The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-12
CHAPTER XVI
TREACHERY.


Would it not be safer to hide in
some place until night" asked Maurice,
land approach the shore in the dark?'
Nov is the best time." said Cap
tain Daroman. 'On such wet days the
soldiers do not move about much, and
the CossacA 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 -
i 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.
ly 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
,he 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 campfires not 80 feet apart. A
Gordon of troops was evidently stretch
ed along the coast several miles north
and south of Vladivostok.
The fugitives were moving cautious
ly over the lower slope of the foothills
through pretty heavy forest when
Platoff halted and signaled his compan-
ions to join him. He pointed through q
break in the trees to small house built
very Hastily 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 "a 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 as. We can take refuge
here until an opportunity offers to
board some vessel"
"But will it be safer" asked Platoff.
EYES," replied the captain. "No 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 we
will effect an entrance at once"
Platoff acted on this suggestion and
returned with the report that all was
quiet in front.
ltwas an easy matter to slip through
the hedge, and with almost equal ia
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 afraid
to leave anything of value in it during
the winter Even the cellar was COM
pletely empty.
But the house was dry, and, what was
of more Importance, probably safe. 1t
had two stories, with small square
tower on top. Platoff found small lad
der, plainly made for the purpose. and
with it he assembled to this tower. Two
nj 1a, II
south, and from this point of view he
could see the harbor and part of the
town, the latter more than mile away.
There are three or four ships in the
harbor," he announced to his compan-
ions, "but ] cannot make out their flags.
They are half a mile off the Shore The
waves are rolling high, and heavy
surf is breaking on the beach,"
1t was evident that nothing could be
done for the present, SO they all return
ed to the cellar, which Platoff regarded
as the safest place, and from where a
watch could be kept on the outside Of
the house through the grated skylights.
All were suffering now for want Of
food. Nothing had passed their lips
since the previous evening, and the
chances of procuring anything to eat
were slim indeed.
Captain Daroman made no attempt
to conceal his feelings He complained
bitterly, speaking in respondent tones
of the situation, and finally lapsed in
to low spirited, apathetic condition.
This made Platoff suspicious and I'M
easy. AS soon as it grew dark he eau
toned Maurice to keep an eye ON the
captain, and then, pulling heavy coat
around him, he made his way out into
the storm.
He was absent for nearly three hours,
causing the boys great uneasiness, and
when he returned the tone in which he
greeted his companions showed that he
had no favorable report to make.
II was up the coast mile or more, T"
he said. "Campfires are visible every
few rods, and sentries are posted at in
tervals. There are no boats in any
place, and even if there were they could
do us no good, for the wind is terrific
and the surf is laundering ON the
hoocb I cou GOO tho 1;gbfo ~ half a