San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-28
CHAPTER XVI.
TREACHERY.

/ ENillG paw AhNAA hlSHhb eaSAANN ~-'N~-N~f
land approach the shore in the dark?"
"Now is the best time" said Cap
tain Daroman. con such wet days the
soldiers do not move about much, and
the Cossacks along the coast, who are
probably on the lookout for us, will re-
lax their vigilance. We would have no
better opportunity if we waited week.
We can easily reach the shore and con-
ceal ourselves in the hills until night
comes "
81 agree with you, +" said Platoff with
more warmth than he had yet shown.
| "This is our chance. On such day es-
capped convicts are supposed to hide in
some dry place instead of travelling in
the rain. Captain Daroman, you keep
about ten yards behind me, the boys
half that distance in your rear. Thus
the danger Of discovery will be lessen
ed"
Platoff's advice was promptly needed,
and in that order they moved cautious
" down the hill. Before they reached
the bottom the stormcloud they had
seen burst upon them in all its fury.
The rain came down in torrents and
the wind blew with great force.
This storm was undoubtedly bless
ing in disguise. Whatever Cossacks
were posted in the hill passes were
driven to shelter, and at one point Pla-
toff and his companions actually crawl
ed on hands and knees between two
blazing campfres not 80 feet apart A
| Gordon of troops was evidently stretch
| ed along the coast several miles north
and south of Vladiyostok.
The fugitives were moving cautious
" over the lower slope of the foothills
through a pretty heavy forest when
Platoff halted and signaled his compan-
ions to join him. He pointed through a
break in the trees to a small house built
very lastly of stone, with fancy trim
| mings. A veranda surrounded the first
floor, and all the shutters were tightly
closed. The whole building was inclosed
by hedge of prickly thorn bushes.
Captain Daroman scrutinized the
place closely.
This is summer cottage belong
ing to some Vladivostok merchant" he
said, some wealthy fellow who goes to
st. Petersburg for the winter and spends
the summer here. The house is empty
now, and the owner will probably not
return until May or June. 1t is fortu.
nate thing for u.s. We can take refuge
here until an opportunity offers tc
board some vessel.
"But will it be safer" asked Platoff.
Eyes, replied the captain. mo one
will think of looking for us here. Sup
pose you make a detour of the house.
and if you find no cause for alarm VIZ
will effect an entrance at once. "
O., Platoff acted ON this suggestion and
returned with the report that all wal
quiet in front
TWAS an easy matter to slip through
the hedge, and with almost equal fla
cility Captain Daroman entered the eel
lar by forcing one of the skylights, and
/ presently he opened the back door tri
umphantly for his companions.
A hasty examination showed that the
building had been stripped of its furni
} ture, the owner, no doubt, being afrait
} to leave anything Of value in it during
the winter Even the cellar was com
pletely empty.
But the house was dry, and, what wa'
! of more importance, probably safe. Il
j had two stories, with a small square
tower on top. Platoff found small lad
der, plainly made for the purpose, ant
} with it he assembled to this tower. Two
circular glass windows faced east and
south, and from this point of view he
} could see the harbor and part of tht
town, the latter more than a mile away.
There are three or four ships in the
harbOr," he announced to mis- Compan
! ions, "but cannot make out their flags
They are half mile off the shore. Tit
waves are rolling high, and a heavy
surf is breaking on the beach. F"
1t was evident that nothing could b.
done for the present, so they all return
ed to the cellar, which Platoff regarded
as the safest place, and from where /
watch could be kept on the outside O
the house through the grated skylights
J All were suffering now for want O.
! food. Nothing had passed their lip
since the previous evening, and thu
chances of procuring anything to ca
} were slim indeed.
Captain Daroman made no attemp
to conceal his feelings. He compliance
bitterly, speaking in Respondent tone
3 of the situation, and finally lapsed in
to a low spirited, apathetic condition
] This made Platoff suspicious and un
g easy. AS soon as it grew dark he eau
g toned Maurice to keep an eye ON tn
a captain, and then, pulling heavy Goa
: around him, he made his way out int
y the storm.
It He was absent for nearly three hours
1t causing the boys great uneasiness, an
). when he returned the tone in which b
d greeted his companions showed that h
II had no favorable report to make.
II Il was up the coast mile or more,
le he said. "Campfres are visible ever
a few rods, and sentries are posted at il
10 tervals. There are no boats in an
D, place, and even if there were they coul
es do us no good, for the wind is terrif