The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
CHAPTER TX.
The Figft On the Shore.

As has been stated before. Andre Dag
mar left St Petersburg on the 20th Of
May
With plenty OF money at his command,
the long journey to Irkutsk was not
greatly to be dreaded. save for the de
cree Of Punishment # entailed; and after
reaching the termination Of the railway
lie Travelled 50 rapidly, by means Of COZ
slant relays Of horses. as. TO arrive at
the city Of Tomsk on the evening Of
June IS. only few hours before Donald
ChumIeigh net with the strange adven-
tufe related in the preceding chapter.
One degrading feature was attached
TO Andres sentence; he was compelled
to report his arrival 10 the military au-
thorities at various places along the
route
IN conformity with this order. there
fore, be went directly TO the Tomsk
forwarding prison. and was aqeeabIy
surprised to find. in the person OF the
commandant. Captain Rosny. an old
friend.
A desire to learn the latest news from
the capital caused Captain Rosny to
unbend from the stern demeanor lie
should have assumed under the cireum-
stances. though at the same time he be
Iieved the breach OF duty which lad
brought his visitor under the dispIeasUre
of the Gar to be a very slight one
He received Andre cordially, and in
sisted that he should be his guest over
uight-an Invitation which was CRATE
fully accepted
! After dinner Andre and the captain
went to the Iatter's apartments in the
prison Office and enjoyed a long and
confidential chat over their cigars and
wine
Andre answered all questions concern
ing the light gossip of st. Petersburg,
and soon felt quite at his ease, for Cap
tain Rosny had too much tact to sound
his guest on unpleasant topics
The hours went by unheeded. and at
last the captain rose and stretched him
self sleepiIy
Past / o'clock. he said. How times
does fly in tongenial company. 1t is
long since / have spent such a pleasant
evening. Shall we retire, my friend2''
Yes" replied Andre y should pre-
/ fer to do so. I an anxious to make n
early start in the morning The sooner
F I reach Irkutsk the better
Yes, that is true" assented Cap
( tain Rosny gravely. He pulled his mill
tary cloak about his shoulders, and was
Just reaching for his hat when CON-
motion was heard outside. and quick
/ footsteps approached the building
/ Something is wrong" exclaimed The
captain 1T Is d strange time OF night
! for an alarm
! He hurriedIy suatched up his sword,
and that instant the door was flung open
and a very excited Cossack appeared on
I the threshold
+ Two convictz ale missing from sec
ton IS" he shouted 5reathlessly- The
mouth of tunnel IS visible under their
cell. It was just discovered in time TO
Dreveut the escape of the rest"
who are missing?" demanded Cap
tain Rosny-
"Larof and Waldorf. the nihiIists.'
They must be retaken at all haz-
ards" cried the captain Spread a
general alarm and send the guards into
( the tunnel at once
The Cossack vanished, and Captain
Rosny turned to Andre
/ DO YOU wish to see a little excite
ment? Then come with me I have an
/ idea that we can Intercept these men
I if they have escaped BY q tunnel. feel
/ lust in She humor for a chase tonight
He darted from the room without
waiting fer a reply. but Andre follow
+ cd at his heels \ chance OF proving his
LOYALTY TO the Gar was not to be de
/ spised-
/ They ran swiftly across the prison
ward. Al this time CT night none but
/ The guards were awake Here and Their"
a CCssack glfdcd past in the gloom. AID
/ shouts we're herad at little distance
+ Barely twenty yards separated the
nrison office from section is. the build
+ Ing from which the conviets had made
/ rbeir escape. 1t was surrounded nov
I nv a eroup Of Cossacks. but Captain
/ Posnv did not sto9. 1t was the exit
NJ the tunnel. and not the mouth, thai
he wished TO find and his unerrtng IN.
s,inct guided him right
I 4 moment later he reached the stock
/ ade and mounted a~ilely to the plat
form that extended along the whole
length a few feet from the summit
/ Andre climbed quickly to his side
! None OF the guards was at this par
/ tfcuIar point. but several were within
a short distance. looking out toward
/ the river with rifles in their hands The
night was dark. and it was impossible
/ to see far through the gloom The out
/ lire of TIE shore was visible. and the
steep bank that sIoped from the base
/ Of the stockade to the beach.
Andre and the captain stood monitor
less. peering down from their high perch
/ and straining both eyes and ears.
Their patience was rewarded by a
crunching footstep on the gravel ana
then a faint splash
Come or, There they are, whisper.
ed the captain eagerly
He threw himself over the stockadc
and clung for an instant to the shar.-
ened beams, then he let 90. and. sJvih.
ing the top Of the bank. rolled ov-.