Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-04
CHAPTER XIV.
AGAINST GREAT ODDS.

AGAINST GREAT ODDS-
Itmust be remembered that some al
terations had been recently made In the
disposition of the prisoners Phil and
PlatofF had been removed from the cen
tral apartment of the prison to kane
IA, or separate cell, which they shared
with four other convicts, coarse, villain
ous looking fellows of low and vicious
grade. They were locked up securely in
this cell every evening, and their sup.
per was served to them here on the
sleeping platforms. 1t was dreary, i'll
smelling apartment, with decayed
plank floor and one small window crust
ed with dirt that opened on the prison
courtyard.
On this particular evening Maurice
ate his supper in silence, replying only
in monosyllables to the queries Of Phil
and Platoff concerning his strange be-
kavior that afternoon.
The other inmates of the kamera hur-
ried through their meals and retired to
their own corner of the platform. Mau-
rice waited until the sound of heavy
breathing assured him that they were
asleep, and then. drawing the package
from his bosom, he proceeded to open it
before the astonished eyes of his two
companions, briefly explaining as ne
did so how it came into his possession.
The outer covering was quickly re.
moved, and the dim light of the tallow
candle burning at their side revealed
strong bladed knife, fat steel wedge
with sharp edge, small sealed bot
tie and scrap of paper covered with
close writing. This latter Platof seized
and held close to the candle. AS he
read, his face flushed and his hands
trembled with suppressed excitement.
"Ah, this is indeed fortunate!' he
said, turning to Maurice. "Your bravery
has obtained you a rich reward. She is
truly a noble girl! Now repeat careful
ly what she told you, i'll order that I
may know how to form MY plans.
"And you really think escape will
be possible?" asked Maurice eagerly,
and in a whisper he related in detail
all that had passed, explaining the To-
cation of the cave and by what signs
it could be discovered.
Platoff listened intently, keeping
meanwhile a watchful eye upon the
sleeping convicts.
"Did I not read Melikoff's character
rightly?" he said when Maurice ended.
"And so he proposes shooting you Or
sending you to Yakutsk. For my part
should prefer the shooting.'
"Where is Yakutsk?" asked Maurice.
"It is a province 1000 miles to the
north of Kara" replied Platoff grimly,
"inhabited by a barbarous, half civil
lized race. who dress in skins and live
six and seven in one small hut. Tho ex-
lie who goes there is domiciled With
one of these families and suffers fate
worse than death. And yet," added
Platoff, with bitter indignation, 81
have known Russian women of refine
ment and education to suffer this most
degrading of punishments. But keep up
your courage, my boy. You shali not
20 to Yakutsk if / can prevent It. l
must say that circumstances are strong
ly in our favor. In fact, we could hope
for nothing better, for if once we get
away from this prison the cave will af-
ford US a secure hiding place until, as
the girl says, the pursuit has spread far
from here. Then for the valley c: the
Amur and Vladivostok, and l for ono
shall never be retaken alive"
A fearful expression that the boys
had never seen there before appeared on
Platoff's face.
"But now," he continued more calm
", eve must consider the most dan
gerous AMI important step. We are not
vet out of the prison, and whether we
shall ever get out depends on our own
GOODNESS and daring. Without this pa