Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-06-13

1T isn't SO bad as that, Jack said
the Englishman calmly. Should those
men reach the coast safely, as no doubt
they viii, it may cost Russia a bit Of
trouble to dislodge us
Why, hang it ALL cried Jack. they
don't need to dislodge us. All they've
got to do ID to stand of and starye as
out. They are not compelled to fire
gun or land man.
They'll have to starye their own
men first. It's not likely we're going
to go hungry and feed our prisoners
"Oh, we don't mind a little thing like
that, we Russians. They may send
help or they may not Probably
cruiser will come within hailing dis
lance and try to find out what the
trouble is. Then it VIII lie off and wait
till everybodyis dead and after that put
In a new governor and another garri
son."
You take too pessimistic view,
Jack. This isn't the season of the year
for cruiser to lie off in the Baltic.
Winter is coming on. Most of the har-
bors in Finland will be ice closed in a
month, and there's no shelter here
abouts in a storm They'll attack,
probably open shell fire on us for
awhile, then attempt to land storm
ing party. That will be fun for us IL
you've got good rifles and plenty of
ammunition
Jack raised his head.
- 10 cnfA
IF we only have enough to eat.'
Springing to his feet, all detection
gone, he said to the governor:
Nov, my friend, we're compelled to
put you into CELL I'm sorry to do
this, but there is no other course open.
Where is your larder, and what guam
tity of provisions have you in stock7''
A gloomy smile added to the dejec-
ton of the old mans countenance.
"You must find that out for your
SELF" he said.
'Are the soldiers upstairs well sup
piled with food?'
II will not answer any of your ques-
TONS"
"Oh, very we'll see you are deter
mined to go hungry yourself. Until
am satisfied that there is more than
sufficient for my friend and me no
prisoner in my charge gets anything
to eat. That's the sort of jailer am.
The stubborn old beast" he cried In
English, turning to Drummond, won't
answer my questions"
"What were you asking him?''
II want to know about the stock of
provisions"
Its quite unnecessary to ask about
the grub. There's sure to be ample"
"Whyr
why? Because we have reached
the beginning of winter, as / said be-
fore There must be months when no
boat can land at this rock. It's bound
to be provisioned for several months
ahead at the very lowest calculation.
Now, the first thing to do is to put
this ancient Johnny in his little cell.
Then I'll tell you where our chief dam
ger lies"
The governor made neither protest
nor complaint, but walked into No.
and was locked up.
Now, Johnny, my boy" said Drum
mond, "our anxiety Is the soldiers.
The moment they find they are locked
in they will blow those two doors open
in just about half jiffy. We can, of
course, by sitting in front of the lower
door night and day pick off the first
four or five who come down, but If the
rest make a rush we are bound to be
overpowered. They have presumably
plenty of powder, probably some live
shells, petards and whatnot that win
make short work even Of those oalxen
doors What do you propose to dog
81 propose said Jack, ito fill their
crooked stairway with cement. There
are bags and bags of it in the armory."
The necessity for this was prevented
by an odd circumstance. The two
young men We're seated in the govern
or's room when at his table telephone
bell rang. Jack had not noticed this
instrument and now took up the re-
ceiver.
Hello, governor!' said a voice.
"Your fool of a jailer has bolted the
stairway door, and we can't open it"
"Oh, / beg pardon" replied Jack in
whatever imitation of the governors
voice he could assume "I'll see to 1t
at once myself"
He hung up the receiver and told his
comrade what had happened
zone or both of these officers are
coming down. If we get the officers
safely into cell, there will be nobody
to command the men, and it is more
than likely that the officers carry the
keys of the powder room. III turn out
the electric lamps in the hall and light
the lantern. You be ready at the foot
of the stairway to fire If they make the
slightest resistance.
The two officers came down the cir
cular stairway, grumbling at the delay
to which they had been put. Lermon-
toff took advantage of the clamping Of