Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-18

For hours at time the boys gazed
wearily OH the ever changing landscape,
the forest clad hills and mountains, the
pretty villages with their golden spires,
and the waving fields Of grain, for such
was Siberian scenery at this season Of
the year. This vast continent is not al
ways the barren, snow clad desert that
many believe it to be perpetually.
Among their fellow prisoners the
boys had made one acquaintance, o
middle ageG Russian, who appeared to
be of higher class than his associates,
though he possessed cast Of features
by no means prepossessing. he had
scraped acquaintance with Maurice by
addressing him in French, language
which the lad happened to have ac-
quired at college, and in his delight at
finding some one from whom he could
obtain information Maurice gladly over
looked all other considerations.
The Russians name was Grodno, and
he very freely confessed to Maurice that
his offense was smuggling contraband
goods over the Russian border.
If he expected like return Of conf
dence, he was disappointed, for Mau-
rice was clever enough to see that 1t
would be unwise to make q confidant Of
such man. Instead he allowed him
self to pose as political prisoner. How
ever, in regard to that matter of which
he was most anxious, he could learn
nothing. Grodno, disappointed per
haps to find that his friend was neither
cutthroat Eor a robber, disclaimed all
knowledge of what was usually done
with "politicals, as he rather scorn-
fully termed them.
The Russian possessed another friend
on board the barge, most villainous
looking Turk, with sunburned face and
stubby black beard. He wore greasy
red fez and was continually smoking
short clay pipe.
Grodno and Hamid, for that was the
Turks name, held long and whispered
conversations in Russian day after day,
always keeping apart in a corner by
themselves and separating whenever
any of the guards approached. These
secret palavors Maurice observed with
suspicion and distrust, for their actions
on many occasions showed that the boys
had something to do with the subject Of
their discussion.
Meanwhile the barge was drawing
nearer its destination, and the dreary
2,OO0 mile ride would soon be over.
All day they had been drifting
through wild and picturesque bit of
country, and now at sunset the air was
sultry and oppressive.
Maurice and Phil, their heads resting
on heir coats. were lying close up
against the grating. The hot atmos-
phere below deck was intolerable, and
the indulgent guards had allowed
great many of the convicts to remain
out instead of driving them all below,
as was the usual rule.
It was remarkably quiet, so still in
deed that the splash of the paddles was
heard distinctly from the steamer some
distance ahead.
The guards paced slowly up and down
the deck, glancing watchfully at the
prisoners from time to time. Off against
the railing the commanding officer,
Captain Stanisla, was smoking his even
ing cigar, and its fumes, drifting in
through the grating, mingled with the
villainous odor of Hamid's pipe.
Suddenly, when the guards back was
turned, Grodno skunk up to the boys
and threw himself carelessly at their
side. "Want to escape" he whispered,
"want to leave vessel, hide in woods,
90 back to Russian"
"What do you mean?" asked Maurice
sharply.
"Hushr' said the Russian. Don't
talk, don't say word. Do you want to
go?"
Eyes" replied Maurice incautiously,
"of course we want to 20. But tell me,
Grodno, what do you mean?"
"Hush; not now," replied Grodno,
and slipping off in the gloom he disap-
peared, leaving the boys in state Of
great excitement.
"Id like to know what he means"
said Maurice. 81 don't see how escape
can be possible from place like this. "
"It's plot of some kind replied
Phil "That what Grodno and Hamld
have been discussing for the last week.
/ don't like tho looks of either of those
fellows, Maurice, and in matter of
escape am afraid they would only use
us to serve their own ends.
II believe ali that" rejoined Mau-
rice, "but u chance of escape is not to
be neglected under any circumstances,
Phil. If only we could find some influ-
entail person to listen to our story, he
might be induced to investigate it and
prove our .nocence. II We escape and
are recapturcd, it will hardly make our
position worse than it is now. But
what became of Grodno? Did you see?"
"No; he md Hamid have disappear
ed," replied Phil.
II saw them going toward the hatch.
way moment ago"
The twilight had now merged into
darkness, and the dim outline Of the
shores had vanished. A slight breeze
sprang up, and the prisoners pressed
close against the grating to enjoy its
inyigorating effect.
"Hamid can't bo very far away"
said Phil Suddenly. II can smell that
villainous pipe Of his plainly. Don't
you notice iv?'
II can smell something," said
Maurice. "but don't believe it's Ham
ids pipe. Itseems very different kind
of odor. 1"
An armed soldier strollcd slowly past
the grating at that moment, and tho
conversation closed.
As soon as he was gone Maurice be-