Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-02-19
The Lighthouse Of
the North
copyright, 1918, by W. G Chapman
An Audacious Hazard Of Nikoa Independent Agent, as
Related by His Lieutenant, Summers
BY H. M. EGBERT

person could some here with anything
but evil intent He picked up huge
bowlder poising it aloft with ease.
Follow me-" he cried and hurled
himself with his burden against the
door
That was the mightiest blow that
ever saw struck 1t shivered the
oaken timbers from bottom to top.
Only the iron bolts restrained the frag-
ments of the door. A moment later
and we had cleared away this obstruc-
ton just as two bearded giants step
ped along the flags within and con-
fronted us.
Yield" cried Nikolai in Rus
sian. covering them with his revolver.
They threw up their hands with
alacrity. Where is your companion?'
Nikolai asked.
"In the light chamber they answer
ed sullenly.
We dashed pell-mell up the stone
stairs. We came upon him as he
descended; in a twinkling he was dis
armed. The lighthouse was ours. 1t
was the work of a few moments to
pour out the oil and break the lenses.
I'VE should have kept those fellows
prisoners" said Nikolai. Still, they
can do no harm. They will not dare
attack us, and there is nowhere for
them to 60. Now, men, back to the
boat.
We hurried down. AS we ran we
heard shouts beneath us-defiant,
mocking, they seemed When we
reached the ruins Of the door below
the cries came from the darkness,
mingled with the pounding of the surf.
Nikolai exclaimed aloud and ran on
alone across the slippery rocks.
heard him stumble and fall. Then
curses came to us from without, and
hail of bullets whizzed past our
ears. At the same instant we heard
oars grating against the rocks.
Then we understood. We had not
thought to guard our boat. The watch
men had taken it, and knowing every
inch of the coast, would doubtless run
it away.
Another hail of bullets made US
dodge. Nikoai came limping back
to me, his face convulsed with fury.
Were trapped like rats he said
between his teeth. Then thought
struck him.
They must have boat of their
own" he called Follow me.' lie
dashed across the rocks again, the rest
of us after him. When We reached
the other side we found the remains
of a painter. The lighthouse keepers
had taken their own boat as well.
And, while we waited there, a suces-
sion of five shots came from the dark
ness on this side also. We covered
back into the darkness.
"One man in that boat said Nj
kolai. Those shots are from his
magazine. And two in the other
Now-are they acting in concert or
does each think we are the other?"
We were soon undeceved AS by a
signal, volley came from either side
Two of our men cried, stumbled, and
sliding across the slippery weed
splashed into the sea.
The wind was rising, and all the
while the breakers had been pounding
upon the rocks. We shouted in vain;
we could not make our voices heard
above the uproar of the elements.
Rain was falling, mingled with light
snow.
Into the lighthouse, men," cried
Nikolai; and we reached cover just
as another volley fattened itself
against the massive walls.
We looked around US. In tiny
chamber was heavy table, bolted
into the stone. Nikolai set his shoul-
der against it and wrenched 1t bodily
from its fastenings. Then we half
dragged, half carried it along the mar
row passage to the doorway, where
we tilted it on end 1t fitted the ori-
flee we'll and formed barricade
against surprise.
But our condition was desperate
one. We had only our cutlasses and
revolvers against rifles, and no more
than twelve cartridges apiece. Yet
we were three against three; and IL
our adversaries had command of the
offensive there was always the yacht.
AS the attack was not renewed, we
left the third on guard and descended
into the bottom story of the light
house. Here we found a curious,
winding passageway, cut out of the
living rock, apparently, and opening
into an extensive chamber, evidently
the work Of engineers. At the en-
trance we discovered ample provisions
in the shape of flour and sailed meat
as well as dried fruits and a great
tank of water, connecting with what
must have been a rain reservoir on
the top of the lighthouse. AS we
approached the chamber in the rock
low moan reached my ears.
There are men in there!" cried to
Nikolai
"Who are your" he called
Only moan answered. An oil lamp
was burning in a niche of the damp
wall. Nikolai snatched it up and, des-
pite my warnings, advanced toward
the dark recesses of the prison, fol-
lowing. In the far nook we saw
sight that called forth cry of pity
from my companion.
Stretched out upon a bed of filthy
straw, his hands chained to steel
staples in the wall, was an old man,
emaciated, and apparently upon the
verge of death. Beside him knelt o