River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-15


We hurried down. AS we ran we
heard shouts beneath us-detiant,
knocking, 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
1t 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 boat Of their
own" he called. Follow me-! lie
dashed across the rocks again. the rest
of us after him. When we reached
I 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.
t11of Gold
,,Olai 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 undeceived. AS by a
signal, a volley came from either side.
Two of our men cried, stumbled, and
/ sliding across the slippery weed,
splashed into the sea.
Into the lighthouse men," cried
Nikolai; and we reached cover just
as another volley nattened itself
against the massive walls.
We looked around us. In a tiny
chamber was heavy table, bolted
into the stone. Nllolai set his Shout
| der against it and wrenched it bodily
from it's 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 orr
flee we'll and formed a barricade
against surprise
But our condition was a 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
I 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 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 great
i tank Of water connecting with what
mus have been Il rain reservoir on
the top OF the lighthouse. As we
approached the chamber in the rock
| a low moan reached my ears.
| There are men in there" | cried to
Nikolai
who are you?" 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 a
sight that called forth cry of pity
| from my companion.
Stretched out upon 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 a
woman, of mature years, but bearing
| the marks of great beauty and dig
nifty, despite the prison pallor Of her
face.
In the name of God. who are YOU
| friend?" asked Nikolai.
L am Adam Gortchakoff," answered
the old man, opening his eyes.
| saw Nikolai start back and clap
his hand to his forehead.
How long have you been confined
here, Adam Gortchakoff?" he asked
with quayering voice.
Twelve years." the old man an
swered AAnd my daughter also"
God help you" lnuttered Nikolai.
Tears welled into his eyes. Russia
has not forgotten you" he said, rails
ing the old mans hand to his lips.
| 'N0r Won madame P1lt we thouoht
you had died in Archangel"
There were twelve prisoners here
when I arrived said the woman in
French My father and l have alone
survived" She turned upon Nikolai
ffercely. Does Nicholas Stambuloff
still work for Russia?" she asked.
He is still our hope and Russia s
hope. said Nikolai Then. hastily.
he began telling them of the desperate
chance that had let us hither. Can
YOU endure your chains for a few
hours longer?" he asked
I'VE have endured them twelve
years" answered the woman: and she
bent over her father and pressed a
damp sponge to his lips. The sight
was inexpressibly painful to me: for
the first time l began to understand
something of the hatred which in
spired Nikolai against the tyranny OF
the tsar.
But he could linger no longer Bid
ding them hasty farewell, and assur-
ing them of their approaching liberty
Nikolai retreated up the stairs.
4 dared not tell her that her love,