Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-01-26

~ ~ a. AiCiAAh a. ohi GAAbAAAN a'NA
wards the boat, manned by four men.
with a fifth sitting in the stern sheets.
shot up TO the pier. / was soon on
board, of her and the man sitting Ia
the stern gave my hand a squeeze that
made me recognize him as Won Mitsch-
ka.
The boats head was now turned to
the north, and we went off at a good
rate OF speed, favored by the wind,
which was increasing in strength ev-
cry minute. For more than an hour
the men rowed steadily on, and all the
time my companion and / did not ex-
change a word, beyond an occasional
remark about the weather. When we
had got quite out Of sight Of Brier-
wick we turned a headland, and saw
I'm the bay beyond a small brig, very
long for her beam and lying very low
In the water. 1t was evident that she
had been looking out for us, for no
sooner had we rounded the headland
than a stir was visible On board of her;
the yards were manned and the sails
were shaken out.
There is the vessel that Is TO be
your home for the present said Won
Mitschka, pointing to the brig.
As he spoke, / heard the rattle Of the
rattle of the windlaSs, proclaiming the
fact that she was getting up anchor.
we reached her just as she was begin
ming TO move through the water. and
sprang on board. / was Immediately
led below, while the sailors set TO
work to secure the boat 10 the davits
and hoise her to her usual place at the
ships side.
| found the vessel roomier than one
would have supposed, judging from
her sea level. The main cabin was
plainly but comfortably furnished and
a substantial meal of sea-fare was
placed on the table. Right at the stern
Were four cabins. One of these, Won
Mitschka told me. belonged TO the skip
per, another to the mate, while he oc-
cupied thu third. The fourth was des-
tined for me-. II was sufficiently large,
and the berth, with its clean, white
sheets. looked very inviting to a nan
who. like me, had been up all night.
Better wash your hands and have
some breakfast-or supper, call il
what you please" said Won Mitschka.
You will sleep all the sounder for ii.
And | may as well say now that you
must make the most Of me as a com-
panion while the voyage lasts, as it is
forbidden that you should hold COM
munication with anyone else IN board.
This is for your own sake, as much as
ours"
81 don't see why you should say
that" | rejoined; but / am very well
pleased that | have you TO talk to, and
/ shall make a point of obeying orders
s o long as I am on board. ! suppose
1t Is forbidden to ask how long the voy-
age is likely to lastT'
ut depends on the wind said the
Nihilist, evasively. AS you see, this
Is only a sailing vessel, and we cannot
count upon getting to our destination
by a certain date in the cas- of a sail
board a steamer"
1T seems rather strange to me-" I
ventured to remark. when Won Mitsch-
ka and / We're seated at our supper
breakfast that your Committee pre-
fer to depend upon the services Of a
sailing vessel, when a steamer would
be SO much more serviceable. Occa-
sions might arise when speed would be
of the utmost consequence to you"
You can hardly suppose that we
have overlooked that, my dear Mr..
Heath" said Won Mitschka, with a
smile; .'and the fact is that we have n
small steamer at our disposal, but for
ordinary purposes we prefer a sailing
vessel. as being far more likely to es-
cape suspicion. No one would sup
pose that the Susannah, a steady-going
old maid of a vessel, with an En5roken
record of a moderately-fast and I'M
eventful voyages. would be engaged In
any nefarious enterprise. She could
sail past the most watchful cruiser,
when anything in the shape of n steam
er would infallibly be boarded. Be
sides, you are mistaken in thinking
that speed Is much OF an object to u.s..
On the contrady we take things, as u
rule. in a very leisurely fashion,"
The greater part of the next day 1
spent In my berth. When | got up and
went on deck we were out Of sight OF
land.
The brig presented tie appearance OF
an ordinary merchantmen. A quanti-
ty of small barrels. such as are used
for the carriage of light, perishable
goods, covered with a tarpaulin, en-
numbered the deck amidships. Il few
sailors were lounging about the fore
I castle: some We're mending sails: one
burly old salt was at the wheel: and a
man with a gold-laced cap, whom l
tool TO be the skipper, but who turned
out TO be the mate, was walking the
quarterback. Him I saluted. but re-
ceiving a surly response, l made no at-
tempt to speak To him, but continued
my stroll along the deck.
l had not gone far however, before
] was stopped by a sailor. had come
near the main hatch, which was open;
and the man intimated, by unmistlka-
BILE gestures, that l would not be al
lowed to approach 1t. Turning on my
heel, l sauntered towards the stern;
and, without thinking what / was do
ing, went up to the pinnacle. But be-
fore / had time to examine the COM
pass. the officer I have mentioned,
sprang on me, and forcibly pulled me
away from the spot.
Hands or" ! cried, facing round on
him. angrily.
He broke into q torrent OF ~gut,urals
mot Russian but Finnish. l imag-
ined; at all events, some tongue l was
not In the least acquainted with.