Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-09
CHAPTER XIII.
On Board the Imperial Yacht.

T was now committed, for good or
evil, a thousand times more deeply
than had been before, to the cause OF
the conspirators. 1 might have fore
seen that l could not long remain a
| passive tool in their hands, but never
dreamed that would be forced by cir
cumstances to throw in my lot with
theirs in so decisive a manner. 1t could
not be helped now. knew that need
expect no mercy, and that the BRUSH
ambassador could ask none for me, II
after what had passed l was detected
/ in the reasonable plot was engaged
I, in.
OF course, this made me all the more
| determined that would not be caught.
And such is the attractive force Of any
enterprise when we have once fairly
undertaken it, that 1 now felt am
ashamed to say-something like en-
thusiasn for the very questionable
cause l was engaged in. Only a few
hours before, while 1 was waiting in
the office of the chief of the secret po-
lice for the telegram from London that
! was to acOuit or condemn me, could
have cursed the Nihilists and all their
ways as heartily as any officer in His
| Maiesty's service. But now was free.
I haG overcome that great peril; and
felt eager for the time to come when
should begin to play my part in the
revolutionary struggle for freedom.
! For three days l 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 to find
| them. I knew better than to go to the
house at which l had before met YES
| silov, as l felt pretty sure that 1 was
| still being watched by the police, and 1
| had little doubt that De NoilleH had
suggested that I would do something
| of the kind in the hope that 1 might
unwittingly guide the police to some
| secret Nihilist haunt. l was certain
| that. sooner or later, the Committee
would inquire for me at the boarding
| house, as they knew I had nowhere
else to 90 if l succeeded in regaining
my liberty.
| was not disappointed.
| On the morning of the fourth day at
ter was set at liberty, a tall seaman,
wearing a sbillycoat," but neither
whiskers NOT moustache, lounged into
the boarding house, and. after making
some inquiries about a room, sat down
opposite to me.
After time he accosted me, and
asked if was looking for q 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, gave me an excuse for max
ing no reply, and, in truth, did not
know what reply to make. did not
know whether the man was friend or
an enemy. Taking no notice of my
silence, he went on. talking of his
barque, what fine vessel she was,
what rapid passage she had made
from Boston, and SO on, to all of which
l made suitable answers.
"Can you tell me the time, mister2'
he said, abruptly.
"About half-past eleven"
Wrong! Wrong by ten minutes, at
least. Look therew
He held his watch before my eyes.
glanced at it, and in place Of the dial
plate 1 saw a circular piece of paper
fitted inside the case. On it was writ
ten: ''Trust this man and follow him. -
There was no signature, but knew
the handwriting. It was that in
which the two communications had
had from the Committee had been
written.
| Without hesitation, rose, took my
hat, and followed him out Of the
house. He led me to shipping Office,
and there I duly signed articles as
/ third mate ON board the Eliza Tibbet-
son, harque, from st. Petersburg to
New York, or any port ON the Ameri-
can seahoard; Ebenezer Tucker. cap.
tain,
1 CTe be coutinued)