The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-31
CHAPTER xxxIv.
WE MAKE OUR ESCAPE.


hour later we reached the etape, where we
were to stay for the night
had heard much of the horrors OF these
stations and the loathsome "kameras," or
sleeping places. in which the convicts were
herded, and had seen them in the collec-
tions of paintings exhibited by Taras. /
was therefore astonished to find the log
hut In which passed the night so decent
and habitable IL was not overcrowded.
There was rough carpet on the floor, and
the only real hardship was the absence OF
bed and bedding. for we had to sleep on
a sloping board and in our clothes
was much better Oft than my compan-
Ion, who was thrust into a den built TO ac-
commodate $50 prisoners, with no less than
40 criminals of oil sorts, and the horrors
of that night were more, i believe, than he
could make light of, for he was extremely
reticent upon the subject. All that he told
me was that he had found no room to lie
down and had breathed a little atmos-
pherc of his own by smoking all night.
However" he said cheerfully, that's
all past. and shall make up for q sleep
less night by good long snooze this after
nood-if we dont come TO the end of our
journey before"
We went on by another mail sledge, but
with the same guard who had left ST.
Petersburg with us
These two Cossacks never left us through
out our long journey, which continued
without any break, save the nightly halt
mt a convict station, for three weeks after
we had passed through Moscow. Soon
after leaving that city behind US I noticed
change in poor Gordon. His spirits
seemed to be losing their elasticity, his
gayety to be q little forced, his pipe more
necessary.
But despite the bitter reflections that
must have arisen to his mind his attitude
toward me displayed no sign of animosity.
There was no lapse in his gentleness and
tender consideration for my comfort. His
kindness was unvarying Our common
misfortune, which thought would imbit-
ter our hearts, served only as link of
sympathy to hold US together.
Gordon still spoke hopefully, though at
rare and rarer intervals, of our being re
called TO ST. Petersburg, but for my part i
had quite abandoned the hope of any revo-
cation of our fate wher an accident oc-
Cured which gave new turn to our for
tunes
One night was awakened by strange
outcry Of distant voices. AS turned upon
the wooden platform that served as my
sleeping place, the woman next to me, who
had already sprung up, cried:
"Holy God, we are on firep
At that cry all Of us slipped to the ground
in moment, with mingled exclamations
of dismay.
The kamera was full of smoke-it choked
US as we breathed-and through the one
small easement a dull red glow fell upon
US. When we perceived that it was not
our kamera, but another, which was in
flames, we concluded that it must be the one
in which the men were confined, and Shrek
ing the names of our friends we rushed at
the door. vainly trying TO break it open.
The muffIed clamor of voices told us that
the men were still shut up. Suddenly there
was great outburst of voices as they forced
their door, and the next instant they were
crying to us from the outside of our hut
and beating furiously at the door which
separated us. We stood back as the heavy
panels creaked under the pressure of sturdy
shoulders, and presently a mighty thrust
burst the lock away, and the door flew back
In the midst of the wild confusion that
followed felt my arm grasped and found
Gordon by my side.
Come along, little woman. Don't give
Half fainting with fright and the suf-
locating effect of the dense smoke blowing
down upon us. staggered along by his
side, past crowd of panic stricken
wretches surging about the gate of the
yard in expectation Of its being opened for
them to escape. and then through shower
of sparks and past a roaring and cracking
mass of fire into an open space, where it
xyoS t,ocaibla fa braaf ha fr..alv and ,yof an
comprehensive idea of what was going on.
This etape, like most others, consisted of
four or five log buildings Of a single story,
inclosed by high palisade of solid logs,
planted side by side, and each cut to sharp
point at the top One of the buildings,
used as a storehouse and carpenters shop,
had taken fire, and the wind. which was
blowing fiercely, carried the flames and
smoke down upon the kamera. The end
OF that one in which Gordon had been shut
up was already blazing, and it looked as IL
sll the huts in succession must catch fire
and be destroyed, for the officials could do
nothing to extinguish the flames and were
solely occupied in dragging what movables
were worth saving into the space where we
and few others stood.
just in front Of US was an ugly little man
with n red beard A sardonic grin was on
his impish face.
Look at them," he said, pointing TO n
party of wardcrs hauling along cum
brous piece of furniture. "lIalf a dozen
men choking themselves to save piece OF
wood not worth couple OF kopcciSs, aud
not one will stir n foot to prevent those
poor wretched devils tranpling each other
10 death at the locked gate"
as there any danger herei" asked. He
turned around and answered. bitterly:
"Yes; there's the danger of living to see
the mines of Kara OF any other pit OF
Tophet that our holy car In his mercy con-
signs us to-"
Shading his eyes from the glare Of the
flames and looking into the smoke, he
said
"lf those fools, instead Of pounding each
other into jelly, would only pile them
selves into a heap Systematically, there
would be a chance for some Of us TO snatch
few days respite in the forest. Hellol''
he exclaimed as q lull came I'm the conflict