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

he was most anxious, he could learn
nothing. Grodno, disappointed per-
haps to find that his friend was neither
a cutthroat nor 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, a most villainous
looking Turk, with sunburned face and
a stubby black beard. He wore greasy
red fez and was continually smoking a
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 corner by
themselves and separating whenever
any of the guards approached. These
secret palavers 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
1000 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 their 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
cut instead of driving them all below,
as was the usual rule.
1t 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 i'll
through the grating, mingled with the
villainous odor of Hamid's pipe.
Suddenly, when the guards back was
turned, Grodno SUNK up to the boys
and threw himself carelessly at their
side. want to escape" he whispered,
"want to leave vessel, hide i'll woods,
go back TO Russia"
"What do you mean?" asked Maurice
sharply.
"Hush" 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.
"I'd like to know what he means, J"
said Maurice. 81 don't see how escape
can be possible from place like this. !"
"It's a plot of some kind" replied
Phil That's what Grodno and Hamid
have been discussing for the last week.
| l don't like the looks Of either of those
| fellows, Maurice, and in matter OF
escape l am afraid they would only use
us to serve their own ends. "
81 believe all that" rejoined Maui
rice, "but 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 innocence. If we escape and
| are recaptured, it will hardly make our
position worse than it is now. But
! what became of Grodno? Did you see?''
emo; he and 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 1T
invigorating effect.
"Hamid can't be very far away,
said Phil suddenly. 81 can smell tina
villainous pipe of his plainly. Don
you notice it?"
81 can smell something" sait
Maurice, "but don't believe it's Ham
ids pipe. 1t seems very different kim
of odor. ~
An armed soldier strolled slowly pas
the grating ut that moment, and tn
conversation closed.
As soon as he was gone Maurice be
gan to sniff the air uneasily.
''That's rot tobacco smoke, Phil,
he said finally. II half believe some
thing is burning. The odor is gettini
stronger every instant. F"
Before Phil could reply suddel
commotion was heard behind them, am
turning quickly the boys saw confuse'
: mass of conviots struggling up tn
hatchway, their dark forms outlines
against dull red glow.
Then the silence was broken by
sharp cry Of "Fire! Fire! FireH an
instantly an uproar arose that made tn
boys hair fairly stand on end.
Shrieking, swearing and shouting, tn
manic stricken wretches surged up tn
; hatchway and flung themselves agains
the grating until it trembled and creab
ed. The guards ran up and down tn
: : deck, the officers shouted fiercely, an
Il 4 Al1