Mower County transcript., 1898-06-01
CHAPTER XVI.
TREACHERY.

"Would it not be safer to hide in
Dme place until night, asked Maurice,
,,"and approach the shore in the dark?''
"Now is the best time," said Cap
tain Darom]n. ION 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 a week.
We can easily reach the shore and con-
ceal ourselves in the hills until night
comes.''
Il agree with you, " said PlatoR 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 stormoloud they had
coon h--~+---r--- tA- - ..sa aso 'e.4.y.,
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-
tof and his companions actually crawl
ed on hands Ind knees between two
blazing campires not 50 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 a pretty heavy forest when
Platoff halted and signaled his compan-
ions to join him. He pointed through a
break in the trees to small house built
very tastily 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 a hedge of prickly thorn. bushes.
Captain Daroman scrutinized the
place closely. "
"This is a summer cottage belong
ing to some Vladivostok merchant be
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 Us. We can take refuge
here until an opportunity offers to
board some vessel. -
"But will it be safe?'' asked PlatofR.
"Yes," replied the captain. mo one
will think of looking for us here. Sup
pose you make detour of the house,
and If you find no cause for alarm we
will effect an entrance at once"
Platof acted on this suggestion and
returned with the report that all was
quiet in 'front.'
Itwas 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 it's 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 q small square
tower on top. Platof found a small lad
der, plainly made for the purpose. and
with it he ascended 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 the
town, the latter more than mile away.
There are three or four ships in the
harbor," he announced to mis- compan-
ions, "butI cannot make ont their flags
They are half q mile of the shore. The
waves are rolling high, and q heavy
surf is breaking on the beach. {"
It was evident that nothing could be.
done for the present, 90 they All return
ed % the cellar, which Platoh regarded
as the safest place, and from where 8.
watch couId be kept on the outside Of