Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-28

He caught up the lantern, and casting its
light into the forepart of the boat he add
ed, with running accompaniment of eN-
plctives:
IF didn't think so! Its them under
handed furriners playin this trick on us
They're got line on u.s. a-towin us down"
Setting down the lantern, he scrambled
forward to disengage the grapnel by which
we We're being towed, but before he had
time to accomplish this the boat in front
backed. struck our bow and ground down
alongside us. The feeble glimmer of the
lantern was sufficient to reveal some dusky
object bearing down upon us, a hand laid
on the side of our boat and another
stretched out to seize the lantern, the figure
of the waterman kneelinG on the thwart,
and his face turned in evaporation toward
the offensive ''furriner." Then an oar
swept down and struck him on the head, a
man from the other boat trundled over the
side into ours, the lantern was snatched out
and dropped into the water. and we were
left in utter darkness.
The waterman had fallen over with a
grunt, stunned, and now lay quiet enough
in the bottom of the boat. All we heard
was murmured command and the splash
of oars in front of us.
Gordon had started to his feet at the mo-
meEt Mech fell, shouting a hasty demand
lOf an OA pldlldllOIl, Dllb ne ROG no answer,
and the extinguishing of the light rendered
, him powerless, and his chief concern was to
assure me that no harm could come to me
The whole affair was ineNplicable to him.
not knowing that the object OF this attack
was to take him prisoner. l myself could
not see how it was to end, for still thought
that Gordon was to be taken to the Mari
ner's Joy.
y whistle was blown in the boat that
towed us, and another whistle, seemingly
at no great distance, Immediately replied.
l concluded that this signal was made from
the shore, and a faint speck in the darkness
led me to think that we were nearing Fer
ryboat stairs. But as we approached it the
light took n reddish glare, not to be mis-
taken for the light of a gas lamp. The
whistle was blown again and replied to as
before, only this time it sounded quite
near, and at the same time a white light
began to descend from the level of the red
This is the oldest thing in the world, :"
said Gordon in a tone of perplexity. That
must be ships light in front of us, and
the lantern is evidently coming down the
side"
Then understood the position of affairs.
Gordon was to be taken on board the Rus
sian vessel and not to the Mariners Joy, as
Kavanagh had intended.
III u lew IuluulGS VIC ntIG OTdNu
side the dark hull of the steamer On the
little platform at the foot of the side steps
an officer in long cloak was standing, with
bright, bullseye lantern. The light daz-
zled me when he turned it in our faces.
The man who had scrambled into our boat
drew us close to the platform and held us
in that position.
The officer raised his hat and said in Rus
sian:
Twill the Prince Taras Borgensky be
good enough to step on boardi" l knew
enough of the language tounderstand that.
What does he say, mademoisellef" ask
ed Gordon.
Ny heart sickened for an instant, but
summonin9 up courage replied:
''He says Taras is on board and wishes to
see u.s."
Great heavenr' Gordon exclaimed, ris-
ing. Il see how it is now. They've got
poor old Taras. I'm afraid it's too late for