulty-in guessing the reason.
HIS post in the prison being vacant, the
governor went to Slefanovc and Dsuc, to
speak in a friendly manner with them re-
speeding the appointment of his successor.
Don't you think that Fomenko (Michael)
would be very good man%
Stefanovic made a gTimace and reflected.
"A spy, it seems
NO, 10, he is an excellent fellow and the
governor defended him.
Michael was appointed head-warden in the
corridor of the political prisoners,
The most important move was made; but
this was not all. He might open the doors
of our csIs, but how were tour Of us to pass
out of prison under military guard!
Meanwhile not minute was TO be lost.
MicbaePs position was terribly dangerous.
The prison was crammed with political o.
tenders of all kinds, from mere lads confined
there on suspicion, to rev0lntionists serious
" compromised There were prisoners Of
every rank; and owing to his past activity
Michael was known and recognized by many.
No denpnci&tion was to be feared; for MI
chael, having been for many years ''illsSal,"
kept up ne direct intercourse except with
those who could be trusted. Who, how
ever, could guarantee him against innocent
indscretions, especially in such ticklish
mat er as this?
We we're upon tenter hooks.
We resolved to take advantage, at the ear
lest possible opportunity, Of the favorable
position in which we were placed by Nj
chaePs appointment. No sooner was he
thoroughly established in his new office
than we fixed the night for our escape.
The most natural mode of passing out was
that of Disgusting ourselves as sentines who,
having finished their turn of duty, were
leaving to return to their barracks. Michael
prepared soldiers uniforms for us, but two
others had to remain in civilians dress Fo'
the four of us there was only one sword bui
we determined not to wait for more.
On the evening of the day fixed, Michael
brought US the military uniforms. We dis
guised ourselves, and then arranged theE
counterpaues of our beds in sach mannerI
that's in the morning it would appear ash
though we were asleep.
At midnight Michael came to open thei
doors of our cells. But here an unforeseenj
obstacle arose. The warden on duty, whol
had to watch all night came into the corrig
dor at the very moment and showed not the
slightest eageTness TO leave it.
Stefanovic thereupon let book with
loose leaves fall as if by accident into the
garden. There the leaves were scattered
about on the ground, and Stevanovic, turn
ing TO Michael, begged him to fetch them at
once Michael sent the warder to pick them
mp and take them off to the Office. While
the latter was thus occupied we noisrlessly
left our cells and proceeded toward the en-
trance. (
When we had passed through the corridor
a terrible occurrence happened at the end
The rope of the alarm bell was dangling
there. Cropping along against the wall in
utter darkness, stumbled against some-
thing. l felt myself slipping, instinctiyely
stretched out nay hands, felt something
| touch my fingers and caught hold of it te
| avoid falling. On the instant loud sound
| doomed throughout the prison. had caught
hold OF the bell-rope. The horror, thu
shame, the absurdity of our unfortunate aeI
cident flashed upon me ike lightning.
| We thought all was lost. Already th'l
noise and the voices OF the soldiers on guard
| who were hastily mastering, were heard. MI
chael, however, did not lose his GOODNESS. HI
! told us to hide ourselves in various cornersl
and ran to the guard saying that it was hi
who had rung the bell by accident. All bel
| came quiet again.
| But then another perpexity arose, having
hidden ourselves in various corners, we weri
within an ace of losing each other in the uii
| ter darkness when we wanted to come forthi
| Michael had to run hitEer and thither TO gel
US together again. Once more in order "
started again. i
But the greatest difficulty was yet to comb
We had to pass through the gate of the prisl
On before the doorkeeper ana the sentinel
| In this, however, we succeeded admirable
On hearing the voice of Michael the dooil
keeper gave him the key to opea the WICKED
and the sentinel in his box paid no attention.
| to our strange attire.
We had advanced few steps, when lol al
officer stood before US as though he hal
sprung from the ground. He, however, pal
no attention, and we saw the handsome fac
of Valersn Dimitri, who, radiant with 10
grasped our hands. He was awaiting u
with vehicle, so as to hurry US at ft
speed toward the Dnieper, where skin, I
ted tor l6ug voyage and supplied with pI
visions of every kind, was ready.
A moment afterwards we gllded into I
middle of the river and seered southwai
The voyage lasted about a week. By nis
we hauled our boat up under the thicket.
the banks, so as to get some hours rest. 4
day we tugged hard at the oars, and VII
ever we caught sight on the distant horn
of the smoke of some steamer we hid I
selves in the rashes which line the DnNk
On arriving at Kremeucing we agsiult
IDlmitri, who had reached there by raifI,
and was waiting for US with passportsl II
everything necessary. ~
From him we learned that the Who'll ly
of Kielf had been thrown into comm +,
because it was believed we were con 7 d
there.
AT the prison our escape was not DIV
, cred until broad daylight When it wasen
that Michael had also disappeared wius.
no one OWNED the truth. He had insed
, such confidence that the governor and n.y.
| body believed We had killed him, and sch
was made for his body in every directie
1t was not until the necessary verifit IN
3 had been made, and it was found tina is
passport was false one, that the myry
was explained, which, until then, hade-
| oOvao iDo0rnnrnhaD eihia ,;