San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-07
CHAPTER XIV.
AGAINST GREAT ODDS.

disposition of the prisoners. Phil and
Platoff had been removed from the cen
trail apartment of the prison to a kane
ia, or separate cell, which they shared
with four other convicts, coarse, villain
| GUS looking fellows of a low and vicious
grade. They were locked up securely in
this cell every evening, and their sup
per WIS served to them here on til
sleeping platforms. II was dreary, ill
smelling apartment, with decayed
plank floor and one small window crust
ed with dirt that opened ON the prison
courtyard.
ate his supper in silence, replying only
in nosyllables to the queries of Phil
and Platoff concerning his strange be-
havior that afternoon.
The other inmates of the kamera hur-
ried through their meals and retired to
their own corner of the platform. Maui
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 he
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, fiat steel wedge
with sharp edge, small sealed bot
tie and scrap of paper covered viii
close writing. This latter Platoff seized
and held close to the candle. AS he
read, his face flushed and his hands
trembled with suppressed excitement.
"Ah, this is indeed fortunater' he
said, turning to Maurice. "Your bravery
has obtained you rich reward. She is
truly noble girl! Now repeat careful
ly what she told you, in order that I
may know how to form my plans.
"And you really think escape will
be possible?" asked Maurice eagerly,
and in 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 watchful eye upon the
sleeping convicts.
"Did 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.
at is province 1000 miles to the
north of Kara, replied Platoff grimly,
inhabited by barbarous, half civil
-,
six and seven in one small hut. The 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 mort
degrading of punishments. But keep up
your courage, my boy. You shall not
go to Yakutsk if / can prevent it.
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 of the
AIuuE ldNtlNOstOhy anu LOL OhO
shall never be retaken alive.
A fearful expression that the boys
had never seen there before appeared on
Platoff' face.
"But now, +" he continued more calm
ly, 1--WE must consider the most dan
gerous and important step. We are not
yet out of the prison, and whether we
shall ever get out depends on our ov
GOODNESS and daring. Without this pa
per it would be hopeless, but here, you
see, is description of the prison, which
makes our task much easier.
"This is what the girl says:
"'The prison lies in large court
yard, Enclosed by stockade on three
sides. This courtyard is broad and con-
stantly guarded by armed soldiers, but
the western end of the prison is built
close to the stockade, and the narrow
avenue between is visited only at inter
walls by a single sentry With the bottle
of chloroform stupefy the inmates of
your cell. With the tools loosen board
in the floor and crawl under the prison,
which is built on piles. Gain the west
ern end, scale the stockade and gol
straight to the Kara river. Destroy this
writing"
''That last injunction is important,
said Maurice "How shall we do it?'
For answer Platoff placed the scrap Of
paper in his mouth, and after chewing
it for a moment swallowed it with a
slight grimace.
''That disposes of that question, F" be-
said, land now we must find hiding
place for our treasures.
This was by no means an easy mat
ter, but after much consideration the
knife and the wedge were driven into
the undersiCe of the platform far back
from the edge, and the bottle was placed
in crack in the wall and covered wit,
piece of d. y plastering taken from an
other locality. Just at this point the
candle exhausted its last drop of tallow
and went oct, and at the same time the
tramp of the guard was heard in the
/ corridor