The Southern herald., 1914-02-06

A0hSu LnS dppTOdCu OF Lno ArCIlC Ice
pack that would soon descend to sea
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 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 u.s.
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 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 a dot off 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 possi-
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"
1t was desperate undertaking, the
little yacht against the armored bat
tleship, but none of us thought of
that Our hearts we're 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-fashiohed type.
The lenses did not revolFe, but a
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" I
said to Nikolai. "Perchance. if we
shoot out the central lense, no light
visible from distance will issue. |
The Potemkin will sail to her de-
struction."
Nikolai smiled rather sadly.
I'VE cannot approach that coast
within two thousand yards" he an
swered. "And, at that distance, no
rifle bullet would penetrate those thick
lenses. Moreover, at such distance.
who could hit beam of light by night
or even the lighthouse, by day,
clothed, as it always is, with perpetual
sea-fogs?"
What then?'' i asked.
We must take it by storm" he an
Bwered. at is guarded by three sol.
diers-veterans Of the Imperial Guard.
Russia leaves little to chance. 1t must
be captured"
That night the lighthouse was to
be rushed. There was no other way.
AT dark we took our way in toward
the shore cautiously by means of the
lead; we anchored at distance of a
mile and little more, and leaving
two men aboard, the five of US re-
naming TOwed cautiously through the
rocks
More than once our little boat upset,
leaving us dlinging to the sharp,
needle-pointed ,crags. But each time
we recovered ourselves, by some for
tuitous miracle. At length, dripping,
frozen and utterly exhausted, we
reached the rocks on which the great ,
lighthouse stood. 1t lowered above
Us, a veritable colossus Of masonry: ,
and from Its summit the steady beams I
II light pOnrad forth on three sides
through the fogs. And now per- I
'eived why my suggestion could not :
AVE been carried out. The lenses we're a
let back into the masonry, 80 that no
life bullet could have been aimed at \
hem from the base of the cliffs. Only
ar out at sea would they become ac-
essibae, and there, as Nikolai had v
aid. they could not have been v
ierced. n
We had brought cutlasses and re. i
divers. At word from NikOlal we /,
rept cautiously across our slippery 8
Oothold uptil we reached the iron. ii
Ound door at the base of the tower.
aiptly within we heard two watch. 81
zen singing peasant song. 81
Now, men," said Nikolai, 1T will Ell
, useless to knock. Nobody will open "