The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
AS, REVEALED BY A WoRLD,FAMoUs SPY

1 y
about the same age, and that they
got in and out in obedience to or
ders given by officials who were
armed and whom l imagined to be
warders or police.
According to my reckoning, we
had got nearly half way from the
| U'ral to the Amur when the longest
stage of all was reached. We ran
from the sunset of one day to near
" noon of the next without a halt
When at last the train slowed
down ! saw that we were entering
a town OF considerable importance,
I apparently sort OF depot of the
line, there being many side rails on
which trucks were standing, as
though waiting till they should be
required.
As soon as the train stopped |
got out, as usual. with the other
passengers. to stretch my legs and
look about me- Tne long journey
and the lack of proper rest had SO
exhausted me that it was some time
before | realized that there was an
unusual lack of hustle about this
particular halt
When at last the TACT Ui this
strange stiffness was borne in upon
my consciousness, | reused myself
to observation. At once perceived
that the alighting passengers were
fewer in number than before. 1t
was the troop had mistaken for
prisoners who were missing. |
Looked al the end OF the train for
their car. 1t was no longer there
We had silently slipped the car
in the course OF the night!
Without hesitating | returned to
my carriage. removed my luggage
with the aid OF d porter, and or
dercd a >leigh to drive me to the
hotel
Directly ! reached the hotel
threw myself on a bed and slept
soundly for twenty-four hours.
| awOkc refreshed and vigorous
and ready to carr ont my task
with coOlncSs and resolution.
My first step was to ask the
landlord OF the hotel to recon-
mend me a guide. The man whom
he presented to me was a typical
lmouchard, with spy written on
every line Of his countenance. This
was just what ! expected. en-
gagged him at a liberal >alary, and
ordered him to mt ont an cxpedi-
ton for a Journey ol some DAYS
into the interior.
To the westward OF the town, in
the direction from which the train
had brought me. there was visible
a range of low hills, conspicuous
landmark in the desolate plain. 1t
was toward these hills that | or
dered my guide to conduct me, as
soon as the preparations for the
march were completed.
The rascal was cunning enough
to hide his reluctance. and we set
out But after We had gone dav's
Journey | noticed that our march
was steadily veering away from the
line OF the railway, and taking a
northerly direction. said moth
ing. determined to countcr-work
these tactics at the right moment.
At the end OF the third day. after
a slow progress, compared with the
speed OF the train, we pitched our
camp AT the foot of the range,
about iOrty miles. a> near | could
Judge. from the point where it was
pierced by the railway.
The next morning the caravan
wound It's way to the summit OF
the ridge. and looked down on a
broad valley, watered BY a river
and broken up by small spurs Jut-
ting "ut from the main watershed.
" the guide was about to plunge
down. So As to cross the stream, |
checked him abruptly.
I'VE arc not going that way. |
shall turn southwark now and keep
along the summit OF the ridge till
VIC come to the railway.
The mans face turned a. black
a thunder cloud.
You cannot 60 that way. he
>norted.
"Whv::"
He hesitatcd. !
Because it is impossible. The
horses will break down.
I'VE will go on till they do
answered sternlv. And let this be !
your last attempt to disobev me. At
the next send YOU back and go
on without you.
The man skunk forward. mutter-
ing curses, which | affected not to !
hear.
In every expedition through a !
wild country there comes a mo-
ment which decides who is to be