Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-25

nuns and himself could rough it, only
thankful for speedy journey. And
the payment he would leave to me to
apportion.
"A compliment" added the prelate
with laugh and shrug, (which I
assure you, captain, would not offer to
my own countrymen. But you English
have conscience"
l did not forfeit the national reputa-
ton for fair dealing by charging His
Worthiness-for such I believe to be
the correct designation of a Muscovite
bishop-too much for the meagre COM
fort which was able on board the Fair
Helen to supply to this clerical COM
pany. We set to work with hammer
and saw, and as all sailors, even Rus
sian fresh-water mariners, are handy
fellows, We soon knocked up some
Tough cabins for the nuns, while gave
up my own quarters to the bishop. As
for the students, the weather was fine,
and a set of hardy young fellows might
surely make shift to keep the deck
There were. as it turned out, four
nuns, two of them being tall, burly
Tsvorniks, of that she-grenadier aspect
so common among the Russian peasant
women who take the vows, and the
other two slight, delicate in manners
and appearance, and Enthusiastically Ia
dies. There were twenty-three stu
dents, wellgrown lads enough, but ap-
parently shy and i'll at ease, and who
huddled together in mob when
brought on board, and Stunned CONVEX
satlon. Nor were the nuns very COM
municative; but the bishop, who was
fluent and agreeable talker, made
amends for the taciturnity of the rest.
At Stostitza, where we stopped to
take in fireWood, and where the over
seers of the RATS went ashore to hire
fresh laborers in the room of dozen
feyer-stricken wretches on whom the
miasma of the muddy river had done
it's work, and who had been left behind
it at Bykhow, a sad procession went by
the wharf alongside of which the
steamer lay. This consisted Of some
thirty political prisoners, Poles, as we
were told, implicated in an abortive re-
volt near Minsk, and now on their way
to Siberia. They were of all ranks and
ages; some with delicate hands and
faces that told of culture and refine
ment; others who showed the marks of
honest toll; but all bore themselves
with a certain air of quiet dignity
which seemed to impress even the half
savage COssacks who guarded them.
There was something in the proud en-
durance Of the captives which touched
me. They were in chains, their clothes
were worn and ragged. Their faces
were wan with the privations of Rus
sian prison, and all were footsore and
weary. Yet it was impossible not to
admire the patient courage of their de-
meanor.
Do HI ,o% IF nnY
these Poles,'' said the bishop, taking
pinch of snuff and offering to me the
gilt box with suave courtesy. They
sacrifice themselves for dream"
We were long time at Stostitza, for
the overseers new hands were hard to
coax away from the vodka shops,
though when they did arrive they GER
tainly turned out to be fifteen as strap
ping fellows as I had ever seen; men,
too. VINO walked with the steady step
of old soldiers. Of this however, since
CONSUMPTION passes half the peasantry
through the ranks, thought little, but
gave orders to cast off the mornings,
get up fuller head of steam to make
up for lost time, and push on to Roga-
czew, our next halting place. -Four
versts down the river caught the
CLEAN among the tall reeds of the bank
of Cossack lance points, and soon,
rounding a head-land, deserted the
kafila of prisoners. These latter
marched but slowly, and their mount
ed guards, under the orders OF an OIL
Ger in green uniform-a major, as l
guessed by his medals and the glitter
of his epaulettes-Were driving them
on with blows and threats. Just as we
came abreast of the captives l heard
the overseer of the RATS shouting
hoarsely orders which seemed worse
than useless, for by some mismanage-
ment of the poles the raftsmen hao
grounded one of the cumbrous struc-
lures on a sand bank. The tough tow
rope jerked and creaked.
'sStop her, there below-reverse en-
ginesr' / called out; but scarcely had l
done SO before, to my utter amazement,
the travelling bishop drew from pc
meath his purple-hemmed cassock q Sill
yer whistle and blew long, shrill note.
The effect of this signal-ca1l was mag
ical in it's rapidity. Wadlng Walst-oeep
in the water. the raft-workers whom we
had taken in at Stostitza hurried TO
shore, scrambled up the slippery bank
and rushed like so many tigers upon
the escort that guarded the prisoners.
.sHa. traitors! Cut the villains down.
Numbered the Russian major, whisklng
cut his saber and aiming a heavy stroke
at the first assailant who reached him;
but a cudgel parted the blow. and IN
less time than it takes to tell 1t the ON
Ger was disarmed and dragged from MS
saddle. OF the nine Cossacks eight
we're dismounted and bound without
any serious resistance, but the nlntn
eluded the hands that clutched at ms
bride. fired, wounding the man nearest
to him, and, wheeling his shaggy steed'
rode off at a gallop, pursued by a storm
of pistol balls and curses.
"Help. Captain! Cap gurgled IN
choking accents a well-knoWn voice,
and I looked round. to see Macgregor
yainly struggling in the grasp OF three
ecclesiastical students, one OF WHOM
held him by the throat. Another Oh
these interesting neophytes was press
ing the mrzzle of revolver to the Tore
head of the scared lelmsman, while nve
or six had found their way to the en-.
gfne-room. to judge by the sounds OF
scufIling that proceeded from the hatch
way.
4secure himr' cried the false bishop,
no;nting to me, and three young TEL
lows ali well armed and all with their
.o1,ac dicordered and revealing