Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-29
CHAPTER XVI.
TREACHERY.

"Would it not be safer to hide in
some place until night" asked Maurice,
"and approach the shore in the dark?'
"Now is the best time" said Cap
tain Daroman. "On such wet days the
soldiers do not move about much, and
the Cossacks along the coast, who are
probably OH the lookout for us, will re-
lax their vigilance. We would have no
better opportunity if we waited a week.
We can easily reach the shore and con-
ceal ourselves in the hills until night
comes.
'Iagree with you. said Platoff with
m0,e warmth than he had yet shown.
"This is our chance On such day es-
capped convicts are supposed to hide i'll
some dry place instead of travelling IN
the rain. Captain Daroman, you keep
about ten yards behind me, the boys
half that distance in your rear. Thus
the danger of discovery will be lessen
ed"
Platoff' s advice was promptly needed,
and in that order they moved cautious
ly down the hill. Before they reached
the bottom the stormcloud they had
seen burst upon them III all its fury.
The rain came down in torrents and
the wind blew with great force.
This storm was undoubtedly bless
ing in disguise. Whatever Cossacks
were posted in the hill passes were
driven to shelter, and at one point Pla-
toff and his companions actually crawl
ed on hands and. knees between two
blazing campfires not 80 feet apart. A
Gordon of troops was evidently stretch
ed along the coast several miles north
and south of Vladivostok.
The fugitives were moving cautious
ly over the lower slope of the foothills
through a pretty heavy forest when
Platoff halted and signaled his compan-
ions to join him. He pointed through a
break in the trees to small house built
very lastly of stone, with fancy trim
mings. A veranda surrounded the first
floor, and all the shutters were tightly
closed The whole building was inclosed
by hedge of prickly thorn bushes.
Captain Daroman scrutinized the
place closely.
"This is "a summer cottage belong
ing to some VladivostOk merchant he
said, "some wealthy fellow who goes to
St. Petersburg for the winter and spends
the summer here. The house is empty
now, and the owner will probably not
return until May or June. 1t is fortu-
nato thing for us. We can take refuge
here until al opportunity offers to
board some vessel"
'But will it be safe?" asked Platoff.
EYES," replied the captain. mo one
will think of locking for us here. Sup
pose you make detour of the house,
and if you find no cause for alarm we
will effect an entrance at once"
Platoff acted OH this suggestion and
returned with the report that all was
quiet in front
Itwas All easy matter to slip through
the hedge, and with almost equal ia.
cility Captain Daroman entered the Gel
lar by forcing one of the skylishts, and
presently he opened the back door tri,
umphantly for his companions.
A hasty examination showed that the
building had been stripped of its furni'
ture, the owner, no doubt, being afraid
to leave anything of value i'll it during
the winter Even the cellar was com
pletely empty.
But the house was dry, and, what was
of more Importance, probably safe. II
had two stories. with a small square
tower on top. Platoff found small lad