The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-04-21
The Cars Spy - on.,.n.. I. o..r.

patrol boat will be at the head of the
river waiting to cut us off,"
Again the guards fired upon us, but
in the darkness their aim was faulty.
Lights appeared in the high windows of
tho castle, and we could see that the
greatest commotion had been caused by
the escape of the prisoner. The men at
the door in the tower were shouting to
the patrol boats, which were nowhere to
be seen, calling them to row us down and
capture us, but by plying our oars
rapidly we shot straight across the lake
until we got under the deep shadow of
the opposite shore, and then crept grad
ually along in the direction we had come.
iii we meet the boats, Excellency, we
must run ashore and take to the woods y
explained the Finn. ut is our only
chance"
Scarcely had he spoken when out in
the center of the lake we could just dis.
tinguish long boat with three rowers
going swiftly towards the entrance to
the river, which we so desired to gain.
"Look," cried our guide, backing
water, and bringing the boat to a stand,
still "They are in search of us! If
we are discovered they will fire. It is
their orders. No boat is allowed upon
this lake." : "
F,lma sat watching our pursuers, but
still calm and silent. She seemed to in
trust herself entirely to me.
The guards were rowing rapidly, the
oars sounding in the rowlocks, evidently
in the belief that we had made for the
river But the Finlander had appar.
emily foreseen this, and for that reason
we were lying safe from observation in
the deep shadow of an overhanging tree.
A gray mist was slowly rising from
the water, and the Finn, noticing it.
hoped that it might favor us. In Fin.
land in late autumn the mists are often
as thick as our proverbial London fogs
only whittier, denser, and more frosty.
1T we disembark we shall be com.
PEELED to make detour of fully four
days in the forest, in order to pass the
Marshes" he pointed out in low whis.
per But If we can enter the river we
can go ashore anywhere and get by foot
to some place where the lady can lie in
hiding"
What do you advise? We are en-
tirely in your hands. The Chief of Po
lice told me he could trust YOU"
VI think it will be best to risk It." he
said in Russian after a brief pause. "Wt
will tie up the boat, and will 90 alons
the bank and see what the guards arc
doing You will remain here, and ]
shall not be seen. The rushes and I'M
dergrowth are higher further along. But
II there is danger while am absent Gel
out and 60 straight westward until yo,
lind the marsh, then keep along its bank,
due south" and drawing up the boat e
the bank the shrewd, big.boned fellow
disappeared into the dark underground
There were no signs yet of the break
OF day. Indeed, the stars were now
hidden, and the great plane of water wa,
every moment growing more indistinct
as we both sat in silence. NV ears wer,
strained to catch the dipping of an on,
or voice, but beyond the tapping 81
the water beneath the boat there wa,
no other sound. l took the hand of thu
fair faced girl at my side and pressed II
In return she pressed mine.
1t was the only means by which W,
could express condolences. She whom
had sought through all those months sal
at my side, yet powerless to utter one
single word. . ~
Still holding her hands in both nv
own l gripped them to show her that
intended to be her champion, while she
turned to me in confidence as though
happy that it should be so. What
wondered, was her historyH What was
the mystery surrounding her? What
could be that secret which had caused
her enemies to thus brutally main and
mutilate her, and afterward send her tc
that grim, terrible fortress that still
doomed up before us in the gloom! Surely
her SnQrQt mrot offook oow..o y