The Southern herald., 1914-02-06
tcODyright. lsls. by ". c. chapmany

but evil intent" He picked up huge
bowlder, poising it aloft with ease
Follow mel" 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 twinkling he was dis
armed. The lighthouse was ours. It
was the work Of 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 go. 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
a 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. Nikolai came limping back
to me, his face convulsed with fury.
We're trapped like rats" he said
between his teeth. Then thought
struck him.
They must have a boat of their
own" he called, Follow mel" He
dashed across the rocks again, the rest
of US after him. When we reached
the other side we found the remains
of painter The lighthouse keepers
had taken their own boat as we'll.
And, while We waited there, suces-
sion Of Eve shots came from the dark
ness On thi. side also. We covered
back into the darkness.
"One mar in that boat" said Nj
kolai Those shots are from his
And two in the other. |
Now-are they acting in concert, or
does each think we are the other?" |
We were soon undeceived. AS BY q |
signal, a 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
and we reached cover lust
rs another volley fiattened itself
against the massive walls.
We looked around us. In a tiny
chamber was heavy table, bolted
nto the stone. Nikolai set his shoul-
Ter against it and wrenched it bodily
rom its fastenings. Then we half
ragged, half carried it along the mar
ow passage to the doorway, where
We tilted it on end. It fitted the ori.
Ice well and formed a barricade
gainst surprise.
But our condition was a desperate
ne. We had only our cutlasses and
evolVers against rifles, and no more
han twelve cartridges apiece. Yet
70 were three against three: and if
ur 2dversaries had command of the
nensive there was always the Yacht
AS the attack was not renewed, we
sft the third on guard and descended
lto the bottom story of the light
ouse. Here we found a curious.
'inding passageway, cut out OF the
wing rock, apparently, and opening
Ito an extensive chamber, evidently
le work Of engineers. At the en-
'anee we discovered ample provisions [
the shape Of -four and salted meat,
weld as dried fruits and a great ]
INK OF water, connecting with what I
usf have been a rain reservoir on (
le top OF the lighthouse. AS we I
oproached the chamber in the rock Y
low moan reached my ears. a
There are men In there!" cried to s
ikolai. !
Who are your" he called.
Only moan answered. An oil lamp r
as burning in a niche of the damp
all Nikolai snatched It up and, des. u
to my warnings, advanced toward D
9 dark recesses Of the prison, FOL. s
wing. In the far nook we saw a I
sht that called forth cry of pity Il
,m my companion. I,
Stretched out upon a bed Of filthy h
saR HE honda obas.el 4 -, / !,