Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-03-09
CHAPTER XIII.


/ was now committed, for good or
evil. a thousand times more deeply
than | had been before, to the cause OF
the conspirators. / might have fore
seen that / could not long remain a
passive tool i'm their hands, but never
dreamed that I would be forced by cir
cumstances 10 throw in my lot with
theirs in so decisive a ann Ii could
not Ice helped low. knew that l need
expect no mercy. and that the British
ambassador could ask none for me. il
after what had passed | was detected
in the reasonable plot l was engaged
in.
OF course. this made me all the more
determined that i would not be caught.
And such is the attractive force of any
enterprise when we have once fairly
undertaken il. that l now felt-I am
ashamed TO say-Something like en-
thusiasm for the very questionable
cause was engaged in. Only "A few
hours before. while / was waiting in
the office of the chief of the secret POI
lice for the telegram from London that
was 10 acquit or condemn me. l could
have cursed the Nihilists and all their
ways as heartily as any officer in His
Majesty's service. But now | was free.
/ had overcome that great peril; n /
felt eager for the time 10 come when
should begin 10 play my part In the
revolutionary struggle for freedom.
For three days | remained in the
boarding house without receiving any
communication from Won Mitschka or
his friends. But | resolved to wait pa
tiently and make no attempt 10 find
them. l knew better than 10 90 to the
house at which I had before met YES
silov. as j felt pretty sure that I was
s.iI being watched ny the police. and |
had little doubt that DE Noilleff had
suggested Shat ! would do something
of the kind in the hope that | might
unwittingly guide the police TO some
secret Nihilist haunt. | was certain
that. sooner or later, the Committee
would inquire for me at the boarding
house. as they knew | had nowhere
else TO 20 If / succeeded in regaining
my liberty.
I was not disappointed.
On the morning Of the fourth day az
ter | was set at liberty. a tail seaman,
wearing a '.billycoat." but neither
whiskers nor moustache, lounged into
the boarding house. and, after making
some inquiries about a room, sat down
opposite TO me.
After a time he accosted me. and
asked il I was looking for a ship. !
said i was waiting for my ship; and
the room being then empty. he said, in
a guarded tone, II guess that ship OF
yours Is mighty long OF coming. You
would be better to make up your mind
to ship with me-"
One of the servants coming in at that
moment. n " me an excuse for max.
ing 10 reply, and, in truth, / did not
know what reply to make. / did not
know whether the man was a friend or
an enemy. /. Taking no notice OF my
silence. he went Gu talking of his
barIue, what a fine vessel she was,
what n rapid passage she had made
from Boston. and so on 10 all OF which
! made suitable answers.
Can ycu tell me the time, mister?,
he said, abruptly.
about h%alf-past eleven
Wrong. Wrong by ten minutes. AT
least. Look there,,'
He held his watch before my eyes.
glanced at IL. and in place OF the dial.
plate l saw . circular piece OF paper
fitted inside the case. On 1t was writ.
ten: Trust this man and follow him.
There was no signature, but | knew
the handwriting. 1t was that lu
which the two communications | had
had from the Committee had been
written.
Without hesitation, l rose. took nv
hat. and followed him out of The
house. He led me to a shipping office
and there | duly signed articles ms
third mate on board the ElIza Tibbet.
sun barque, from ST. Petersburg "a
New York, or any port on the Amer;.
can scaboard; Ebenezer Tucker, cap
tain.
Go be ~eoansaed.y