Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-01-26
"Can / see the prisoners?" asked,

II have no objection" responded Won
AIitschka; ''but If you don't wish to-
run the risk Of being recognized by one
of them hereafter, you had better let
me take you to see them while they are
alseep."
thanked my host for his considera-
ton, and few hours later, just be-
fore it was time for me to go to my
cabin, Won Mitschka took me through
a door that led to the main deck.
A sentry with a rife in his hands
stood at the further end of the passage,
but at sight Of Won Mitschka he sa
luted and stepped aside to let us pass.
Another sentry, with rifle and fixed
bayomet, stood at a door of rough
wood, which apparently opened into a
wooden structure. At a sign from Won
Mitschka the gaoler opened a small
trap door in the wall, and peeped in.
saw q room, the walls of which We're
of rough planks, about fourteen feet
long by ten or eleven wide. On one
side there was a broad wooden bench,
on which the forms Of two men We're
stretched, while hammock, swung at
the other end of the cell, contained a
third person. The place had no ill
odors, and seemed to be fairly well
ventilated.
"You see, we don't fetter our prison.
ers, even at night" whispered Won
Mitschka to me. 1--WE are more merc-
full than our enemies. But, indeed, it
would be useless for them to break out
while we are at sea, as every man on
board would lend q hand to capture
them; and during embarkation and
landing special precautions are taken.'
The face of one of the prisoners was
turned towards me, and by the light OF
a ships lantern hung opposite a round
hole in the plank wall, but outside,
could see him tolerably well. He was
q man well advanced in years, and
from his heavy white moustache, and
something in, the poise of his body, 1
took him to be military officer. Won
AIitschka told me afterwards that l
was right. He slept so soundly that
the noise made by our voices and the
tramp of the sentry did not in the least
disturb him.
1t was impossible to restrain a shud-
der as 1 thought Of the fate that had
overtaken this veteran.
"Would you like to see the prisoners
food? asked Won Mitschkar on our
way back to the cabin.
j said 1 had no curiosity on the SUBJ
ject.
cit is good and abundant, though
plain,'' said he; "but, then, these are
untried prisoners. After they are con-
victed they will have to submit to
fare more like that which the paternal
Government of the Car deals out to
it's victims"
you speak Of untried prisoners. DO
you mean that you hold a regular trial
upon these unfortunate men?
certainly. We are the Committee
of Public Safety. We are not bandits.
You shall witness the trial of these
three men if you wish it."
s'Thanks. l am not sure that do
wish it. But what would you do if
you found that one of them had to be
acquitted? You dare not release him."
Not now; but we should have to do
it as soon as it was practicable. Our
present establishment is temporary
one, and, in any case, the detention
would not last beyond the time Of CUR
removal to the new prison. But
hardly think the emergency is likely
to occur"
'srhere 1 agree with you,'' was the
rejoinder on the tip Of my tongue; but
I did not utter it.
Although 1 was debarred from con-
sulting the compass, it was, Of course,
impossible to prevent me gaining
general idea of the ships course by
noting the position of the sun. And 1
found that we We're. sailing to the
northward. This surprised me, for 1
had entertained the idea that the nj
hilist settlement was long way from
Russian one of the uninhabited isl.
ands of the Pacific. perhaps. 1 could
hardly imagine that they would be safe
on tile soil of any European country.
But on the fourth day, when judged
that we had sailed beyond the latitude
of the Shetland Islands, cur course
seemed to be simply that of the wind.
No matter what direction the wind
blew from, the brig was always put
before it. 1 tried for some time a
rough reckoning of our position, but
am no sailor, and I soon found that
my inability to calculate, even approx
! imately. the rate of sailing, made it i'm
possible to form a guess as to our
/ whereabouts. l knew that we must be
still in the neighborhood Of the North
Sea or the North Atlantic, and that
was all.
We passed several vessels, large and
small: or, rather, they passed more or
less closely to us, for the Susannah did
not seem to be a particularly fast sail
er. Occasionally signals were ex-
changed by flags, and supposed that
questions were asked and answered,
/ but what was said did not know, and
knew that it would be useless to ask.
Sometimes, however, the signals of
other ships were left unanswered; and
| it struck me that it depended on the
course Of the questioning vessel wheth-
er reply was made or not
In this apparently aimless cruise a
week went by. Strange as it may
seem, 1 cannot say that found the
time hanging heavily. on my hands.
There were few wel1-selected books
on board; and the rest of the time was
spent in playing chess and chatting
with Won Mitschka. found him de-
Eohtf,11 cnmnaniOn He was one OF