The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-10

were couple OF houses and telegraph
Office. The starosta, or station master,
provided warm supper and bed in
one corner of the room. The sledge
was hauled into the yard, and under
half dozen big furs Phil passed fair
ly comfortable night. In the morning a
Russian officer demanded the passports.
They were returned without comment,
and ten minutes later the sledge, drawn
by fresh troika, was speeding to the
eastward.
Thus for a whole week they rode on
across Siberia, each hour drawing near
er to safety. Nicolas Poussin spoke but
little. He preserved grave and silent
demearo- and drove his horses with an
unsparing hand. Spring was not far
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 s 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 same table: On such
occasions Nicolas Poussin conversed for
himself and his companions.
Phil had the hardest time of all,
sleeping at night in the station yards
and eating such food. as his companions
could smuggle out to him, but he bore
all without complaint
Day by day travelling became more
difficult, and it was we'll 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 hous'
was larger than many Of its kind, anC
| at Nicolas Poussin's request the staros
ia gave the travellers small private
room, and presently brought in dishe
of bread, meat and cheese and steam
ing samovar. In the middle of the re
past Russian officer entered, and witt
many apologies requested their pass
ports.
He glanced them over briefly ant
bowed his way out
As the door closed Nicolas Poussil
drew a small map from his pocket AM
spread it out on the table.
IT will show you where we are, b
said abruptly. "You remember tina
we left the Amur some days ago an
turned up the bed of the Ussuri. Here
YOU see, is the Amur running to tn
northeast, while the Ussuri flows oil
rectly north. Consequently we are tray
cling south. We have reached thi
point" designating a spot on the mar
land now Vladivostok is but 2OO mile
away. l have brought you farther tina
| hoped to do. You see it will be dar
gerous to continue the use OF these pass
norts. for the men whose names 20
hear are known to many of the Official
between here and the Pacific. For you
safety and mine we must part. wi
proyide you with sufficient food, and
Won are cautious you will reach tt
coast in safety.
Eyes, you are right" said Plato
with emotion. Tomorrow we WI
leave you. Better that we should tai
the risks of recapture than
"Stop," said Poussin. You forge
I wish to hear nothing. / don't kno
who you are, understand, or where y
are going. You saved my lie 3'''
all choose to remember.
A connection was suddenly he'- o.;
, side, and he turned 70 tl;o "ina' y
interest depicted Oh Las lace -" 3.
companions to the spot. Out III the
ton yaru COnsdOh
ipou;sitiye crowd was mailing b
white placard to one of the gatepost
The distance was too great to dist
guish its contents. Maurice and Plato
exchanged significant glances, but I
, fore they could speak the starosta nui
omen the door and entered.
"a courier has arrived with proci
. nations, he said breathlessly.
, seems that the escaped convicts w
were seen near Toluar have eluded pt
suit and cannot be found. VI coui
thew have not reached this neighp'
hood yet, but the government wishes
!, be ON the safe side, and so they are po
Z inc notices from station to station.
o ihS HOeNS Ill, 90,
"Ah," said Poussin coolly'
have heard something OF that on
: way. And so they have slipped OH fr'
the soldiers, have they? Well, they W
: be- caught sooner or later. Have y
one of the placards with you? 1t wo'
i, he wise for us to read the descrlptl'
. in case we run across the fellows"
|" The starosta rushed out OF the TO-
4 and into the yard.
= keep cool, said Poussin. "Ther'
.Lo sl;obtest cause for fear. i 81