Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-09


fourslong, easy strokes. Raising his
ht ID, he blew like a porpoise, and
filled his lungs again. His powerful
left arm, curved like a hook, rose
and fell noiselessly and pulled him
through the sec.
CHAPTER VIII
The distance was greater than Ro-
manoff supposed, and long ere he
reached the rock ne began to feel
weary. He did not allow the strength
of his arms to become entirely eX-
hausted. but turned over on his back
occasionally and rested. Had he lost
his head and wasted his powers in
violent struggles he would soon have
drowned. Goodness and courage and
the sternness of his purpose saved
him, and he at last came to the sheer
edge of a cliff, shining white in the
rays Of the moon. He swan around
1T and on the shoreward side found
sloping projection, upon which ne
climbed and lay down, thoroughly ex-
hausted, after noble swim of two
miles. The night was warm and he
did not feel cold. He must nave fall
en- into a doze and slept for about an
hour, when he woke with a start TO
see a Japanese, whom he recognized
| as one Of the sailors Of the Teijo
| Maru, standing over him with re-
| volver pointed at his head, while an
other was Bleaching the PROV of u
dory. He sprang erect, every faculty
on the alert, and fumbled for his
knife
Stop" commaned the Japanese,
make but the least move. and I'll
shoot"
seem to be in your power again,
curse you!" said Romanoff, noticing
with satisfaction that his aiversaries
were but two. what GO you want
me to dor"
"Ah, he speaks Japanese like a
natiye!" cried the mate, for it was
none other. "You will come with us,
Of course and warn you again that
the slightest suspicious move will re-
1 suit in your instant death"
II will come" replied Romanoff
tsince there is nothing else for me tc
de-"
He stepped down to the dory and
took seat in the stern, the mate sit
showed off, seized the oars and head
ed for shore, about half a mile dis
tint.
i May ask what you are going to
do with me?" asked Romanoff "You
will readily understand that my curio-
sity is natural. Now il an opportunity
to display that politeness for which
your nation is SO famous, and which
| up to the present time have failed
to experience or observe"
4 We are going to take you on snore
and lock you in a dungeon, where you
will be kept until tue victorious arm.
les of the mikado enter st. Peters.
burg"
Life Imprisonment, Ell? But you
j are most merciful without intending
to be, for three months after you little
4 madmen have declared war on Holy
Russia, Japan will be a province of the
car and l shall be set free shall
ask, cs special reward for my ser
vices, that you two oe given fifty
blows of the knout each and set TO
work in chains breaking rock on my
estate near Mosce W."
/ For that speech" said the mate,
II am going to bind your hands, that
you MY give us less trouble on
shore. had it in my mind to kill
you, as your ugly disposition gives
every excuse for doing, but / think
/ will let you live to witness the degra-
dalton Of your country. Nomura, hand
me that rope in the prov and get your
revolver ready to shoot him if he ie.
sists.''
Here is the rope" said Nomura,
The mate leaned forward trifle to
take it, but that careless move cost
/ him his life, for Romanoff jerked his
! knife from his shirt and plunged it
1 to the hilt beneath the mates arm
/ An instant later he set his foot against
i the side Of the craft, and, throwing
1.-THE whole of his body into the effort,
! upset the dory. AS he plunged be-
4 meath the waves, Nomura's revolver
exploded vainly in the air. Romanoff
| swan a little distance away, when IN
other shot rang out and he was stung
4 by the impact of the bullet, that
struck the water above his body and
/! glanced hImming off into the night.
He looked back at the overturned
4 boat and saw that his enemy was
clinging to it,
lie SaA oNllll, hS iOiiGStCd, vi
he would hardly hang on there. may
as well strike out for shore. He'll be
almost sure to drown"
Putting the knife between his
teeth. he took several strokes wqen
i the Jap shot again, missing his head
4 by an inch or two.
4 He's cool beast, for one in his
fix" thought Romanoff, grabbing the
knife and diving. 'He is taking de.
liberate aim, but can hardy hit me
In this light with the boat pitching
like tnat"
He came up again at a greater dis.
lance and again the Jap shot, missing
| by several feet
Four" said Romanoff grimly;
there is only one cartridge in his
revolver. If he misses with that one
he will be at my mercy. Then I'll see
what can be done with him."
Rolling over on his back, he foated
with but his nose above the water
Occasionally he splasned little with
feet or hands, to tempt the Jap to
! shoot. Several minutes passed thus,