The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-03
LOST IN RUSSIA.
A Boys Adventure on the German
Russiau Border.

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Lost in Russia is the title of a.
spirited story of adventure contributed
by .Poultney Bigelow to the April 81.
Nicholas Tom Rodman, his hero,
could sail canoe and ride horse
about as well as any boy OF MS age.
He was only Is, and was living in the
family of a German professor, because
his father wished him to learn German
thoroughly before entering upon his
studies at West Point.
1t was July, and Tom was seated IN
his graceful canoe "Dimple," floating
along merrily. with both sails spread,
upon the bosom of broad, sluggish
stream leading from Germany across
the Frontier Of Russia.
That evening he camped within three
miles of the Russian frontier, for ne
was not anxious to cross that line IN
the dark, when the frontier guard
might mistake him for a spy or a SNUG
gler, and make him a target for fhelr
rifles. Suddenly a figure emerged from
the forest of pine trees behind him,
moving toward the camp fie-
"Pardon me- said the stranger, TAX
ing off his cap and bowling humbly.
am wretched man, and beg you Will
not denounce me to the police"
Il don't know what you mean" sald
Tom. why should I denounce you to
the police? / am merely making a
pleasure tour in my canoe, and have
nothing whatever to- do with the po-
lice'
Tom offered the stranger some of his
Irish stew and also a warm drink. The
stranger drank nearly all the cupful,
but did not seem to care so much for
the food. He asked Tom a great many
questions as to where he came from
what Tom said with an eagerness quite
unusual in an ordinary peasant.
''Kikivitz is my name,'' said the
stranger, land have a dear old mother
| living at village that is on your path
I myself cannot go; for I dare not trust
| myself in Russia, because my father
was Polish patriot. But when I heard
of yo'l coming down the river in a ca
| noe, I ran for many, many miles tc
catch you, and beg you on my knees to
take this letter to my mother
why, of course said Tom.
| So Kikivitz handed Tom a letter, took
| off his cap, made another deep bow
and, first looking very cautiously
around to see whether he had been OBJ
served, he ran for the forest with great
speed.
On the night Of the next day, how
ever, he was pursued by Russian Off
Gals, and fired upon He ducked his
head, and as he did so felt upon his
shoulders something like the sting OF
mosquito. But he had no time to
mind trif1es, and struggled on to make
the most Of the black interval which
now spoiled any further firing. The
rain came mercifully to his assistance
and in the midst of a shower that eff
fectually concealed him even from an
enemy ten feet off, his feet suddenly
felt the sand beneath, and by it's as
slstance he made such good progress
That when the shower ceased, and the
stars showed themselves. Tom was on
land, out of range of any Russian rifle
and saw before him the lights of a
mouse which he recognized as the Gus
tom station of Germany.
y
1t was broad daylight when Tom
aWoke. He was in a warm bed. and
strange voices were talking about him,
lie mad been wounded in the shoulder
and had lost al lot of blood. A few DAYS
later a German official arrived from the
the Chief of Police in Berlin. He read
the letter which Tom had offered to
carry to the mother of Kikivitz; in fact
ne read 1t two or three times, and then
uttered long whistle. IF you had
delivered this letter, you would prob
ably now be on your way to Siberia.
klklvitz is a notorious scoundreI. He
was once employed by our office; but
we learned to distrust him, and since
then he has been trying to ingratiate
himself with the political police of
RUSSIA. He gave you this letter in or
ger that you might have upon you the
Inc evidence of your completely with
nih1lis'm- AS you see, he had denounced
you, and but for your pluck and cool
ness, he would have sworn away vour
very life"