Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-15

unsparirg hand. Spring was not 1ar
off, and he was anxious to reach Vladi-
vostok before the mild weather made
sleighing impossible. Struggled up in
furs, Platoff and Maurice sat far back
under the leather hood, while Phil,
cramped and uncomfortable, remained
in his narrow place of concealment.
They passed many travellers on the road
-Tartars, merchants, peasants and occa-
sionally Cossack soldiers or Russian Of
ficers-but no unpleasant incidents &C.
CURED. Nicolas Poussin' 9 passports car
ried them through all dangerous places.
Sometimes they slept in the same
room at night with soldiers or dined
with them at the came table. On such
occasions Nicolas Poussin conversed for
himself and his companions
Phil had the hardest time of all,
sleeping at nightin the station yards
and eating such food as his ompanions
could smuggle out to him, but he bore
all without complaint. .a..
Day by day travelling became. more
difficult, and it was well that Nicolas
Poussin was able to procure fresh troll
kas each morning, for when night came
the horses were often completely worn
out from dragging the heavy sledge
over bare places in the road and through
the slushy snow.
On the seventh evening, just as the
sun was going down redly over the
pine crowned hills to the westward,
they reached small Siberian village,
Vastak by name, and drove into the
spacious yard of the station. Sleepy
looking peasants in gay costumes were
standing about in the street, and few
soldiers were visible The station house
was larger than many Of it's kind, and
at Nicolas Poussin's request the staros.
ia gave the travellers small private
room, and presently brought in dishes
of bread, meat and cheese and steam
ing samovar. In the middle Of the re-
past Russian officer entered, and with
many apologies requested their pass
ports
He glanced them over briefly and
bowed his way out
As the door closed Nicolas Poussin
drew small map from his pocket and
spread it out on the table.
II will show you where we are, " be
said abruptly. "You remember that
we left the AmuF some days ago and
turned up the bed of the Ussuri Here,
you see, is the Amur running to the
northeast, while the Ussuri flows d.
rectly north. Consequently we are trav-
cling south. We have reached this
point" designating spot on the map,
"and now Vladivostok is but 200 miles
away. have brought you farther than
7 hoped to do. You see it will be dan
gerous to continue the use Of these pass
ports, for the men whose names you
bear are known to many Of the officials
between here and the Pacific. For your
safety and mine we must part I will
provide you with sufficient food, and If
you are cautious you will reach the
coast in safety"
"Yes, you are right" said Platoff
with emotion. Tomorrow we will
leave you. Better that we should take
the risks of recapture than"-
"Stop," said Poussin. "You forget
/ wish to hear nothing don't know
who you are, understand, or where you
are going. You saved my life. That is
all choose to remember. "
A oommotion was suddenly heard out
side, and he turned to the window. The
interest depicted on his face drew his
companions to the spot. Out in the sta
ton yard a Cossack surrounded by an
inquisitive crowd was mailing big
white placard to one of the gateposts.
The distance was too great to distin-
euish its contents. Maurice and Platoff
exchanged significant glances, but be-
fore they could speak the starosta flung
open the door and entered.
"a courier has arrived with procla-
nations" he said breathlessly. 1T
seems that the escaped convicts who
were seen near TCluar have eluded pur-
suit and cannot be found. Of course
they have not reached this neighbor-
hood yet, but the government wishes to
be on the safe side, and so they are post
ing notices from station to station"
"Ah," said Poussin coolly, "we
have heard something of that on our
way. And sn they have slipped off from
the soldiers, have they? Woll, they will
be caught sooner or later. Have you
one of the placards with you? 1t would
be wise for us to read the descriptions
in case we run across the fellows. "
The starosta rushed out of the room
and into the yard.
"Keep cool, said Poussin. There is
not the slightest cause for fear. / saw
these placards month ago.
The fellow was back in an instant,
paper in hand. "Here, you read it; my
ewes are bad," said Poussin, and he
handed it to Platoff.
Maurice, to conceal his emotion, turn
ed to the samovar and drew cup OF
tea, but Platoff coolly took the paper
and read aloud in firm, clear voice:
TWO THOUSAND RUBLES REWARD.
The above sum will be paid for the arrest OF
three conyicts who escaped in February from
the mines Mt Kara; ono tall and light haired
his companions of medium height, and dnrk. AT
the time of their escape two Of them wore the
prison gnrb; the other was nttired in Cos
sack uniform.
They are journcying down the Amur valley,
and all persons are hereby warned to extend
no aid whatever under the severest penalties
GENERAL MELIKOFF,
Governor Of tho Mines Of Kara
..kather q meager description, said
Platoff, laying tho paper aside.
"Ah, but their Clothes" exclaimed
the starosta. "That is a sure Identified
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