The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-01

Maurice knew that St. Petersburg
was many miles away, but he was hard
ly prepared for the Russians statement
that the actual distance was about 2, 500
miles.
EST Petersburg lies to the west"
explained Grodno, "but to the Russian
frontier it is not more than 200 miles.
That is the point we must strike for,
and we stand good chance of reaching
il, fer the country to our west is much
of it wild, and we are hundreds of miles
north of the great Siberian roads where
capture would be certain.
And what will we do for food?"
asked Maurice in dismay. "How are
we going to live through such jour-
ney as that?"
''There are villages scattered through
the country" replied Grodno, land
the people are always willing to aid es-
capped prisoners. Our first necessity is
change of clothes. We must rid our
selves of these convict garments. 4"
"But won't we be pursued" asked
Maurice. "How can we hope to escape
the soldiers?"
''We must take the chances" replied
Grodno coolly "Cur escape was dis
covered long ago, of course. 1t is posi-
BILE that when the empty boat is found
they will believe that we are at the
bottom of the river, but it is more than
likely that the Cossacks will scour the
country We must stay in hiding for
few days.
Grodno turned aside tC.5Hnverse with
Hamid, and Maurice exl fined to Phil
what the Russian had told him. In
spite of Ahe discouraging outlook the
boys were now hopeful.
Everything depends on reaching ST
Petersburg without being retaken, said
Maurice, land once there, Phil, shall
try to see this Colonel Jaroslav. Ii we
| succeed in that, we shall be saved, and
Vladimir Saradoff shall pay dearly for
this outrage.
To Maurice, comparatively ignorant
| of the tremendous obstacles in the way,
! the chances of reaching st. Petersburg
seemed very good, and his cheering
words frightened Phil considerably.
The conversation was cut short by
! Grodno, who announced that it was
! time to start.
The Russian was armed with the gun
and the sword, while Hamid was in
possession of the revolver. They travel
ed on through the forest until long past
! noon, and then, worn out by long march
ing and by hunger, they halted by a
small stream. 1t was impossible to pro-
coed farther without food. A close
search revealed few stunted raspber-
ries, which were eagerly devoured.
Birds were chattering overhead III the
trees, but Grodno refused to use his
weapon, for fear the Cossacks would
hear the report and be attracted to the
spot. They succeeded in finding enough
raspberries partly to satisfy their hun
ger, and with fresh hope they struggled
on for three or four miles.
Toward sunset glad sight met theli
eyes. In a small clearing amid the for
est stood a roughly built log hut. Grod
no advanced boldly to the door and, aft
err two or three unanswered knocks
flung it open and entered. He reappear
ed in a moment, reckoning to his com
panions, and they hurried eagerly for
ward.
"Some woodcutter's hut, J" said Grod
no. "The owner has gone away, but III
was considerable enough to leave Thu
behind him." and he pointed to cou
pie of hard loaves of bread and "a guam
tity of dried mushrooms. A careful
search revealed nothing else that coult
be of use save a few matches, and leav
ing the hut they pressed OH through tn
forest. With sunset came a chill.
breeze, but this caused the fugitive
little inconvenience with their heav.
wooden clothing, and when it becam
too dark to travel they camped by tn
side of big rock and pulled branche
from the birch trees 10 make bed.
at was very encouraging sign,
Grodno said, THAT no trace OF pursui
had yet come near them.
He conversed awhile with Hamid
and then both went calmly to sleep.
Maurice and Phil remained awak
for some time, listening to the rustlin
of the breeze in the tree tops and think
ing over their dreary situation. In spit
of their WEAKNESS they were unable t
| sleeD