Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-02-06
The Lighthouse Of
the North
An Audacous Hazard of Nkolai Independent Agent as
Related by His Lieutenant Summers
BY H. M EGBERT
tcopyrigbt. 1918. By ". c. Chapman

OF Norway. Ii was the end OF SepLeIH-
Der; the nights and days were equal,
but a blue line on the horizon beto-
kened the approach of the Arctic ice
pack that would soon descend to seal
that silent coast until the following
spring. Nothing could exceed the lone
illness and desolation OF the sea-scape;
not sail or line of smoke was visi-
BILE. Far on our starboard lay the
Norwegian coast.
There were six of us aboard with
Nikolai We were all consumed to
know the reason for our presence
In those cold waters, far from civiliz-
alton. This was the day on which
we were to be told. Nikolai assembled
us on deck-we were all members Of
the international league-and broke
the seal of a document
Then he read out the orders.
"Satcha Alexandrovitch, with five
other revolutionary patriots, is on his
way to Archangel aboard the Potem-
kim" he told US.
Our mission was to rescue them.
For these men had been the hope of
Russia and of freedom through many
stormy months; at last, treacherously
betrayed to the minions of the tsar,
they had been sentenced, after mock
trial, to perpetual Punishment in the
frozen wastes of northern Russia,
where no man ever lived long enough
to communicate with his friends
again. 1t was a sentence Of death in
the penal settlement there.
And on the following day the cruis-
er Potemkin would round the great
cape on her journey into the White
sea, the last before the closing in of
the ice, bearing her victims.
Afterward, Nikolai communicated
to me his plans, as we sat side by
side within the cabin. studying the
charts.
Here we shall intercept her" he
said, pointing to dot or the coast
And all her guns and compile
ment OF soldiers and sailors will never
save her"
He unfolded his scheme. Here is
the lighthouse, he said. Its light.
burning steadily. alone makes posi-
BILE voyage between those rocks and
shoals. We shall destroy the light;
the ship, misled, will be buffeted to
pieces upon the rocks. The prisoners
have been warned. They will es-
cape In the confusion Perhaps they
will perish; but the chance is better
than the certain death which awaits
them"
It was desperate undertaking. the
ho4
tleship. but none of us thought OF
that, Our hearts were elated with the
magnitude of our task. That night,
running In close along the rocky shore
we sighted the lighthouse.
1t was of the old-fashioned type
The lenses did not revolve, but 9
steady stream Of light issued through
them on three sides, shooting out like
a warning finger far into the dark
ness.
I'VE shall shoot out the glasses"
said to Nikolai. "Perchance, II W.
shoot out the central Tense, no ligh
visible from q distance will issue
The Potemkin will sail to her de
struction."
Nikolai smiled rather sadly.
I'VE cannot approach that coas
within two thousand yards" he an
swered. And, at that distance, n
rifle bullet would penetrate those thic1
lenses Moreover, at such distance
who could hit beam of light by nigh
OR even the lighthouse. by dag
clothed, as 1t always is, with perpetua
sea-fogs?"
What them" asked.
I'VE must take 1t by storm" he al
swered 1T Is guarded by three SO
diers-veterans OF the Imperial Guart
Russia leaves little to chance. 1t mus
be captured"
That night the lighthouse was
be rushed. There was no other wa.
At dark we took our way in towar
the shore cautiously by means of th
lead; we anchored at o distance of
mile and little more. and leavin
two men aboard, the Ave of us r
naming rowed cautiously through til
rocks.
More than once our little boat upse
leaving US clinging TO the shar
needle-pointed crags. But each tin
we recovered ourselves. by some 70
tuitous miracle, At length, drippin
u frozen and utterly exhausted, v
reached the rocks on which the gre
lighthouse stood.
Wa had brought cutIasses and I
volvars At word from Nikolai '
crept cautiously across our slippe
foothold until we reached the iro
bound door at the base of the tow
Family within we heard two waite
men singing peasant song.
Now, men," said Nikolai, 1T "
be useless to knock. Nobody will op
TO. the sea. for they know that
person could some here with anythi
but evil intent" He picked up.a hu
bowlder, poising it aloft with ca
Follow met he cried. and hurl
himself with his burden against I
door.
That was the mightiest blow tt
ever ! saw struck. 1t shivered
oaken timbers from bottom to Il
Only the iron bolts restrained the frt
ments of the door. A moment la
and we had cleared away this obstr
ton, just as two bearded giants st
ped along the flags within and c.
fronted US.
"Yield!" cried Nikolai in R
sian, covering them with his reYoIv
They threw up their hands W
aaaN~i4v .sMhara Ia YOUR comnanior