The Washington times., 1903-02-15

rain and snow that poured unanimously
under the fral bridges which the ST.
berian government had constructed
along tie highway.
This wild and almost impenetrabIe re-
gIon stretched clear TO the Arctic seas
on the north, and on the south through
Mongolia to the Chinese Empire. IL
was inhabited bv packs of fierce wolves
and a few tigers who were larger and
more ferocious than those found in r.
dia- Small game was abundant. for no
human beings ever lived in these dreary
solitudes
The Cossacks in charge OF exile parties
were always glad when this section OF
territory was passed and the spires OF
Irkutsk came In sight.
One bitter cold morning. when the
snow crust was firm enough 20 bear a
regiment the exiles halted for their
MONDAY lunch in an open glade sur
rounded by a dense forest
Close 70 Donald were two desperate
looking criminals. Leontef and Gross by
name, who had frequently made ad-
vances to him and been as often re-
pulsed. Taking advantage OF a dispute
among some OF the prisoners over their
food, these two men made a daring
break for the forest. the chains on
their legs rafting furiously as they
ran
The guards fred a dozen shots after
them. but apparently without effect. for
the two fugitives vanished fin the thick
underground. Half a dozen Cossacks
then started in pursuit. but returned
in short time-alone.
The officer in command shrugged his
shoulders.
Let them zol" he muttered. The
fools will repent OF their folly. FAN in
there. now" ne added. sharply. For
wa-d-march,'
The exiles formed suIIenIy in line.
examining what food remained into their
mouths. and the desolate glade which
had witnessed the successful escape OF
Leontef and Gross was soon left far
behind
Donald wondered at the indifference
shown by. the soldiers but there was
really nothing unusual about IT. Hun
dreds Of exiles escape every year in this
way. but hardly one N a thousand ever
reaches Russia
They perish OF hunger and cold. OF are
taken and severely punished for their
Tashnoss. II was only because Leortef
and Gross had been OF those implicated
in the escape OF Waldorf and the digging
OF the tunnel in the Tomsk prison thar
the Cossacks had followed them into The
forest at all
nonalJ ba-sfv onvfo1 che mon their
liberty 1t was easy TO guess at their
fate. He did not suspect thai a deeper
motive than temporary freedom had
prompted them to run the gauntlet OF
the Cossacl rifles
After a weary march OF six miles 4
waysidc post station was reached about
sunset II was a low log building. in
closed by a courtyard Close b. was
ono small house and a telegraph Office
On each side OF the road stretched a
range OF mountains. broken here and
there by narrow valleys.
The Cossacks halted their prisoners
before the gates OF the station II was
too late to reach the next etape. and
they had decided to remain here for the
night
Nailed up against one OF the massive
gateposts was a pIacard covered With
large printed letters.
Curiosity prompted Donald TO draw
near. and the Cossacks DID not offer 20
hinder him. He read the proclama-
tion-which was printed in Russian
with much interest
5000 RUBLES REWARD.
The above sum will be paid for the
capture-dead OF alive-of Feodor
Barsnok. the NihiIfst assassin. who
escaped from the mines OF Kara in Oe-
tOber. 1889. Said BaraRok e sixty years
OF age. OF tall end massive build, with
iron gray hair and beard. He has
long purple scar across his forehead
All persons are hereby warned, under
penalty OF death. to extend no aid 70 the
above entioned FeOdor Baranok.
TICHIMIROFF.
Governor OF Irkutsk
Il shouldn't think Mr. Feodor Ba-
ranok would sleep well at night with
a price like that on his head. said
Donald. half aloud The authorities
must be desperately anxious 10 capture
him. He has been at large for a whole
year now. and yet this placard has the
appearance OF being newly printed.
sudden movement OF the prison.
him through the gates into the court
yard OF the post station. The evening
rarions were doIed out and then the
Cossacks built blazing wood fires at half
a dozen different points. about which
the half frozen convicts gathered eager
Iy.
II was evident that they would have
TO spend the night here on the hard
ground. for the limited interior of The
post station was at once occupied BY
the Cossacks. who locked the court
yard gates and went in. leaving a scaut
half dozen soldiers on guard without.
Donald presently saw them through
the window as they SAT at q lamp-lit
table devouring bread and meat and
pouring glasses OF fiery vodka down
their throats.
As soon as darkness came on tho eNiles
stretched themselves unconcernedly on