The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-03-30

his SIeSu LOT money.
Translated into English, the fol.
lowing is said to have been what
passed between Patrin and the young
convict:
you think to impose on me?"
But 1 am indeed III"
"Shirker!"
The work is beyond my strength;
am unused to anything like it. I
cannot endure the chill. 1 was numb
from cold all day"
Patrin rose deliberately and took
step forward. You say that to
met"
only give me work that can
do"
Hold your tonguei"
II would rather die than walk in
that cold water again"
Thereupon Patrin struck him in the
face with his fist, knocking him down.
For some moments Gregoriev lay
senseless. but was reused by kicks
from the two soldiers who had
brought him up to the chiefs room.
He regained his feet. Patrin stood
regarding him with a scornful smile.
But there is a point at which human
nature turns desperate. Hoping that
they would kill him on the spot, and
making little doubt that they would
do so. Gregoriev sprang suddenly at
the chief, and clutching both hands N
his beard, thrust him backward with
all his strength. Patrin shouted to
the guards: but Gregorev had him
PnfnU ranid1v ha rlr a.J "a Of
of the table was an open doorway,
and just outside this flight OF stairs
leading down to the street, where.
as 1t CHANGED. three horses stood
saddled. Before the guards could
seize him, Gregoriev pushed the gil
gantic body of the chief through the
doorway. The next instant they both
went headlong down the flight of
stairs, carrying one OF the soldiers
with them. Such was the impetus OF
their fall that Gregoriev shot under
the belly of one OF the horses, land
ing in the street beyond the animal.
The soldiers carbine flew clear over
the horses back. Patrin himself
had fallen underneath the other two,
believing for help and threatening
them all.
Leaping to his feet, Gregoriev
snatched up the carbine, his first furi-
Gus instinct being to shoot Patrin.
/ Wild thoughts OF escape then flashed
into his mind He turned, and see
ing the stockade gate open. made
dash for It,
The soldier who fell with them had
broken his leg; the other rushed down
the stairs and fired as Gregoriev ran
out at the gate. A sentry at the far
corner of the stockade also fred, see
ing a convict running toward the
woods. More than dozen shots were
discharged after the fugitive, but evi.
| IDENTIFY with bad aim.
! Gregoriev reached the border of the
/ forest which still surrounds Alexand-
rovsk; and although the whole gar
rison was turned out, he got away
| so fast and far that they failed to
overtake him. The magazine of the
carbine which had so fortuitously
fallen into his hands contained FIVE
/ ball cartridges Strange TO say, to,
the intense excitement of his adven-
ture with Patrin appeared to act as
a cure to his illness!
! Ultimately, he made his way to a
village of Giliaks in the north part
of the island, nearly two hundred
miles from Alexandrovsk; and with
! these people he lived for two years
The dog Chuff was given him by an
old Giliak hunter Of the village, who
had trained him from a puppy.
With the possession of Chuff. Gregg
REV began life as a sable-hunter;
and gradually, as he accumulated
these beautiful peltries. the hope that
he might use them as means Of
escape took root in his mind.
His assidulty as a hunter now knew
no bounds. Throughout the winter,
Intense as was the cold there. he
ranged the taiga, penetrating noun
tain Businesses Of the interior where
even the hardy natives had never
gone They called him the tireless
one. Chuff also appeared to lmbibe
something Of the high. ambitious spir-
1t OF his master One day ne caught
three sables.
AS result OF his two winters hunt
ing with Chun, Gregoriev had ninety
three skins. each stretched on n thin
strip OF hr wood
But how was he TO escape from this
Isolated hyperborean island, surround
cd by stormy seas. since no one was
permitted to leave at the ports "
Dui and Alexandrovsk save by ofnclaI
| permit?
The plan Gregoriev finally resort
ed to was to disguise himself as a
Giliak hunter and apply 20 the prison
chief In person, relying on a bride
OF sable-sHns to obtain the uscn sary
permission. That he dared approach
+. Patrin again after the asperitles OF
their last meeting speaks much for
the bOldness and resolution OF Gregg.
riev's character
His two years 9esidruce among the
Giliaks. however. had enabled him to
simulate the bearing and dress OF a
Giliak hunter to perfection He had
J picked up their language: anG by
this time his hair had grown long and
shaggy by making use Of a dscoc-
ton Of oak bark. he stained his skin
to look like the natives. and prac-
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