The central record., 1914-02-05

bowlder, posing 1t 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 tags 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 peuLmell up the stone
stairs. We came upon him as he
descended; in tvinkling he was dis
armed. The lighthouse was ours. 1t
was the work Of q 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. l
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 1t, 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 a 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 a painter. The lighthouse keepers
had taken their own boat as we'll
And, while we waited there, suces-
sion of five shots came from the dark
ness on this side also. We covered
back into the darkness.
"One man in that boat" said Nj
kolai. 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.
The wind was rising, and all the
while the breakers had been pounding
luS IOChb. VIC buOulCu III 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
Nikolai; and we reached cover just
as another volley fattened itself
against the massive walls.
We looked around US. In a tiny
chamber was a heavy table, bolted
into the stone. Nikolai set his shoul
der against 1t and wrenched it bodily
from its fastenings. Then we hall
dragged, half carried it along the mar
row passage to the doorway, where
we tilted it on end. 1t fitted the ori
fee well 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. Ye'
we were three against three; and il
our adversaries had command Of the
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 a curious
winding passageway, cut out Of th'
living rock, apparently, and openin,
into an extensive chamber, evidentl!
the work of engineers. At the en-
trance we discovered ample provisions
in the shape Of -four and salted meat
as well as dried fruits and a grea
tank of water, connecting with wha
must have been q rain reservoir OF
the top Of the lighthouse. As w
approached the chamber in the rocl
low moan reached my ears.
There are men in there!" cried u
Nikolai.
WHO are your he called.
Only q moan answered. An oil lam
was burning In q niche of the dam
wall. Nikolai snatched It up and, def
pite my warnings, advanced tovar'
the dark recesses of the prison, fol
lowing. In the Tar nook we saw
sight that called forth q cry Of pit
from my companion.
Stretched out upon a bed Of nth
straw, his hands chained to stee
staples In the wan, was an old mar
emaciated, and apparently upon tn
! verge of death. Beside him knelt