Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-16
06 & 8 6-6O
E THE BLACK TERROR !
e 4 Romance of Russia. x
- BY X.
=
a Romance Of Russia.
BY JOHN X. LEYs.
QQQQQQ

SKIPPER. we jumped INTO the BOAT, IHe
men who had been holding to the main
chains let go, and in few minutes the
breeze, light as it was, had carried the
barGue half a mile away.
The boats head was turned towards
st. Petersburg. and the rowers bent to
their oars with will. Won NIitschka
steered and l sat beside him. Soon we
We're deep in a conversation which last
cd until we found ourselves in our old
quarters in the cabin of the Narka.
had seen her from the deck of the Eli
"a Iibbetson. lying just outside the
tutermost ships in the harbor.
My companion told ME that at the
time lie first sent for me, the Imeperial
yacht. in which it had been settled that
the Car was to sail. had been taking i'll
stores. and it would have been a COM
paratively easy matter to smuggle me
on board. That opportunity was now
gone. but a new plan had been ar
ranged. which was to be put into exc
cution next day. On the day after the
| Car was to come on board the yacht
and accompany one Of the squadrons
of the Baltic fleet. in the naval manou-
vels which We're about to commence.
"When the boat we sent for you re-
turned without you,' said Won Mitsch-
l>a. land the men said you had been
arrested. we gave you up for lost and
we We're near abandoning the plot alto
gcther. 1t was With some difficulty
that l persuaded my companions to go
Gu as if nothing had happened. on the
chance that you would regain your lib
erty in time for our purpose. But l
had no idea that you We're in any real
danger of arrest. How was it that you
became an object Of suspicion to the
pciice:"
Prom being seen talking to Vesillov
in the street." l answered. And then
went on to tell Won Mitschka about my
first interview with NJ. de Noilleff. his
attempt to secure my services as spy,
the espionage 1 had to encounter from
Davis and my escape from him, and
finally the manner in which [ had per-
suaded De Noilleff that 1 intended to
earn the 100000 with which he had
tried to bride me.
Won Mitschl,a and [ were sitting close
together so close that his arm touched
Mine: and as | told him plainly that
had. so to say. a foot in the camp Of
the enemy. and had only gained my
liberty by pretending that l meant to
DttaN lltlii t1l1I .lSSOllttS'H, WE
tinctiIy felt him give an involuntary
start.
DE Noilleff believes" l went on,
that ] am now on my way to the Sc
cret prison: and he will hold his hand
for IL time. expecting that l will come
back and report to him. But | can see
that all this must have very sinister
appearance in your eyes. You may
la, ola To in q
man who has acknowledged that he
has had relations with the enemy. 1t is
not as though l had been bound to yon
by sharing in your enthusiasm. or by
old ties of friendship. If you prefer to
make use of me no longer and rescind
our agreement-if you have the least
fear that 1 may betray you and your
frienJs-put me on shore now and let
me shift for myself. l can easily find
my way back to England"
NO, Health answered my compan-
ion, and his voice shook slightly as he
spoke "Our lives are in your hand, it
is true but 1 trust you. Do you know,
I doubt if 1 would have trusted one Of
my own countrymen, or, indeed any
ore but a man of English race. or an
Arab. after what you have told me? l
do trust YOU, though. If l hesitated
Just now. it was because | was asking
MYSELF how | should account to our
friends for your release hardly think
it would be prudent to tell them the
truth. They do not know you as do,
and they might make q false estimate
of you. Let lis say that YOU We're re-
leased because there was no proof
against you. and they could not keep
YOU in prison without trial on account
of your nationality. That will be best. .
This proof of Won Mitschkas conf
dence touched me nearly. I put out
my hand under the cloak I was wear
ing, and he grasped it for moment in
his own.
| occupied the same cabin in the Mar
ka that had been mine on the trip to
ST. Petersburg. I could see the yacht
had been repainted and had taken i'll
provisions. My friend told me that hel
owner had given out that he was going
off on cruise in week or ten days,
but must wait the arrival Of a friend
from the South of Russia, in order to
account for the yacht being kept under
steam when the decisive moment
should arrive.
+; Until late hour that night we dis
cussed the difficulties that lay before
us. and the best way of overcoming
them. For the actual substitution of
. my person for that of the Gar, Oristo.
witch had made himself responsible;
, and Won Mitschka assured me that the
, fellow had such a genius for intrigue
and was man of such resolution and
cool ardacity. that might rest assured
that what he said he would do he
, would perform.
. Il only wish we had friend of as
/ much courage and resource to help tc
get you out Of the palace" said my
, companion. ''1'he only man me can rely
, upon is Petroviska 1.-THE doctor you
MAY remember hearing us speak of or
! board the Susannah) and even he is moi
physician to the Car, but only to the
, household. Still. he may be able tt
p help you; and there is a chance thai
DR.. Lohrenheim, the Cars physician
, may not have returned from his hOli
days by the time we strike the blow
in which case he would have better
opportunity of serving you. If only