The Ely miner., 1914-01-16
The Lighthouse OF
the North
An Audacious Hazard Of Nikolai Independent Agent
Related by His Lieutenant Summers
BY H. M EGBERT
copyright, 1913, by w. G. Chapman

cedSlnS surge on the great NOrtn cape
OF Norway. 1t was the end of Septem
ber; the nights and days were equal
but a blue line on the horizon beto-
hened 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 a 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 Geck-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 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
10 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
20 mo 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"
the lighthouse" he said. Its light,
burning steadily, alone makes possi-
bIe a 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
han the certain death which awaits
them"
1t was a desperate undertaking, the
little yacht against the armored bat
rleship, 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.
It was of the old-fashioned type.
The lenses did not reyolve, but a
steady stream of light issued through
them On three sides, shooting out like
A warning finger far into the dark
ness
We shall shoot out the glasses
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 a 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 them" / asked
I'VE aaust take it by storm he an
swered. ut 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
.ead; we anchored at distance of a
mile and a little more, and leaving
TWO men aboard, the five of US re-
naming rowed cautiously through the
rocks
More than once our little boat upset,
leaving us clinging 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.
We had brought cutlasses and re.
volvers. At word from Nikolai we
crept cautiously across our slippery
foothold until we reached the iron.
bound door at the base of the tower
Family within we heard two watch.
men singing a peasant song.
Now, men," said Nikolai. ''it will
be useless to knock. Nobody will open
TO the sea, for they know that no
person could some here with anything
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 l 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 vopr oop,ron;or -,