Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-02
In st. Petersburg Once More.
CHAPTER XX

we ll:Lu just HulSlleu DfeitAlhSt w ASi
message came down from the deck
The Narka is in sight" eXclaime,
Won Mitschka; and, without waiting
to explain, he rose from his seat ant
hurried up the companion ladder.
followed in more leisurely fashion, an(
found him gazing at a small steam
Yacht which was approaching with in
credible swiftness.
you see we can command speet
when we want it. We are not confined
to the use of this old brig. good ship as
she is said Won Mitschka, with 8
look of pride, as he noticed the look Of
establishment III my face.
''How do they manage to get III
such Il rate of speed?" 1 explained. 81
am confident that nothing afloat, large
or small, could overtake that yacht
81 am sure OF it," said the cl1iet
moro quietly.
rs she driven by some new electric
engirey .. q,
mo: she is driven by Il turbine en-
CINE. and consumes less fuel by fal
than an ordinary steiner of the same
size. But when she is approaching OF
leaving a port, or when She is in sight
of any other vessel, she is always re
duced to half-spced. 1t is unnecessary
to take the whole world into our conf
dencc, especially as her owner is q
member Of the Neva Yacht club"
SIS that really the case?"
Certainly. Ii it We're not for that
precaution, we could not go and come
from st. Petersburg as easily as we dc
now
In ten minutes the Narla was along
side, and a couple of planks were
showed out from the side of the brig
by which two men from the yacht
stepped on board. The foremost of the
two was Il man above the middle
height. with an upright, soldierly car
riage. 1t did not need a second look
at his square, resolute face and quick
intelligent eyes to inform me that he
was one of the leading spirits of the
conspiracy.
The second was Il vet more remark
able figure. About 4 dwarf in stature,
and llullchlacked to Il greater extent
than any other man I ever saw. there
was in his large, pale face that cN-
preston Of pathetic and pleasing mel
ancholy that is sometimes seen i'll per-
SONS afflicted in this way. His COM
plexicn was sallow. his hair of an in
tense black. and worn rather long. He
was dressed entirely in black, aud thus
his appearance formed a contrast to
that of the other men on board. Won
Mitschka introduced him to me as DR..
Sagrani. He was a Spaniard Of 1tal-
ian extraction. I afterwards found
that this Spaniard and the German.
Won Mitschka supplied between them
the brains of the society. General
Vladimir Slavjanski. the tall stranger.
was. nominally, at all events. the head
of the conspiracy: and l afterwards
learned that he was we'll known in st.
Petersburg, going much into society,
and being even received at court. his
connection with the Committee of Pub
lie Safety being quite unsupported. He
was the owner OF the Narka.
sNews! Great news!' shouted the
general, as he seized Won Mitschlla by
the arm, and dragged him towards the
companion way. The dwarf followed
them, and, by Il look. Won Mitschka in
vited me to join the group.
:'My news is this Slavia1lski. scat
ing himself sideways on the cabin ia
bic st is decided that the Car ac-
companies the naval manouvreS. al
though it is not yet settled whether lie
is to sail in the Alexandria OF in one of
the men-of-war.
.sIf he sails in the Alexandra it may
mean success for u.s. cried Won
Mitschka. "You know that Oristo-
witch, the head steward. is one of our
most devoted members
$40 be sure! ] had forgotten that
cried the General, taking out u cigar
and lighting it.
"And how did you think this bust
ness could be managed without the
help Of some one OIL board?' asked
Won Mitschka.
well, fancy thought there would
be a muster Of our forces. and we
would surprise the guard and"
Excellent! My dear General. did
you really imagine for one moment
that such thing was possible?-that
even if we did get possession Of the
Cars person for a few moments. we
could successfully carry him otf-could
prevent some OF the guard following
usw
I'm sure I don't know" said the
General, not in the least offended. 1T
is not in my department.: but | should
nave thOu%nt tllat Was the Only wa! W
manage it,
Won Mitschka and sagrani OK
changed smile.
NO." said the latter. "My plan is
not merely the best but the only one
'"That may be all very true growled
the soldier; 'but You forget that your
plan requires in this case the help OF
an outsider-a man whom you may
never find. or whom you may be un-
able to enlist in our ranks
81 have found him, General" said
Won Mitschka, in his usual placid tone,
"and he has consented to do us this
service. Let me introduce Mr.. Heath
to you"
"By st. Stanislaus. I never noticed
it," cried the General as he took my
hand and gazed earnestly into my
face ''But it is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FUR He was evidently referring to
my likeness to the Gar.
ssNow, everything depends on wheth.
er the Czar sails on board the imperial
yacht or not said Won Mitschka
1--WE must trust to Cne of our friends
at court for early information ON that
point; and If man-of-war is decided